Growing up in poverty, Nay Robinson never saw herself as a college student. Now, as a BYU graduate, she’s on a mission to open doors for the next generation.
Growing up below the poverty line in Florida, Nay Robinson admits that attending college was a long shot. Her mother never completed high school. Neither did her grandmother.
When Robinson sent her ACT scores to BYU on a whim, it felt more like a pipe dream than a plan for the future. As a member of the Church, she’d heard of BYU but never had the means (or desire) to trade Florida’s sunny weather for Utah’s snowy mountains.
But after finding out that she was admitted, and thanks to generous scholarships provided through BYU’s Multicultural Student Services, Robinson took a leap of faith and enrolled at BYU for the fall of 2020.
Five years later, Robinson isn’t just leaving BYU with two degrees — she’s leaving as someone who knows exactly who she is.
“I’m so much more secure now of who I am,” she said. “I learned there was no way to be anybody but myself. I had to get comfortable with where I came from, and my story just makes me stronger. I’m so much more confident in that now.”
Before graduating with her undergraduate degree in psychology, Robinson was invited to participate in BYU’s Civil Rights Seminar — an experience that would ultimately change her life’s trajectory. As part of the seminar, Robinson and her classmates toured iconic sites from the civil rights movement in the American South, including the Rosa Parks Museum and the home of Martin Luther King Jr.
“As we talked about how thankful we were for our ancestors, the question came up, ‘How can I be a better ancestor for the generations who come after me?’” Robinson said. “I’m getting a degree at BYU, which is something that no one in my family has done. As I look to what my career is going to be, I want to bridge gaps for people and connect them with resources and help them elevate their lives, which is what has been given to me.”
After completing undergraduate work, Robinson started in BYU’s MPA program, where she’s further developed her skills and abilities with the goal of improving the world through Christlike leadership. She completed an internship with the nonprofit Humble Beginnings in Florida, which serves underprivileged children and families. During her internship she didn’t just work — she saw firsthand how a little help could change a child’s future.
Robinson was heavily involved with the nonprofit’s Back to School Bash, where backpacks and school supplies were collected and distributed to children in need. Robinson and her team collected hundreds of backpacks. It was a project near to her heart, because she remembered being the recipient of such a backpack as a young schoolgirl.
“I remember standing outside the Amway Center in the boiling Florida weather every year to get our backpacks,” she recalled. “I remember being sent home from school once a month with backpacks of food for food-insecure students. So, to be on the other side of that and to orchestrate these events is special. I want to show these kids that they have a chance and that there are people that believe in them. It’s life changing.”
Reflecting on her BYU experience, Robinson says she can see God’s hand guiding her, despite the challenges of moving across the country, acclimating to a new culture, and being a first-generation college student.
Armed with a strong sense of divine identity and purpose, Robinson is set to graduate with her MPA next month. She’s got her sights set on going forth to serve. After getting married this summer, she’ll move to New York to work with a variety of nonprofits and charter schools that serve marginalized communities.
Robinson is living proof that one open door can change a life. Now, she’s determined to hold that door open for the next generation.
