Yunsik Oh | Staff Writer for “The Mount” photos by Joey Bastian
Mount
Michael is home away from home for many foreign students. Rwandan
natives David Gatete, Songa Rugangazi, and Johnny Bucyana are no
exceptions. “I love Mount Michael. Even though I am away from everyone
at my home, I feel no difference. Everybody here is just like my
brothers and part of my family,” said Gatete.
These three Rwandans came to Mount Michael for different
reasons. Rugangazi wanted to go to a college in the United States, and
his parents wanted him to go to a boarding school here so he could get
adapted to American culture and the American way of learning and
teaching. By searching the internet and asking around, he found out
about Mount Michael.
Bucyana
said, “My mom works in Haiti. She’s a doctor and she’s been there for
one-and-a-half years, since the earthquake. She wanted me to go to a
boarding school since she was not at home.” Some of Bucyana’s family
members also study in the states and have even graduated from college
here. “Coming here was not a sudden decision,” said Bucyana.
Gatete came to America to learn English. Gatete said, “My
dad owns a construction company in Rwanda, and my mom goes around to
other countries buying machines for dairy products for the Rwandan
people. My dad was the person who sent me here. He heard about Mount
Michael from the person who helped Songa discover the school. Two years
ago, our president made the French language illegal in Rwanda, and he
forced all the schools to use English instead of any other languages. My
dad thought it was necessary to learn English to succeed in Rwanda,”
said Gatete.
Future
plans for these three Rwandans remain unclear. After graduating from
college, most of them are planning to go back to Rwanda and help their
families. Gatete said that he wants to study engineering and
architecture as his major in college, and then return to work at his
dad’s business.
“I want to study industrial engineering as an
undergraduate major and hopefully get my MBA after that. I would like to
get work experience in the U.S. before going back to Rwanda,” said
Rugangazi.
As for Bucyana, he is still largely unsure of what he
will do after college; however, one thing is for certain. “I am not sure
what I am going to do after graduating college because it depends on
what job I get,” he said. “But I can say that I definitely enjoyed my
time at Mount Michael and it is going to make an impact in my life.”
Every
November at Mount Michael, new faces emerge, not because of transfer
students or new teachers, but because of a fundraiser for a non-profit
organization put on by student council. This year, D.J. Wooten has
emerged as the top facial hair grower at the Mount. Along with many
other students, Wooten paid 5 dollars in exchange for a shave-free
month. Although many students admire Wooten for his uncanny ability to
grow facial hair, there are many other reasons why students look up to
him.
