Our Live Más Scholars sure know how to inspire and motivate anyone to find their passion. This is especially true of our Team Member Scholars – who are a pillar in our Live Más community AND in our Taco Bell restaurants around the nation.
We got a chance to sit down with Aaron Pitt Jr., a two-time Live Más Scholarship recipient, multi-year Summer of Connection attendee and service champion at Summerwood Corporation’s Dalton, PA Taco Bell location. He shared with us his experience being a Taco Bell Team Member and how the Live Más Scholarship has changed his life.
TBF: Tell us a little about yourself.
AP: Hi, my name is Aaron Pitt Jr. And I live in Pennsylvania. I attend Drexel University and am headed into my sophomore year. I am majoring in nursing and I work at the Downingtown Taco Bell store!
TBF: That’s great – and how did you hear about the Live Más Scholarship?
AP: It was November or December 2021 and my GM at the time – Bryant Evans – was walking around the store asking one by one if we had applied. He then proceeded explain about the LMS scholarship and what a crazy good opportunity it was for us. He specifically asked me to apply and that by doing so it would encourage others. I didn’t want to apply. I thought “Why would they choose me?” But after Brian continued to push me, I went ahead and did it and turns out it was the best decision I could have made because I ended up winning!
TBF: Love that. And that was your only scholarship? 
AP: I have received 2 scholarships, It’s been amazing.
TBF: You talk about not wanting to apply because you wouldn’t get it – what would you say helped shift that mindset for you? And what would you say to others thinking the same thing?
AP: I think I just had to sit down and really ask myself, why not? I mean, what’s the worst that could happen? I don’t get the scholarship, but then a lot of times people don’t look at the other side of that. What if I do get the scholarship? So I think it’s just a matter of taking the opportunities to succeed when you can and not letting yourself be your own enemy and just recognizing that some doors may not open.
But don’t be surprised when they do open. You won’t know until you knock.
So that’s what I would tell them, just to go for it. I even tell non-Taco Bell team members about it – I remember telling my floormates on campus to check it out.
TBF: That’s amazing to hear. So now we are going to talk a little more about what it means to be a scholar and a team member. What has your experience been?
AP: Being a team member at Taco Bell has taught me a lot – how to interact with customers, how to work in different situations. I feel like this will help me in my profession as a nurse, because there will be times where I don’t know what I’m doing or I don’t know what to do at first, but Taco Bell really teaches you prioritization skills and also teamwork skills. Taco Bell is a company that prioritizes people who work for them, the people that they consider to be family. For example, coming back from Summer of Connection, I had this new attitude and feeling like they truly care about me and my success.
TBF: Can you tell us a little more about your dreams or passions?
AP: My passion is a little broad, but it helped me decide on my career path. I want to help people and my passion is to help others. That’s why I chose nursing – I like to tell people I didn’t choose nursing, nursing chose me.
TBF: How has your education and the Live Mas Scholarship helped create new opportunities for you?
AP: It’s created connections, like at Summer of Connection. Being around people that are so passionate encourages you to be passionate about your own. And I love the fact that we’re all confident in who we are, but that we love to encourage each other to be ourselves.
Every time I go to events like Summer of Connection, I feel rejuvenated, and I create more connections plus I get a chance to see established relationships grow stronger and stronger.
TBF: How has your TB Franchise Taco Bell Team supported you on your journey?
AP: They support me 100% regarding the scholarship and my life in general. They acknowledge my journey and they’re really happy. My GM even sent me a video for SOC and saying congratulations and they were so proud – to keep it up and it’s the little things like that like even though I’m in San Diego, away from my store, across the other side of the country, I still feel like I’m back home. There’s a lot that I could say to the team, but I think the biggest thing that needs to be said is thank you. We see you and acknowledge you. Thank you for creating this opportunity for us to just thrive and prosper. And you know, there’s no us without you.
If you are interested in learning more about the Live Más Scholarship visit LiveMasScholarship.com.
Taco Bell Team Member Live Más Scholarships are funded through donations from Taco Bell Franchise Owners, Taco Bell Corporate and Taco Bell Foundation fundraising events.
The Taco Bell Foundation is a 501(c)(3) public charity. For more information visit www.tacobellfoundation.org