Scholar Spotlight: Mary Raji, Class of 2025

We’re proud to shine the Scholar Spotlight on Mary Raji, an 11th-grader at De La Salle Institute. Mary heard about LINK before she entered high school as she and her father were online scrolling through scholarship opportunities. She ultimately chose LINK because of the programmatic commitment to mentoring and providing opportunities for growth.

“LINK is offering a huge difference to me and other students by providing mentorship, financial support and access to resources that help us succeed academically,” Mary said. “I’ve become more comfortable with my peers from going to the panels and Saturday Academy, and LINK has helped me grow closer to some students outside of my school, too, which is really nice.”  

From her Mentor, Mary has learned to be more confident with her academics as well as matters outside of school. She likes knowing that her Mentor is there for her to talk to. “My Mentor and I are very close. We go out at least three times a month. We’ve made candles together and painted, and we also went bowling with my sister and little brother. It was really fun!”

Some of Mary’s best memories with LINK are attending a College Day program where she got to meet professionals and make connections with people who could help her in her journey. That day also helped her think about whether she wanted to attend a big school or a small one.

“What I appreciate most about LINK is the sense of belonging and support,” Mary said. “I feel like LINK really encourages us a lot and everyone is generally invested in our success. That creates a positive impact and environment. LINK’s guidance and encouragement has made a big impact on my growth academically as well as outside of school. I feel like I’ve achieved a lot throughout the year.”

LINK has also had a significant impact on Mary’s plans for the future. “LINK has opened doors for me and given me confidence to pursue my dreams,” she said. “And I personally feel like it has prepared me and supported me in achieving my goals.”

To other students considering the LINK Fellowship, Mary said: “I would tell them that joining LINK is an incredible opportunity. It’s a community that provides support, guidance, and a community of like-minded individuals that will help us thrive. I would tell them it’s a decision that they won’t regret!” 

In the future, Mary’s goal is to attend Northwestern University and eventually go into medicine. “Since I was 11 or 12, I was stuck between being a lawyer and a doctor, and I finally decided I want to be a doctor,” she said. “I have everything down, what I want to do when I grow up, the college I want to go to, the degree I want to earn, and the hospital I want to work in.”

Congratulations, Mary! We’re so proud of you, and we look forward to seeing how you grow and succeed in the future!