Kessy Gohin

My entrepreneurial journey at the GRIT Center didn’t start with a single idea, it started with curiosity, ambition, and the desire to make the most out of every opportunity I was given.

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My name is Kessy, and I’m an international student from France. Coming to the United States was already a big step outside of my comfort zone. New language, new culture, new system, everything felt different. But at the same time, it felt like a place full of opportunities, and I knew I wanted to take advantage of every single one.

The GRIT Center quickly became a big part of that journey.

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I started by participating in one competition… then another… and before I knew it, I had taken part in every business competition I could. In total, I competed in seven. Each one challenged me in a different way, pitching ideas, answering questions under pressure, managing time, and constantly improving.

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At the beginning, nothing felt easy. Speaking in English in front of judges, competing against experienced students, and stepping into an entrepreneurial environment for the first time was intimidating. There were moments of doubt, moments where I felt behind. But I never saw that as a reason to stop, only as a reason to push further.

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What makes me most proud is not just the results, but the progression. Competition after competition, I became more confident, more structured, and more strategic. I learned how to turn an idea into something real, something that could actually help people.

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Through the GRIT Center, I didn’t just pitch ideas, I built something meaningful. A student-focused service on campus that solves real needs, and that I can take with me anywhere in the future. That’s when I realized that entrepreneurship is not just about business, it’s about impact.

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One of the most emotional moments of my journey was the Snowdown Competition, my final competition at Snow College. After months of effort, late nights, and constant improvements, my teammate Fernando and I stood there presenting something we truly believed in. Winning funding, awards, and recognition was incredible, but what mattered the most was everything it represented: growth, resilience, and teamwork.

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Because I didn’t do this alone.

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The people I met along the way made this experience unforgettable. Teammates who pushed me, mentors who believed in me, and the GRIT Center team who continuously supported and encouraged me. They created an environment where students like me, coming from different countries, backgrounds, and levels of experience, can truly thrive.

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The GRIT Center didn’t just teach me how to pitch a business. It taught me how to believe in my ideas, how to take risks, how to accept feedback, and how to keep going even when things are challenging.

Today, I feel more confident not only as a student, but as a future professional and entrepreneur. I’ve developed skills in leadership, communication, and critical thinking, but more importantly, I’ve developed a mindset: one that is resilient, ambitious, and open to growth.

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My advice to future students is simple: take every opportunity. Even if you don’t feel ready. Especially if you don’t feel ready. That’s where the real growth happens.

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Looking back, I can say with certainty that the GRIT Center has been one of the most impactful parts of my experience at Snow College. It helped shape who I am today, and who I am becoming.

And this is only the beginning.