Step Up and Achieve College Internships help fine-tune a future

As a Step Up intern, Farah Dahir cleaned up community parks, removed invasive plants, created non-toxic home cleaners and worked in bank collections before graduating from Roosevelt High School.

Now, through  the Achieve College Internships program, he is interning in the IT department of Graco, Inc. this summer while working on his  major in management information systems (MIS) and a minor in international business at Augsburg University.

“I’m working on transferring data to a newly developed software program,” says Farah. “I like numbers and computers. I also like organizing, so this is a good fit. I’m so excited to have the opportunity to get inside a company and start networking.”

Driven to succeed, Farah is not afraid to work hard. He was 11 years old when he came to Minnesota from Ethiopia and began learning English. His hard work and dedication helped him advance to the fourth level of reading and writing English in just one year. “I did a home program and I had a tutor. I wanted to learn English so I could go to college, get a career and help care for my family. I also want to give back to my community in any way I can.”

It's clear that Farah is focused on a bright future, and his career and college path was fine-tuned by exploring multiple options through high school Step Up internships with the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board, the Sannah Foundation and U.S. Bank. 

“Step Up played the perfect role in helping me at an early age and it continues to help me today,” says Farah. “Without it, I wouldn’t have experienced so many great opportunities to find out what I like.” Farah now looks forward to a career in IT and someday owning his own business.

Farah is also grateful for Achieve College Internships. After his summer experience at Graco, he'll complete a second college internship this fall in the risk advisory department at Baker Tilly, which will provide additional hands-on experience and strengthen his minor in international business.

Farah is the first in his family to attend a four-year university. At Augsburg, in addition to his studies, he is active in the Sankofa Circle Fellowship, where he is mentored, supported and inspired by the West African-based pillars of success. “We meet once a month to discuss cohort connection topics with a commitment to interrupt and dismantle anti-Black racism, racism, white supremacy, and other forms of oppression.”

Set to graduate in 2023, Farah is in a strong position to launch a meaningful and successful career because of his hard work, positive approach and solid academic and internship experiences. “My mom is very proud!” he says

Congratulations, Farah. We wish you all the best!

Learn how you can hire a college student through Achieve College Internships.