Growing up in a small rural community in Wayne County shaped Evelyn Trejo’s values and sense of connection early on.
“Everybody knew each other,” she said. “I loved that about where I grew up. I definitely prefer the smaller town.”
That appreciation for close-knit communities has guided Trejo through her education and into her career. She graduated this year from the University of Mount Olive with a bachelor’s degree in psychology, though her path wasn’t always clear.
“I was uncertain about what I wanted to do after graduation,” she said. “I was considering speech-language pathology or social work.”
A class project helped her realize social work was the better fit.
Financial concerns were also top of mind. Raised by a single mother in a low-income household, Trejo worried about how she would afford college.
“My biggest worry in high school was how I was going to pay for college,” she said. “I didn’t want to put that financial hardship on my mom.”
With support from her high school advisor who pointed her to the Golden LEAF Scholarship, Trejo saw college as attainable and ultimately graduated debt-free.
A turning point came through the Golden LEAF Rural Internship Initiative, where she interned at the Mediation Center of Eastern Carolina in Kenansville.
“That experience really stood out to me,” she said.
There, she worked with youth through Teen Court and the Girls Empowered program, assisting with workshops on resilience, financial literacy, and self-esteem. The work felt personal.
“There were a lot of Hispanic families, and I was able to help with translation and communication,” she said. “Giving back to my community in that way meant a lot.”
Today, Trejo serves as a Next Step Advisor in Cumberland County, supporting more than 370 low-income, underserved, and first-generation students with college and career planning.
“I meet with students one-on-one, host workshops and events, and help with college applications, financial aid, scholarships, and career exploration, basically anything related to their postsecondary plans,” said Trejo. “My ultimate goal is for every student to feel seen and supported in their goals.”
Her journey has now come full circle. Once guided by a high school counselor who helped her see college as possible, she now provides that same guidance to other students dreaming of a college education.
For Trejo, rural North Carolina is about resilience, close-knit connections, and opportunity, a vision she is sharing with her students.
“Rural North Carolina is about family, community, and shared experiences,” she said. “It also means giving back and creating opportunities for the next generation. There’s hardship, but people keep pushing forward and that gives me hope.”
Learn more about the Golden LEAF Scholarship Program.