What is your background?: I’m from Kenya, born and raised. I’m the last of three siblings and my family and I grew up in Nairobi, the capital, where my dad worked as a banker and my mom as a restaurateur (they are both retired now). My educational journey has been slightly more diverse than that of the average Kenyan. From kindergarten to halfway through 6th grade, I attended a school that taught in the national curriculum, then switched to an American one till the end. For most of my high school, I homeschooled due to some slowdowns that took place in my senior class at the school I went to. As I neared completion, my dad had to undergo three brain surgeries, and that delayed (along with COVID) my remaining years of high school, due to having to take some time off helping him recuperate. Fortunately, we were able to find a professional caregiver , just in time before leaving for college.
What brought you to Kirkwood and why?: Well, my eldest sister is a Kirkwood alum, but that wasn’t my first reason. I had been hunting for colleges, but to no avail, and it was around July/August 2022 that I stumbled upon Iowa State University, and it immediately piqued my interest due to its regional superiority in engineering. Shortly after, I learned that Kirkwood has a transfer partnership with Iowa State, and I immediately applied. I felt confident applying to Kirkwood since my sister was an alum and due to the strong and diverse programs, as well as Global Learning’s swift response during my application process, which was actually the swiftest of any college application I did!
What is your program of study and what interests you about it?: As hinted, I’m an engineering major taking the Associates of Science/Liberal Arts, with an interest electrical engineering. This wasn’t my first choice though. I initially opted for construction engineering, but by January 2024, I had settled for electrical engineering. Fortunately, my change didn’t require me to change my academic program. Engineering has always been my passion, and my whole life growing up has just been a journey of learning where I want to be. For the longest time, I wanted to pursue aerospace engineering due to my love for planes and flying. but as I grew older, the more I gained perspective and an openness of mind to explore other disciplines.
Are you involved in anything on campus?: Yes! I am fortunate to be the president of the Kirkwood Global Student Association (previously known as Global Voices), which is a Global Learning-sponsored club committed to building a community of both international and domestic students where everyone can interact and network. I am also a consulting member of the Kirkwood Black Student Union. I also occasionally participate in the STEM Club. I’d like to add Phi Theta Kappa on this list, but I haven’t really plugged in other than attending an initiation ceremony. I am also a photographer for the Kirkwood Communique!
What do you do for fun?: I love taking pictures, and so in my free time, and whenever any other opportunity arises, I grab my camera and go out on a shoot. I feel like there is always a story to be told through the lens, and I try my best to capture those moments. I also love playing soccer, and so whenever weather and time allows, my friends and I organize a match down at the field by the horticultural center. One thing I hope to get into in the future is golfing.
Where do you see yourself in five years?: In five years I aspire to be in a relatively settled place in my career. But furthermore, I desire to be able to capitalize on my passion and start a business by then, hopefully. I’ll be 30 by then, and so I hope I can be a mentor to someone who is in the same path as myself or just someone who I can give some advice to. I always love helping people, and it would be the joy of my life to be in a position to do so.