Chemeketa: In Their Own Words

Isaac Chakuma

Isaac Chakuma, in his own words. It's a long way from the Victoria Falls Hotel in Zimbabwe to Chemeketa's intercultural microcosm, but Isaac Chakuma's journey so far has resulted in exactly the type of "rich experiences" he so desires.

Isaac is a second-year student in business management, works as the Student Representative Team Coordinator for Chemeketa's student government, carries a 3.89 GPA, and is half a continent away from his parents, five sisters and two brothers -- but right where he wants to be.

That family lives in Harare, the capital city of Zimbabwe. Isaac, 31, for seven years had been working at the Victoria Falls Hotel, a resort town about 1,000 kilometers from Harare, "meeting people every day from all over the world."

He knew he wanted to pursue an education, and from correspondences and networking he realized that studying in the United States would be more beneficial to him than anywhere else, simply because of the diversity of the population, and the fact that, as he puts it, "the American educational system works to always find new ways of doing things better."

"I have a passion to study at a place where diversity and synergy are considered as assets, rather than liabilities," he said. "I couldn't afford to travel to many countries around the world. Fortunately, by coming to the United States, I am able to meet, learn about, and work with individuals from many parts of the world."

Through correspondence with friends in Lincoln City, Isaac was able to learn more about affordable – but quality – educational institutions. Chemeketa was one of the first names mentioned, and Isaac says he hasn't ever had second thoughts.

"My main goal is to acquire all the education here that I can," he said. That education has one overriding purpose, a purpose that can be reached by two decidedly different paths:

He either will return to his country with the educational experiences at Chemeketa and elsewhere in hand, or stay in the United States to pursue even more education and business opportunities.

Either way, the prize at the end of the educational quest is to make a difference in the lives of his family and his countrymen in Zimbabwe. He seems already to be making a difference in himself and in his fellow students here at Chemeketa.

Updated October 2006 by the College Advancement Department.