A Wendy’s worker who survived a shooting in Brazil is heading to Yale University after his bosses helped him pay for college.Thalles Winner DeSouza, 23, had started working at a Wendy’s restaurant in Cape Cod, Massachusetts, while he was still in high school. As per his Facebook post, his plans at the time were focused on earning money, and he had considered leaving Wendy’s for construction work.It was then when his bosses, Usama El-Sehrawey and the late Ernest Smily, encouraged him to stay and continue his education. They eventually helped fund his studies at Cape Cod Community College, an opportunity DeSouza says changed the direction of his life.Four years after receiving that support, DeSouza has been accepted into Yale University. He shared his journey in an online post on July 28, thanking the people who had supported him and saying their generosity had opened a door that changed his life.
From Brazil to the US
DeSouza’s journey to the US began after a shooting in Brazil. In 2016, when he was a teenager, he survived a shooting inside his home while he was sleeping.“In 2016, after nearly being killed by a shooting inside my own home while I was sleeping, my mother decided to drop everything and come to the United States,” he wrote in the caption of an Instagram video showing the moment he received his Yale acceptance.DeSouza was raised by a single mother of four in Vila Kennedy, a favela in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. He came to the US at the age of 13 and did not know any English at the time.After moving to the US, DeSouza continued his education while also working. His job at Wendy’s became an important part of that journey.He joined the fast-food chain as a teenager and was promoted to shift manager while still in high school. But after some time, he wanted to leave the restaurant and find work in construction because he believed it would offer better pay and help him save money for college. That was when his bosses stepped in with another option.
Wendy’s bosses pays for college
El-Sehrawey told TODAY that DeSouza had planned to move into construction because he could earn more money there. “He told me that he would like to go and work in construction because there is more money in construction than Wendy’s,” El-Sehrawey said. “I said, ‘If you stay at Wendy’s, I will make sure you go to college.’”El-Sehrawey and Smily then began setting aside extra money for each hour DeSouza worked at the restaurant. The money eventually became enough to cover three years of tuition at Cape Cod Community College.DeSouza had already been working as a manager and finishing high school when the two men awarded him the scholarship.“Four years ago, while I was working as a manager at Wendy’s and finishing high school, Mr Usama El-Sehrawey and the late Mr. Ernest Smily awarded me a scholarship to attend Cape Cod Community College,” DeSouza wrote in his post. “At the time, I had no idea how much that opportunity would change my life.”His time at the community college became more than just a way to continue his education. DeSouza started a religious club on campus, earned straight As and served as student body president for two years.After spending three years at Cape Cod Community College, he transferred to Bunker Hill Community College, where he studied for another year. He then applied to Yale University.
Yale acceptance arrived
DeSouza found out that Yale had accepted him in May 2026. He celebrated the news with his family, with the moment captured on video.The acceptance marked a major change from where he had started. He had moved to the US after surviving a shooting, learned English and worked while pursuing his education. His bosses at Wendy’s had also continued to support his studies.DeSouza received a full scholarship to Yale valued at more than $194,500, or more than 1 million Brazilian reais.El-Sehrawey said he wanted to reward DeSouza for continuing to work towards his goals despite the difficulties he had faced. “Moving here to America, trying to learn the language and at the same time study. He’s done a lot of unbelievable stuff. A lot of young people have opportunities to do the same, and they would not take the opportunity.”DeSouza has credited his bosses for seeing potential in him when he was still working at Wendy’s and helping him take the next step in his education.In his post, he said the support he received mattered more to him than what his bosses had built as business owners. “What has always stood out to me is not what they built as business owners. It’s the way they invest in people,” he wrote.“Thank you for believing in me. Your generosity opened a door that changed my life, and I will always be grateful. Sometimes all it takes is one person who believes in you. I’m living proof of that,” he added.DeSouza will begin classes at Yale in the fall. He plans to major in political science and minor in human rights. He also intends to follow a pre-law track because he wants to attend law school and become a lawyer. “I’ll be majoring in political science, and my minor will be human rights,” DeSouza told Today.And as he prepares to begin his studies, DeSouza says the lesson from his journey is simple- “Sometimes all it takes is one person who believes in you. I’m living proof of that.”
