Wendy’s worker wanted to quit, bosses funded his college; now he’s heading to Yale

Thalles Winner DeSouza with Terry Smily and Usama El-Sehrawey celebrating his acceptance into Yale 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 USDeSouza’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 ...