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Creating Opportunity, One Step at a Time: Favor Toby, Class of 2026
When Favor Toby arrived at East Stroudsburg University, she didn't expect to stay.
Originally planning to attend another institution, ESU was meant to be temporary. One semester. Get acclimated. Move on. But what began as a short stop became the foundation for something much bigger.
Coming from just outside Philadelphia, ESU felt unfamiliar at first. The pace was different. The setting was different. Like many students, Favor had to adjust academically and personally while navigating the pressure she placed on herself to succeed.
What changed everything was connection.
In her first year, faculty and staff saw more than a student in a classroom. They saw potential. A conversation about a business idea turned into mentorship. Encouragement turned into action. That belief became momentum.
Over the next four years, Favor immersed herself in campus life. She served as a Resident Assistant for nearly her entire college career, eventually becoming a Head RA. She led multiple student organizations, participated in entrepreneurship programs, and earned second place in the Warrior Startup Challenge for a business concept she once doubted she could bring to life.
Along the way, she experienced the challenges that often accompany ambition. Burnout. Personal loss. Moments of uncertainty. What carried her through was not a single program or resource, but a community that showed up.
"You don't realize how many people you have around you until you really need them," she said. "That's when you see your village."
That village included mentors, supervisors, classmates, friends, and family. It reminded her that growth is not about doing everything alone. It is about stepping forward, even when it feels uncomfortable.
Today, Favor is completing her degree in business management with a concentration in entrepreneurship and a minor in psychology. She is graduating with honors and preparing to begin a full-time role with Hershey.
Looking back, she describes ESU as a place filled with opportunity for those willing to try.
"ESU really is what you make it," she said. "There's so much opportunity here. You just have to find it and be willing to step into it."
On Giving Day, support helps create moments like these. Moments where belief turns into leadership. And leadership turns into impact.
On April 1-2, every gift counts toward Giving Day participation. Whether you choose academics, scholarships, the Warrior Fund, or Athletics, your support strengthens the ESU experience.