|
Kehinde "Kenny" Laaro's journey from Africa to USC Upstate was one of bravery, faith, courage, and perseverance.
 |
| Kenny Laaro |
Growing up in Nigeria, she was surrounded by a loving Muslim family and attended school with both Muslim and Christian students. At school, someone gave her a small Bible, and at age 14, she became interested in Christianity. Caught reading the Bible at school, Kenny was punished and the Bible was seized.
"I was treated as if I had committed a crime, just for reading the Bible," Kenny said. "Muslims don't compromise on their religious beliefs, and they really view Christians as nonbelievers and bound for hell."
Although she faced hostility, physical danger, and alienation from her family and friends, Kenny felt intensely drawn to Christianity. To attend church services, she snuck around and lied to her family. Finally tired of the deceit, she confessed to her family and converted to Christianity.
"It is extremely difficult for a Muslim to convert to Christianity. To say that I wanted to attend church or read the Bible meant that I faced open hostility. My mother wanted me to be happy, and she wanted to support me--and as a mother she could--but as a Muslim, she could not," Laaro said.
With growing tensions for her and her family, Kenny left home. Having completed a two-year degree in business administration, Kenny decided to finish college in America. With a nursing career in mind, Kenny researched American colleges and universities. She applied to 36 schools and was accepted at Limestone College in Gaffney in August 2002.
Upon flying into New Jersey, Kenny realized that her plane ticket did not take her to South Carolina. Without realizing how far South Carolina was from New Jersey, she incorrectly assumed someone from Limestone College could pick her up at the airport. Luckily a stranger in the airport took her to the Greyhound Bus station, and soon Kenny was on her way to Gaffney. During the bus ride, the money Kenny had to pay tuition and other expenses was stolen.
Arriving at Limestone College, Kenny knew no one and had no money. The $1,500 scholarship that she had been awarded didn't come close to covering the costs of attending the college. Because she couldn't remain in school and with her student visa lapsing, Kenny faced being reported to the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) and being deported back to Nigeria.
Fearful of returning to her homeland, where she could be persecuted for converting to Christianity, Kenny turned to fellow church members for help. Members of Covenant Christian Center, a local church that she had started attending upon her arrival in Gaffney, gave Kenny a place to live, and she began cleaning houses and babysitting to save money.
"The members at Covenant Christian Center are just wonderful and have been amazing to me," Kenny said. "I lived in the home of Diane Ballantyne for three years. They are angels to me."
Kenny's church family saw her through trying times. To stay in the United States, Kenny applied for political asylum in 2003 and interviewed in 2005 with INS. After a rigorous interview, she was granted asylum.
While waiting for asylum, Laaro was in contact with Donette Stewart, assistant vice chancellor for enrollment services at USC Upstate, who was assisting her in getting a student visa. Because of Stewart's help, Kenny decided to finish school at USC Upstate.
For a year and a half, Kenny worked and saved enough money for her first semester at USC Upstate--a small sacrifice to Kenny. She has embraced the campus, her fellow students, and the professors. In turn, they have embraced her and have been a much needed surrogate family.
Kenny is on a nursing scholarship and is a resident assistant for the Palmetto House, the on-campus housing for freshmen students.
"I see the girls on my hall as my younger sisters," she said. "They are easy to get along with, and I enjoy helping them get used to life away from home."
Kenny is active in seven organizations on campus and also works part-time, all while maintaining a 3.5 grade point average. She is as an orientation leader to incoming freshmen, the International Student president, and a Student Government Association Senator for the Mary Black School of Nursing.
"On these merits alone, Kenny is an outstanding student," Stewart said. "But when these achievements are coupled with the adversities that she has overcome, Kenny is truly an exceptional student."
7/06
|
