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Some people have fortitude. They face uncertainty with unyielding determination. And when they lean into lifting up individuals who face similar circumstances, their role transforms into a leader whose activism can have lasting effects. That is Mia Basit-Hightower '25.
"I am a first-generation college student from a low-income background. Going to college was extremely challenging. I had little financial support or knowledge of navigating college life," said the hard-working political science major and legal studies minor from Bedford, Ohio.
"In my first semester, I faced the possibility of having to drop out due to these barriers. Currently, with the loss of my mother, I face another set of challenges in my life that impact my college journey. Life as a college student has been a marathon of challenges that come and go. But one thing I will never do is quit," she said resoundingly.
Social justice has been a pinnacle part of her BW studies and activities. Her own experience in attending an underfunded public school gave her an eyewitness account of the socio-economic and education barriers students face in these districts. When she came to BW, she didn't leave the past behind. She sought opportunities to make herself an instrument of change.
As a 2022-23 BW Brain Center Fellow, Basit-Hightower focused her research and community engagement on the topic of educational attainment for low-income individuals and people of color. Findings from her research indicated that people born into a cycle of poverty make an effort to obtain a better future for themselves but are often overcome by the realities of their current economic status — which can include a lack of money and connections to financial resources. She also found that these individuals don't have assistance in applying to college or preparing them for transitioning to being a college student.
"'Real Talk' was created out of my Brain Fellows project in collaboration with BW's Trio Upward Bound," said Basit-Hightower. "The advice series was designed to reach high school students from disadvantaged backgrounds as they consider a college pathway.
"I wanted to give raw and unfiltered advice on what college means for people like us. Not the average college student who may have more help from their parents, but for students who are coming to college with the weight of having to survive on their own," she explained.
"In the workshops, I gave advice on how students can set themselves up for success academically and financially starting from their first year. Topics included how to self-advocate, balancing work and school, finding campus jobs, and understanding financial aid packages," she added.
This summer, Basit-Hightower traveled abroad for the first time as a participant in the Lex fellowship program, a combined pre-law internship and study abroad experience. The prestigious opportunity took her to Spain, where she explored different sectors of the legal field. She was able to analyze real cases and develop oral argument and legal writing skills.
Upon her arrival back in Northeast Ohio, she quickly began work as a Cleveland Legal Aid Society intern and BW Summer Scholar, where she studied how Affirmative Action policies have impacted the educational and financial outcomes of lower-income and minority Ohioans.
As she prepares to begin her senior year, the aspiring public interest lawyer and policy educator is poised for success. The past looms large, but equally prominent are her confidence and determination.
"Refusing to be a victim of circumstance, I took control of my own future. I broke down barriers that once stood in front of my dreams and began to bulldoze my own path to success. I sought out every opportunity to be involved on campus and gain the resources I didn't have," stated Basit-Hightower.
"I know how hard it was for me to overcome the challenges of my circumstances, so I want to give back to others like me." It is a mission, a goal and a passion that the advocacy leader holds close to her heart and is an ongoing pursuit.
