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Humans of the U: William Gustave

“I was born in Ngara, Tanzania in 2002. I was five years old when we left the country. So I didn’t grow up there. It was difficult. My parents faced a lot of conflict and adversity, but there were also valuable opportunities. I’ve made friends here, I’ve created a community, and I still have that culture from back home as well. My parents wanted the best education for me, and that helped me stay focused on my goals.

I’m a recipient of the Utah Jazz Scholarship. [Getting the scholarship] was an overwhelming experience. It was just so generous. I got to talk with Mike Maughan, and he’s been a person I go to. He cares so much about the [Jazz scholars] and how they’re doing in school, and not just academic wise, but also with mental health. I never really thought about getting a full ride to the University of Utah, an established institution like this. It was a dream.

What hit me was how big the institution really is. There’s a lot of moving parts to it; different offices and different people who make things happen. I realized that there’s plenty of areas for students and faculty to be involved. There’s a lot we can do to make changes happen. And I feel like this university kind of looks for that. It looks for ways to expand and improve.

My love for architecture was developed in high school. I realized it’s not just about creating a house or a building, it’s about designing a space—creating a culture and bringing a community together. One of my higher goals is to go back to Ngara and create recreational centers for people of all ages to enjoy. It would serve as a lot of things, especially for younger kids in their development to escape from the issue of alcoholism back home.”

William Gustave, Presidential Intern, and a third-year student studying architectural science