August Alumni Spotlight: Daniel Nkongolo, (Gaithersburg High School)
The prospect of leaving his home country, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, left 14 year old Daniel feeling both sorrowful yet excited for what was to come. He hopped on a plane to Maryland, followed by his 3 siblings and parents. Just a year prior, his dad had received news that they won the visa lottery, and so they decided to pack up and head west with their luggage in hand and the American Dream in mind.
Daniel arrived in the United States as a freshman in Gaithersburg High School, having no previous experience speaking English. He shares that making friends with the language barrier was the greatest challenge. “I was taking English Second Language (ESL) classes, but it takes a while to learn a language, so I did not completely fit in. People were nice, but because I couldn’t speak English, I couldn’t really connect with them. It was nice to be around other people from French-speaking countries because we were all in Liberty’s Promise and could relate to each other.
I learned about Liberty’s Promise in my sophomore year of high school. I was drawn to all of the opportunities they talked about, including connecting students to internships! Some of my favorite memories during my time in LP come from working at Head Start and a hospice care center. It was satisfying going to school and making a little bit of cash for myself, especially in high school.
I would definitely recommend LP to current students. They put you in touch with professionals in fields that you are interested in and take you on field trips. They provide opportunities that cannot be passed up. Especially if you are interested in going to college, they will help you write your college essays which is super helpful.”
Though the military had always caught Daniel’s eye, his parents always encouraged him to first attend to his studies. After ultimately graduating from high school in 2010, he attended Montgomery Community College for two years before transferring to the University of Maryland. It was after his junior year that he decided to close the chapter on college for a bit and head in the direction of the Marines. By 2013, he spent the next four years serving in active duty before transitioning into the Reserve for another year and a half.
Daniel proudly told us that he is pursuing his dream job, working for both the Army National Guard and Department of Defense. Both positions are within the Business Administration and Human Resources (HR) realm. As a result, he has confidence that he will return to finish up his degree, though not with his initial major in Biology, but rather with a focus in either Business or HR!
Despite knowing that being in the military was his ultimate goal, he shared insightful advice for students interested in a similar path. “Getting your degree before joining the military is definitely the smartest way to go. That way, you can become an officer and be in charge right away after graduating. They even have an JROTC program that ensures your position as lieutenant right out of college. From there, you can decide whether you want to stay with them for just the four years or keep going.”
Thank you Daniel for sharing your story. It is always humbling to hear the challenges young immigrants face. Your adaptability and ambitious spirit are both admirable and infectious. It is truly fulfilling to hear the role that Liberty’s Promise has played in your life and to see that you are now a strong role model for current and future immigrant youth.
As always, we are beyond grateful to our community for your ongoing support. Donate today to help us continue empowering youth to achieve their full potential.
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