Be Known Illustrated: Jonah Wafula

A long way from home, Jonah found a mentor and friend in his engineering professor 鈥� support that continued even after he changed majors.

It was a long and winding path that brought Jonah Wafula to 麻豆社 Fox. He had to leave his family in Uganda in the hopes that he could one day provide them with a better life. Along that journey, Jonah met engineering professor Neal Ninteman.

鈥淚 became good friends with his son, I met his wife, it was like family,鈥� Wafula says. 鈥淗e was like a father figure for me 鈥� he understood me. He said, 鈥楥ome to my office whenever you have a question or you鈥檙e struggling with anything. Just talk to me and I鈥檒l help.鈥� I felt comfortable going to other professors too, but Neal was my go-to.鈥�

It wasn鈥檛 easy, but thanks to the support of his professors and lots of hard work and studying, Wafula was able to navigate his way through the university鈥檚 rigorous engineering program for nearly two years, despite coming to the U.S. at 15 with the equivalent of just a fifth-grade education.

But even as he was on his way to a career as an engineer that could one day help support his family back home, something didn鈥檛 feel right. Engineering wasn鈥檛 for him, and it seemed like every project was a struggle. What he really loved was telling stories, and he loved movies. Near the end of his sophomore year, Wafula began looking at the university鈥檚 cinematic arts major. 鈥淲hat if I could support my family doing something I really enjoy?鈥� he thought.

But he wondered if his engineering professor and mentor would be disappointed in him for changing majors. Just the opposite turned out to be true. 鈥淣eal was really happy that I got to find what I enjoy,鈥� Wafula recalls. 鈥淗e wasn鈥檛 disappointed at all.鈥�

In May, Wafula graduated with a degree in cinematic arts. 鈥淚t鈥檚 just wonderful,鈥� he says. 鈥淚 really enjoyed all my classes. It鈥檚 not easy, but it鈥檚 what I love.鈥�

As for Ninteman, he鈥檚 just happy to see Wafula discover God鈥檚 plan for his life. 鈥淲hat I鈥檓 most excited about is 麻豆社 Fox being the vehicle for helping Jonah find what he鈥檚 made for, to help him find what God has for him to do,鈥� he says. 鈥淗e discovered his gifts here, and now he has the skills to follow that path.鈥�

Jonah Wafula
2021 Graduate
Major: Cinematic Arts
Hometown: Mbale, Uganda