When Joshua Arechiga committed to the University of Southern California (USC), he had never set foot on its campus. As a member of IDEA Burke’s first graduating class—and the school’s first-ever valedictorian—Joshua had researched the university, spoken with students and watched countless videos, but his first trip to Los Angeles would also be his first time seeing the place he would call home for the next four years. 

“USC looked very different from what I had seen online, but I knew almost immediately that I would love it here,” Joshua said. “Meeting people from different parts of the world and then living alongside them on my dorm floor was probably when it really hit me that I was finally in college.” 

For Joshua, a first-generation college student from San Antonio, reaching USC was the result of years of determination—and scholarship support that made it possible to choose the university where he believed he could best pursue his goals. 

Years in the Making 

Joshua joined IDEA Burke as a founding sixth grader while struggling with English. With encouragement from teachers and mentors, he grew from an English-language learner into a tutor. During his senior year, he created FLUENT Futures, recruiting classmates to help younger students strengthen their writing skills.

At the same time, Joshua balanced several AP courses, leadership roles, and a part-time job. He graduated first in his class without receiving a single rejection from the 12 colleges to which he applied. 

Acceptance, however, was only one part of the equation. As Joshua considered his college options, he knew scholarship support would determine which opportunities were truly within reach. 

“I had to prioritize applying to scholarships because I come from a low-income background,” he said. “I needed a scholarship to go to the schools I applied to, especially USC. It was very expensive.” 

At College Signing Day, Joshua learned that he had received a scholarship from IDEA through an initiative led by the organization’s Facilities department. Combined with additional scholarship support, it helped make attending USC possible and allowed Joshua to choose the university he believed would best prepare him for his future.

“This money will help me tremendously in my college journey,” he said. “When they called me, I was so proud of myself. I could hear the screams from my family cheering me on and calling my name.” 

The Opportunity to Choose 

Because of that support, Joshua could choose USC’s Marshall School of Business based on the education and opportunities it offered rather than allowing cost to decide for him. Without scholarships, he said, he would have needed to select a more affordable option.

Now that he is in Los Angeles, the impact feels even more tangible. 

“This scholarship takes away a huge financial burden and allows me to focus more on school and the opportunities around me,” Joshua said. “It gives me hope that I can use the opportunities I have here to build a successful future and eventually give back to others,” he said. 

Carrying IDEA With Him 

Although Joshua is more than 1,000 miles from San Antonio, the IDEA community continues to be part of his college journey. His teachers, counselors, friends and Alumni Success coach remain in contact, offering the same encouragement that helped him reach this moment. 

“The support is unmatched,” Joshua said. “They helped every single student. They did not let any student fall behind.” 

That example now shapes how Joshua thinks about his own success. He wants to use his education not only to create a strong future for himself and his family, but also to support students and business owners whose experiences reflect his own. 

Looking back at the sixth grader he once was, Joshua would offer one message: “Keep being yourself and never let anybody tell you otherwise. Keep pushing, because you have no idea where it will take you.”