As a high school student from a low-income background in Columbus, Ohio, Axusmawe Asmelash assumed the local state university would be the most affordable option for him. However, with encouragement from a mentor — who was a QuestBridge Scholar — he was admitted to Boston University through QuestBridge. “It felt like a door I didn’t know existed was swung open,” he recalls, “It gave me and my family hope for a brighter future.” This opportunity helped set him on a path to becoming a software engineer at Dimensional Fund Advisors, where he has discovered what thriving means to him.

At Boston University, Axusmawe majored in Political Science, with a minor in Data Science. Outside the classroom, he was involved with student government, mental health organizations, the Ethiopian dance team, and more.

He also experienced many “firsts” as a first-generation college student: first to eat in a dining hall, first to make friends on campus, and first to take college classes. “Once I realized that the first step is often the hardest, it became more manageable. Though my story is filled with firsts, it's what I do next that defines my success,” he says.

One of those “firsts” included landing a summer internship through a QuestBridge career program. After his second year, Axusmawe joined Dimensional Fund Advisors as a marketing intern and was invited back as a software engineering intern the following summer. “Both experiences provided valuable insights into corporate life,” he explains. “The work was rigorous, with interns expected to collaborate with full-time employees to deliver a final project to their teams. Since I worked across two teams, I gained experience in a variety of areas. Looking back, I now see that both of my projects required cross-team collaboration to be successful.”

Axusmawe discovered a lot about himself through the internships. “Above all, I've realized I thrive on tackling challenging problems — whether it's solving a Rubik’s Cube, managing multinational marketing campaigns, or developing applications from scratch. These challenges energize me and push me to be successful,” he reflects.

After graduating from Boston University in 2025, Axusmawe accepted a full-time position as a software engineer at Dimensional Fund Advisors. He attributes much of his success to being flexible and confident. He advises other QuestBridge Scholars: “Trust that no matter where you end up, you’ll thrive. The best career stories come from the ability to grow and learn from each experience, which ultimately enhances your performance in future roles. Keep an open mind, embrace a life of continuous learning, and success will follow.”