Waubonsee student Roland Asongakap, born and raised in Cameroon, Africa, spent much of his early childhood severely sick in hospitals. In Cameroon, mosquito-borne diseases are common across villages and often deadly. While these diseases afflicted Asongakap during his younger years, a passion for serving others and an appreciation for the medical science grew in his heart.
"Being sick in so many hospitals is what first sparked my aspiration to acquire scientific knowledge to help others," said Asongakap.
Despite his family’s limited agricultural income, Asongakap's grandmother, Christina Emenkeng, sacrificed everything she could to afford the best education possible for her family, even if it meant sending Asongakap to a boarding school 12-hours away from home.
"My grandmother always made sure I had the best," said Asongakap. “She prioritized education, and when I was sick, she was always at my bedside."
Away at boarding school, Asongakap learned to cope with not hearing from or seeing his family for four to five months. "I learned to focus on one day, one task at a time," said Asongakap.
At twelve, Asongakap's life changed when his mom, Margerat Awa Tembu, won a DV2 lottery to migrate to the U.S. The move was difficult for Asongakap who did not want to leave his home country or grandmother.
The family settled in Aurora to live with a relative. Asongakap had to quickly adapt and take on the responsibilities of babysitting his younger siblings while his parents worked several jobs to support the family and pursued their degrees; his mom completed her Bachelor of Science in Nursing, and his dad earned a degree in Information Technology.
During his senior year at Metea Valley High School, Asongakap played on the Varsity Soccer Team and met his best friend, who became his battle buddy. The two friends enlisted in the Army National Guard to pay for college. After completing advanced training, Asongakap became a Chemical Biological Radiological Nuclear Specialist. His initial desire to study at Waubonsee after high school was put on hold for an eleven-month deployment to Kuwait.
"There are numerous paths to success -- most of my friends who I went to high school with graduated with a bachelor's degree in 2023, but I have a versatile experience in the workforce and the military," said Asongakap.
On the Iraqi border, Asongakap endured long days in high-stress situations and was responsible for minimizing the spread of COVID-19 by decontaminating Iraqi equipment being transferred to Kuwait.
"When I was deployed, I relied on the same coping method and discipline I used while I attended boarding school," said Asongakap. "I had a mindset of being distant as a child so I applied it while I was deployed in the Army National Guard.”
Back from deployment, Asongakap became a Certified Pharmacy Technician to broaden his knowledge in the medical field. In 2021, Asongakap re-enrolled at Waubonsee to pursue his Associate in Science.
"Becoming a doctor was never my dream, but then I started to notice my love for science courses. I began to tell myself if my mom could come to the U.S. later and become a nurse, I could try something beyond what she had achieved," says Asongakap.
At Waubonsee, he has since made great strides in his medical career journey. In aspiring to pursue a career in such a competitive field, Asongakap regularly volunteers at Rush Copley Medical Center (Rush) in Aurora in the Emergency Department and the Women's Health Department. He also shadows the ER doctors at Rush.
Recently, Asongakap was selected to participate in a two-month competitive biological data science immersion research summer program at James Madison University for the summer of 2023.
"Waubonsee is more than I expected," said Asongakap. "It has helped me hone my study skills tremendously. I have a love for science because the courses taught me to strive. The instructors at Waubonsee give me insights, guide and mentor me, and give me encouraging words."
Academically, Asongakap has received state and national recognition for his service to the community and his service to the country as a veteran. In April, the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation announced Asongakap as a semifinalist for its highly competitive Cooke Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship. The Cooke Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship is designed to create a clear pathway to a four-year degree by offering up to $55,000 per year in scholarship dollars, academic advising, and access to a network of peers. Recipients will be announced later in April.
Last week, the Illinois Community College Trustees Association announced Asongakap as the Waubonsee nominee for the Gregg Chadwick Student Service Scholarship. The Gregg Chadwick Student Service Scholarship awards $500 to a currently enrolled Illinois community college student for extraordinary commitment to volunteer service.
Asongakap will walk across the stage at Waubonsee's commencement ceremony in May and receive his Associate in Science. He is so grateful for his time at the college. "At Waubonsee, the classes are welcoming and structured, so you get more than expected. The learning is very valuable," says Asongakap.
On his journey to becoming a medical doctor, Asongakap has applied valuable lessons he has learned through difficult times. “Above everything, I honor my grandmother and my parents,” said Asongakap. “I have learned to grow a love for God, be disciplined, be kind, treat people respectfully, live selflessly, and always work hard.”
In August, Asongakap will transfer to the University of Illinois at Chicago and go on to earn a Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry. Following this, he will apply for medical school. Asongakap encourages young people everywhere to consider that, like his personal story, there are many paths to success.
