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Education (and Lady Gaga) helped her pave her path forward. Now she wants to give others the same opportunity.

Makaila Cerrone. Photo by Matthew Modoono/Northeastern University

My mama told me when I was young, we are all born superstars”

Those words are more than just lyrics to Lady Gaga’s hit song about self-acceptance, Born This Way. They serve as the soundtrack to Makaila Cerrone’s life.

Cerrone, who overcame hardships early in life that served as her personal rocket fuel to help others succeed, chose the song as her anthem. Through a Northeastern Massachusetts Promise Fellowship that starts in August, she will be working with Black and Hispanic youngsters at the Boston-based non-profit MissionSafe, preparing them for high school and college.

The fellowship allows her to continue to channel her altruism and, in keeping with the Lady G hit, live life on her own terms and stay true to who she is.

The 2020 political science and psychology graduate credits her mother’s determination to make a better life for herself as Cerrone’s inspiration to never settle for being average.

Continue reading at News@Northeastern.

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