Arturo Fenton collaborates with Aspire Institute, leveraging social media to empower Latin American students to navigate global education and experiences. His story exemplifies reinvention, growth, and a commitment to expanding access to global opportunities for his community. After navigating the challenges of being a high school dropout, Fenton returned to school and acquired a scholarship to attend Tecnológico de Monterrey in his home country, Mexico. He described his experience going back to school as transformative, opening a world of opportunities for him personally, academically, and professionally.
Fenton’s second chance at education solidified his belief in its power to change lives. Now, through collaborations with organizations like Aspire Institute and his online initiative, Becarius, he works to help other Latin American students access high-quality higher education and equip them with tools needed to effectively compete for international academic opportunities.
A Second Chance at Education and The Power of Global Experiences
Fenton, born in Mérida, Mexico, spent most of his life in Querétaro. At 17, he dropped out of high school but soon faced the challenges of trying to build a future without formal education in a competitive world.
“This experience was a wake-up call that allowed me to mature and reconsider my life choices,” he said.
With a renewed respect for education, Fenton returned to school at 20, applying himself diligently and earning a scholarship to study Robotics Engineering at the Tecnológico de Monterrey. The friendships, mentorship and wealth of opportunities he encountered there ultimately reshaped the course of his life.
“Having experienced both ends of the educational spectrum, I can confidently say that college gave me a second chance at life,” he said. “I’m a strong advocate for formal education; beyond the knowledge it provides, it opens doors to opportunities that are difficult to access early in life without it.”
Fenton studied abroad in China and France, while also pursuing internships across different countries—experiences that highlighted the transformative power of global education and the rich ecosystem a university can provide. During his undergraduate years, he embarked on his entrepreneurial journey as well. He developed a management software for solar energy companies as a class project, which eventually evolved into a company.
Expanding Global Education Access for Latin American Students
As Fenton considered pursuing graduate studies abroad, he saw an underrepresentation of Latin American students in global education. This insight sparked a new opportunity to blend his entrepreneurial drive with a commitment to social impact. He started Becarius, leveraging social media to share opportunities and guide Latino students in securing scholarships for international studies. Since 2021, his efforts have helped students obtain over $10 million USD in scholarships.
“I’ve identified three critical barriers: limited awareness of available opportunities, ineffective application strategies, and low levels of English proficiency in the region,” he explained.
Leveraging the TikTok Boom to Empower Latin American Students
Capitalizing on TikTok’s growth in 2021, Fenton built his platform to raise awareness about opportunities in global education for Latin Americans.
I like to believe that as more talented students from our region study abroad, it will help dismantle some of the stereotypes and preconceived notions about Latin Americans.
“Social media has proven to be an incredibly powerful medium for communication and marketing. My silly videos have reached over 500 million people in the past few years,” he said with a laugh. “It’s amazing how such a simple approach can have a massive impact in today’s digital world.”
Through TikTok — and now Instagram — Fenton empowers Latin American students by providing resources, guidance, and information to help them navigate international scholarship programs and maximize global opportunities. He believes that studying abroad and connecting with a global network gives students access to top-tier institutions, fosters the development of essential soft skills, and opens doors to diverse communities and enhanced career prospects.
“I like to believe that as more talented students from our region study abroad, it will help dismantle some of the stereotypes and preconceived notions about Latin Americans,” he expressed. “This is extremely, extremely important to me.”
Collaborating with Aspire Institute to Expand Global Education and Experiences
I believe the Aspire Institute views education as a powerful tool for empowerment. This aligns closely with my own values, which is why I see a strong mutual purpose in our collaboration.
In early 2023, Fenton began collaborating with Aspire Institute. He has promoted the Aspire Leaders Program as a free resource available to Latin American students to sharpen their soft skills and grow as leaders by joining a global network.
“I believe the Aspire Institute views education as a powerful tool for empowerment,” he said. “This aligns closely with my own values, which is why I see a strong mutual purpose in our collaboration.”
He appreciates that the program provides a free, comprehensive leadership development and learning experience that adds to their CVs and resumes. He sees the value in program participants meeting new people, practicing their English, and broadening their horizons about new pathways.
To students who feel uncertain about their English proficiency and hesitate to apply, Fenton urges them to step out of their comfort zone and embrace the challenge.
“Take risks and view them as opportunities to improve your skills,” he advised. “Once you’re immersed in an English-based program, your language abilities will develop far more quickly than they would at home, and you’ll realize that many of your peers are in a similar situation.”
He also reassures those afraid of failing that rejection is an inherent part of trying new things. He advises them to not be discouraged when seeing others succeed.
“Social media often creates the illusion that everyone is succeeding, when in reality, it’s often the opposite,” he said. “Embrace failure as part of the process. You only need one ‘yes’—one scholarship, one degree, one university—to change your path.”
Fenton’s Future of Entrepreneurship and Social Impact
Fenton now resides in Norway, where he plans to establish his future. He recently completed his master’s degree in Entrepreneurship and Innovation at BI Norwegian Business School. Now, he is focused on expanding his business and advancing his mission to increase the representation of Latino students in global education. He values the opportunity to merge his entrepreneurial passion with his desire to make a meaningful contribution to society.
“I believe deeply in the work I’m doing,” he said. “I’ve experienced its impact firsthand, and I’m confident it will bring positive change to Latin America.”
