Meet Medha, Class of ’23

OneGoal Year Two Fellow Medha Kukkalli delivered an inspiring speech at the OneGoal Houston 10th-Anniversary Celebration. The following is a transcript of Medha’s remarks about her next journey into postsecondary education after graduating from high school with the class of 2023.

Hi everyone, my name is Medha Kukkalli, and I’m a OneGoal Year Two Fellow and soon-to-be graduate from Westside High School and a first-year student at the University of Houston. I am delighted to represent the OneGoal Fellows on this momentous occasion, celebrating ten years of OneGoal in Houston.

It’s a surreal moment for me to have the opportunity to stand in front of you all today at one of the most critical turning points in my life. In a little over one month from now, I, the daughter of Indian immigrants raised in the great city of Houston, will don my cap and gown and walk across the stage to accept my diploma as a high school graduate.

How I Prepared for College

So how did I get here? And by here, I mean not only ready to graduate, but I’m graduating with a plan in place to continue my education, some certainty about how it will all be paid for, and confidence in the fact that I have the tools and support to guide me in earning my degree.

It started when I heard about this postsecondary advising and support program on campus called OneGoal. I am someone who likes to plan, and I knew I wanted to go to college, but I had no idea how to go about making that happen. What schools should I consider? How do I go about applying? The bigger question: How will I afford it?

And I took to the class right away – it was such a good experience. I felt an instant connection with everyone in my class; we became fast friends, and we were all still so close. I came in expecting to get answers to my many questions, but what I didn’t expect was the confidence I would gain from being in such a fulfilling environment. My Program Director, Ms. Strickland, fostered a truly inclusive environment, encouraging us to be vulnerable about our experiences, while also sharing scholarship opportunities and helping us with our personal statements. She even helped me find a tutoring job where I fell in love with human development and teaching, pathways I intend to explore deeper when I begin college.

I do not want to leave college under a mountain of debt. Who Does? Through every step of personal exploration, I knew that overall cost stood far and above everything else as my number one concern. So together with Ms. Strickland, we sprang into action, researching schools that were in my price range, where I could go that offered substantial financial aid, and which schools have a high percentage of completion for students from lower-income households.

I am barely scratching the surface of everything that goes into building a ‘best fit’ list through OneGoal. It’s incredibly comprehensive. But through that process, the University of Houston came up in my search. They offer free tuition to students from families making less than $65K. It’s close to my family, so I can save by living at home for the first year, and they offer a rigorous course environment that will meet my academic needs.

I’m getting into the weeds a bit here, but I tell you all of this because I want everyone to understand what a rare and golden opportunity being part of OneGoal has been for me. I have heard the stat thrown around about how the average high school student only receives 38 minutes of postsecondary advising per year of high school. Without OneGoal, that would be me, sweating it out alone, trying desperately to find the answers to my questions in a school environment with limited resources to support me in the way that I needed.

I think of my Ajji (my grandmother), and my mom, and the values of discipline and kindness toward others that they both instilled in me. Family is immensely important to me, and the long phone calls with my grandmother, where I sometimes read Hindu scriptures or just simply catch up, are moments I will carry with me on my journey after high school. I want my family to see me graduate from college and find a career that brings me fulfillment and stability.

When I am done here, I would love to chat with as many of you as possible to gain insight into the various career fields here tonight and maybe even talk about possible internships or job opportunities. My motto tonight is ‘network!’ I do not want to disappoint my Ajji, so I will be making my rounds. Again, thank you all so much for allowing me this time to tell my story. I truly am grateful to have the opportunity to share my voice with you all today.