Paying it forward will help Thalles Winner DeSouza attend an Ivy League institution.

DeSouza was working at a Wendy's fast food restaurant in Cape Cod, MA, while he was still in high school, People reports. He had moved to the U.S. after surviving a shooting in Brazil.

Thinking of his future, he considered going into construction as an alternative to help pay for his higher education. That was until he received an offer from franchise owners Usama El-Sehrawey and the late Ernest Smily, who own locations across Cape Cod and the Plymouth, MA, area, according to Good Morning America. The pair recognized DeSouza had a bright future ahead.

"I said, 'OK, you need to work hard but if you stay with us at Wendy's, we will make sure you'll be able to go to college. So just work hard and for every hour you work, we're gonna put money aside for your college education,'" El-Sehrawey told GMA.

Terry Smily, Ernest's son, added:

"We saw a bright future in him and so we wanted to help in any way we can."

The owners promoted DeSouza during his senior year and also awarded him a scholarship to attend Cape Cod Community College, People shared.

"At the time, I had no idea how much that opportunity would change my life," he said, according to the outlet.

Now 23, DeSouza will be attending Yale University on a full-ride scholarship, majoring in political science with a minor in human rights, per Instagram. After completing his undergraduate studies, he plans to attend law school.

DeSouza shared an Instagram video of the moment he learned he was admitted to the university.

Thinking of the contributions of El-Sehrawey and Smily, DeSouza reflected, "What has always stood out to me is not what they built as business owners. It's the way they invest in people," he said in a Facebook post, according to People. "Thank you … for believing in me. Your generosity opened a door that changed my life, and I will always be grateful. Sometimes all it takes is one person who believes in you. I'm living proof of that."

DeSouza had a chance to meet with El-Sehrawey and Terry Smily to thank them for paying it forward, per the outlet.

The post Wendy's Employee Received Scholarship From Owners To Attend Community College, Now He's Heading To Yale University appeared first on AfroTech.

The post Wendy's Employee Received Scholarship From Owners To Attend Community College, Now He's Heading To Yale University appeared first on AfroTech.