Erick Masaua experienced life’s greatest blessings and some of its most difficult challenges while pursuing his master’s degree at The University of Baltimore.
Shortly after beginning the M.S. in Counseling Psychology program, Erick became a father. During the height of his graduate journey, Erick’s father was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer.
Both his daughter and father, along with his desire to create a better future, inspired Erick to keep pushing onward.
“Balancing school, family, work and that emotional experience tested me in many ways, but it also taught me resilience, gratitude and perseverance,” he said.
Originally from Tanzania, Erick came to the United States in search of opportunity, growth, and the chance to build a meaningful future for himself and his family. His professional experiences in mental health and healthcare strengthened his passion for counseling and helping others navigate life’s challenges.
“I’ve always been passionate about understanding people and helping others through difficult moments,” Erick said. “My experiences taught me the importance of mental health, support, resilience and human connection.”
Inspired by that passion, Erick pursued a degree in counseling psychology at UBalt. In his journey, he found both academic and personal support.
“I chose UBalt because it felt like a place where I could truly grow personally and professionally,” he said. “As an international student, finding a supportive and welcoming community was important to me, and UBalt gave me that experience.”
Some of Erick’s most meaningful memories at UBalt came through the relationships and growth he experienced along the way.
“Some of my favorite moments were building relationships with professors, classmates, and mentors, growing through challenges, and ultimately reaching graduation after balancing work, business, family, and academics,” he said.
At the culmination of his program, Erick graduates with more than a degree. He feels he’s also graduating with a story rooted in resilience, persistence, leadership and hope.
Erick gave a piece of his story as the commencement speaker at the graduate ceremony on May 20. He urged his fellow graduates to remember the strength they too showed to reach this milestone.
“There were moments when quitting would have felt reasonable. Logical, even,” he said. “But we did not quit. We kept going.”
Though hundreds of miles apart, Erick’s two pillars got to witness his moment in the spotlight. His daughter sat with the audience in the Lyric Baltimore’s theater. His father watched the ceremony’s livestream broadcast from his home in Tanzania.
Looking ahead, Erick hopes to continue building a career focused on counseling, leadership, advocacy, entrepreneurship and community impact. His goal is to support underserved communities both in the United States and Tanzania.
To future students, Erick offered this advice:
“Trust the process, take one day at a time, stay resilient, ask for help when needed, and avoid comparing your journey to others. Growth takes time, and consistency matters.”