Amon Chumba’s journey from Kenya to the United States at the age of 17 presented a myriad of challenges and opportunities.
Upon his arrival in Springfield, Vermont, in the summer of 2022, Amon encountered significant cultural differences, particularly in cuisine and sports. He found American food notably less flavorful compared to the vibrant, spicy dishes he was accustomed to in Kenya. However, the diversity of sports in the US captured his interest, with wrestling, snowboarding, and American football offering exciting alternatives to his previous favourite, soccer.
The complexity of the American college application process proved to be one of the most significant adjustments for Amon. In Kenya, the system is more straightforward: students take national exams and receive a list of eligible colleges based on their grades. The stark contrast in timing and procedure initially led Amon to consider delaying his college application by a year. Despite the challenges, Amon, who had just completed his first year as a biology major at UMass Dartmouth, found that the move to the US ultimately benefited his educational pursuits.
This advantage was largely due to the support he received from his high school guidance counsellor Michelle Pinter-Petrillo and his VSAC GEAR UP outreach counselor, Jessi Krause Herron. Their guidance proved invaluable as Amon navigated the unfamiliar terrain of American higher education. Herron, recognizing Amon’s potential early on, integrated him into the GEAR UP program shortly after the start of the school year. This initiative embeds counsellors in eligible Vermont schools and aims to prepare students for higher education and training.
Through the program, Amon gained crucial assistance in researching schools, preparing applications, and understanding the intricacies of college financial aid. Amon’s aspirations to become an orthopaedic surgeon motivated him to fully engage with the American education system, despite his initial hesitation. The transition extended beyond academics, encompassing cultural, climatic, and social adaptations.
Are you serious? Who wrote…
Are you serious? Who wrote this article?
Whoever wrote this article…
Whoever wrote this article is missing something. Put some meat in the story. Please take some English composition classes.
How can i get my 2 min back?…
How can i get my 2 min back? what a waste!
When we talk higher…
When we talk higher education to Kenyans, let us address the deade end first.
Too many “educated” Kenyans are jobless.
” Any education that does not take into consideration the inseparable unity between the African lineage and African thinking is based on false principles that must lead to the alienation of the individual from his own principles,his people and his past”
That alienation leads to discrimination,and depression and to other issues.
Let us all discuss the pro and cons.
The deaths of our people as a result of unfamiliar territory.
May God help our people move back to their own land and create a system that serves them and posterity.