My journey began in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and continued through a refugee camp in Malawi before my family immigrated to the United States. As a first-generation student, I learned to overcome language barriers, adapt to a new environment, and pursue opportunities my family had sacrificed greatly to give me. Watching my mother experience health challenges related to diabetes also made science personal and inspired me to learn more about human health.

That interest led me to complete bachelor’s and master’s degrees in biotechnology and gain hands-on scientific research experience. Along the way, I became an instructor, tutor, and mentor, helping students understand chemistry, biology, mathematics, and other difficult subjects. Teaching showed me that one of my greatest strengths is making complicated ideas easier to understand and helping students recognize their own potential.