One of eastern North Carolina’s own is getting a little help to pursue his dreams.

Eddi Cabrera Blanco, 23, was born in Mexico and moved to eastern North Carolina when he was 4 years old. He graduated from West Craven High School in 2011, but due to his legal status and financial situation at the time, could not continue on to college.

That didn’t deter him, however. Cabrera Blanco was able to attend one semester at Craven Community College, was legally approved to work in January 2013 and worked as a receptionist and medical assistant at doctors’ offices. Most recently, he completed a medical assistant course at Beaufort County Community College.

“I was kind of cut off due to the financial part,” he said. “It was a bit of a struggle because I wanted to pursue a higher education.”

Now, five years later, Cabrera Blanco is realizing that dream, thanks to being awarded The Dream US Scholarship, a new scholarship totaling $80,000 over the course of four years.

Cabrera Blanco said it was meant to be, as he just happened to see information about the scholarship on his Facebook newsfeed and decided to look into it. He had received other scholarships before, but they were not enough to fund his dream of continuing college.

Recipients of The Dream US Scholarship are termed “DREAMers,” or children of parents who immigrated to the United States. There are certain GPA requirements, and a recipient must live in a state that charges non-citizens out-of-state tuition.

“It’s kind of cool to be one of the first recipients,” Cabrera Blanco said. “(Nursing) is now a reachable goal through that scholarship.”

With some organizational help from The Dream US’ David Velazquez, Cabrera Blanco is set to start attending Delaware State University this fall to study nursing — a dream of his since high school.

Cabrera Blanco said he is nervous and excited to start college this month, and he is lucky to have a fellow “DREAMer” as a roommate.

His family will be supporting him from Washington, along with an older brother attending college in Utah.

Cabrera Blanco said he is grateful to God for the opportunity and knows it is the right path to take.

“Sometimes we’re ready for something, but Heavenly Father or God, he doesn’t think so,“ he said. “I think everything happens for a reason.”