By Emily Duncan, Staff Writer
Tshakalisa Khupe, nursing senior, boarded his flight to America on Dec. 25, 2002. The round trip ticket he purchased would be of little use to him. He didn’t intend to use the return flight.
What lied ahead of Khupe was a new place that offered him another chance. Khupe was coming to America — a place he viewed as the land of opportunity.
“I remember looking back and seeing my mom cry while I boarded the plane,” he said. “She had held it together up until that point. But then I guess it was too much.”
Khupe’s return ticket has long since expired. Eight years have passed since that Christmas Day when he last saw his family.
But to him, the sacrifice has been worth it.
Khupe grew up in Zimbabwe with dreams of becoming a doctor. Fate had other plans.
“I struggled with school, and I wasn’t able to get into medical school,” he said. “It’s different there though because it’s extra competitive given my country only has two medical schools. In my country we don’t have the luxury to change our minds in the middle our degree.”
What Khupe needed was the opportunity to grow and discover his passions. America offered these new options.
When Khupe arrived in America he was able to enroll at Wiley College in Marshall, Texas. Here he received his Bachelor of Science in biology and secondary education. It is also where he discovered OCU’s historical partnership with Wiley College. The partnership began during the 1930s when OCU became the first white university to compete against their college in a debate competition. Our nursing school has continued to develop this relationship and recruit their students to OCU.
Khupe immediately became interested in the OCU nursing program, applied and received a full tuition scholarship.
Dean Marvel Williamson of nursing said she let Khupe stay with her family when he first came to the states until he could get settled.
“I was honored to host him in my home those first few days while he found housing,” she said. “Khupe has proven to be a driven student who does indeed have high ambitions. OCU and Kramer School of Nursing will take great pride in claiming him as an alumnus.”
This summer, Khupe said he hopes to go home.
“Once I graduate I plan on getting a job to raise enough money for a plane ticket,” he said. “I feel like it’s time for me to go home.”
The next time Khupe sees his family outside the plane window I want my mom’s tears to be tears of happiness, he said.
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