Student Spotlight: Wilo Matan

Wilo Matan is determined to make a difference in the world. She's a native of Kenya who came to the United States five years ago and is pursuing a degree in Human Services. "There's so much injustice back home and there's no one to help or advocate for people. Everyone is on their own. I thought I could major in Human Services and help my people by for advocating for them. I want to give back."

Matan came to the U.S. with her parents and five siblings. She graduated from Henninger High School in 2019 and enrolled at OCC that fall, becoming the first member of her family to attend college. "In my home country we don't have a great educational system. Seeing my people back home suffer and know they don't have education motivated me to go to college and help my community."

Her transition to college was seamless thanks to the atmosphere on campus. "I really felt welcomed by my professors and my advisors. And if you ask students for help they don't hesitate to help. This is a great place."

A day doesn't go by that Matan doesn't think about where she grew up and where she is today. "Kenya is so different from America. We didn't have laptops, computers, cell phones, or any of the resources to help us study. I remember coming here and thinking I was on a different planet. Everyone has phones and laptops. Everyone has a car. It's a whole different world."

In November she was inducted into the College's chapter of international honor society Phi Theta Kappa. "My mom was so proud of me and if my dad was here he would be proud of me too. He passed away in March. I'm a great example for my younger sisters. They can look up to me. I'm a role model and I'm motivating them."