University of Arkansas junior Erick Soto knows how beneficial it can be to get help from others, especially when it comes to navigating college.

Like many aspiring students, Soto wasn’t sure how he was going to pay for his education. The Springdale native spent many evenings studying at his local McDonald’s so he could use the free wifi, and one day a poster advertising a national scholarship caught his eye.

“One day I was just sitting there, and I looked up and I saw the poster hanging there that McDonald’s could pay for college,” he said. “I knew I wanted to go to college. I wasn’t sure how I was going to pay for it, but it was something that I knew that I wanted to do. I wasn’t going to let any obstacle or barrier get in my way of achieving that goal.”

Soto became the first student to ever receive the McDonald’s HACER Scholarship in 2020 and was featured in a national commercial. It also guaranteed that he’d be able to attend the U of A and become the first in his family to go to college.

“It was really emotional, because it also meant a lot to my parents and to me and the rest of my family,” he said.

One of Soto’s favorite experiences at the university has been as a peer mentor, because it gives him the opportunity to help other students who also need support. 

“My mentees and other mentors, they’ve really made me realize and reassured me that I’m not alone in this whole process,” he said. “There are other students – high school seniors who don’t know how they’re going to pay for college – and they’re unsure of their future and I’ve been there. So, knowing that I’m able to help them or share my experiences with them, it feels good. Knowing that I’m able to make a change, or an impact in their life, has really made a great impact on my life.”

Soto’s appreciation for civic involvement has inspired his future plans, as he hopes to either pursue a career as an immigration lawyer or work for the United Nations. 

“I think it’s really important, especially for the youth, to be involved and make decisions that will impact their future,” he said. “I want to hopefully go to law school and help other families who might have gone through a trauma or deportation or some family separation. I hope to also work for the U.N. someday maybe and help other people in other countries. I know anything is possible, as well, because what sometimes might have seemed impossible now seems possible.”

Hear more of Soto’s story in “Determined to Succeed” and find additional Short Takes videos here.

About the University of Arkansas: As Arkansas' flagship institution, the U of A provides an internationally competitive education in more than 200 academic programs. Founded in 1871, the U of A contributes more than $2.2 billion to Arkansas’ economy through the teaching of new knowledge and skills, entrepreneurship and job development, discovery through research and creative activity while also providing training for professional disciplines. The Carnegie Foundation classifies the U of A among the few U.S. colleges and universities with the highest level of research activity. U.S. News & World Report ranks the U of A among the top public universities in the nation. See how the U of A works to build a better world at Arkansas Research News.