Finding His Shot: How Matur Turned Challenge Into Success
Matur grew up a quiet kid. Born in South Sudan, he remembers a childhood filled with games of soccer alongside his cousins. But, when he was recruited by a coach and moved to the United States to play basketball, the weight of starting over fell heavy on him.
He had to leave everything familiar behind, and was overwhelmed with the culture shock, especially the language barrier.
In Arizona, as Matur adjusted to a new life, basketball quickly became a refuge and passion. Still, friendships were challenging as he struggled to connect and relate to his peers — often ending up isolating himself. When he graduated high school, his social worker sent him the Education and Training Voucher (ETV) application. It marked more than just another step in his education; Matur was on a journey to find himself and build a future on his terms.
Matur’s freshman year of college was full of excitement and independence. He was eager to learn more about himself and others through a psychology major, and was recruited to play basketball. But stepping into adulthood wasn’t easy.
“Everyone thinks you take care of yourself and you feel free, but you can slip away. I was so frustrated and disappointed. I didn’t know if I was ever going to finish college.”
Matur struggled in his classes trying to juggle his academics with his basketball career taking a toll on him physically and mentally. By the end of the semester, he had a GPA under 2.0.
Foster Success provided him a space to be open and honest about the challenges he was facing. When he confided to his ETV coaches that he was having trouble, he was met with no judgement and a team ready to help Matur break down the steps towards his goals.
His ETV coaches encouraged him to get a tutor, and he began attending tutoring sessions three times a week. He also got a calendar to schedule out his assignments and classes. The changes were transformative, and at the end of his next semester, his GPA had risen to a 2.8.
Foster Success provided the balance of guidance and accountability Matur needed. Like the 73% of young people who say ETV helped them stay on track to complete their education, he found that the tools and genuine check-ins gave him structure and space for his confidence to grow.
“It’s a support system that allows you to reach your goals and believe that you can,” Matur said.
Now that he was on the track to earn a degree within his goal timeframe, Matur started taking opportunities to volunteer at camps and basketball training. Knowing firsthand the impact of mentorship, he shares his story with kids and encourages their passions.
Today, he’s preparing for a new chapter of his life. He graduated this spring with a Bachelor’s in Psychology, becoming the first of his family to earn a postsecondary degree. Matur plans to pursue a Masters of Science in Leadership while he works toward his long-term dream: playing basketball professionally.
After that, Matur aims to continue mentoring and coaching kids. It’s a purpose founded on the empowerment he received through Foster Success.
“It's inspiring to people like myself. I have that mindset now that someone supported me through college. I’m trying to give back through basketball.”
Over time, Matur has seen how the challenges he’s faced helped him grow and adapt — appreciating both where he came from and where he is now.