Finding the Right Path

When Ben Claflin began his Longhorn journey, he felt uncertain of his academic and professional goals. To compound his unsettled feeling, the COVID-19 pandemic peaked during his freshman year, which meant distancing from the people and the campus that makes the UT experience so special. Despite these obstacles, Ben’s story ultimately became one familiar to Longhorns — a journey marked by connection, support and personal growth.

To better understand Ben, it’s important to know that he began making world-changing contributions long before stepping onto the Forty Acres. As an exchange student in Germany during his senior year of high school, he identified a need for more robust resources for exchange students. He presented a proposal to the U.S. Department of State and received several grants for his startup, MentorRing, which allows exchange students to connect with exchange alumni to help support them through the experience.

When pandemic restrictions lifted, Ben continued to demonstrate his adventurous nature by immersing himself in all UT had to offer.

With the support of scholarship donors and the guidance of academic staff, he engaged in multiple opportunities to help him find the right future path for him. He participated in programs with the Clements Center for National Security, which took him to Europe and Asia, and the Normandy Scholars Program, which broadened his understanding of World War II history. Both experiences made a tremendous impact on Ben.

“The thing that changed the most was my perspective,” says Ben. “I really got out of my comfort zone and tried to see the world.”

This growth helped Ben define his interests and identify his goals.

“I’m very grateful for UT,” says Ben, “and I’m going to continue the adventure by working at the forefront of technology and national security.”