Former Wendy's Employee Is Heading to Yale After His Bosses Helped Pay for College

Sometimes, a little faith from the right person can change the entire course of someone's life.

For Thalles Winner DeSouza, that faith came from quite a few people along the way. The former Wendy's employee arrived in the United States from Brazil as a teenager, learned English while working long hours, became a first-generation college student, and eventually served as student government president at Cape Cod Community College.

Now, he's heading to Yale University on a full scholarship. Tucked inside this remarkable journey is a lovely reminder of what can happen when someone sees potential in another person and decides to do something about it.

His Journey Started Thousands of Miles From Yale

Thalles grew up in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, where gun violence was part of everyday life in his neighborhood. In 2016, gunfire erupted inside his family's home while he was sleeping. Thankfully, Thalles survived, and his mother eventually brought the family to the United States for a safer future.

Cape Cod became their home, but starting over wasn't easy. Thalles told the Cape Cod Times in 2023 that he worked 40 hours a week while attending high school. Some nights, he'd finish work around 2 am, only to wake up at 6 am and head back to school.

At the same time, he was also learning English and, unexpectedly, working fast-food jobs became part of that education. It gave him plenty of opportunity to practice the language with the people around him.

His Wendy's Bosses Saw Something in Him

Eventually, Thalles went on to become a manager.

At one point, though, he considered leaving for construction work. He was hoping to earn more money and save for college. That's when Wendy's franchise owners Usama El-Sehrawey and the late Ernest Smily offered Thalles another possibility. 

They asked him to stay, and they'd help him get an education. The owners began putting money aside, based on the hours Thalles worked, eventually helping to cover three years of his tuition at Cape Cod Community College.

That college scholarship did much more than pay a tuition bill. It gave Thalles a springboard to new heights.

Community College Became His Launching Pad

Thalles didn't simply show up for classes at community college and collect credits. He got involved.

At Cape Cod Community College, he studied political science, founded a faith-based student club, and became president of the Student Government Association. He also worked on issues affecting other students, including affordability and civic participation.

Cape Cod Community College featured Thalles in one of its student profiles, describing him as a political science student who hoped to transfer to a four-year university after earning his associate degree. At the time, Yale wasn't the ending anyone would write down with certainty. But, the next step was already there.

Then Came the Yale Acceptance

After studying at Cape Cod Community College, and later Bunker Hill Community College, Thalles decided to aim very high. That ambition paid off when he learned he'd been accepted to Yale University with a full scholarship.

Thalles plans to study political science and human rights while following a pre-law track, with law school in his sights afterward. For someone who arrived in the United States as a teenager still learning English, that’s quite a journey.

But, Thalles never seems to treat his Yale acceptance as his accomplishment alone.

He Went Back to Say Thank You

Before heading off to New Haven, Thalles returned to the Wendy's where a major part of this story began. He met with El-Sehrawey and Terry Smily, the son of the late Ernest Smily, to show them where their investment in him had led.

Thalles has repeatedly pointed back to the people who helped him, especially his mother and the people who supported his education. And that's, perhaps, the loveliest part of this story.

The scholarship his Wendy's bosses provided didn't guarantee Yale. They couldn't earn his grades, lead student government, learn a new language, or fill out his college applications for him. They simply helped make the next step possible.

Sometimes, One Open Door Is Enough 

It's easy to focus on Yale as the big ending to Thalles' story. But, long before his acceptance letter, there were people who helped him get a little closer to where he wanted to go.

His mother brought their family to the United States for a safer life. His employers helped make college possible. And, once he got there, Thalles took every opportunity he was given and kept building on it.

His Wendy's bosses couldn't have known where their decision to help with college would lead. They simply saw something in a hardworking young man and gave him a chance. And, sometimes, that's all someone needs to get started.

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