Christopher Uche Okafor is an undergraduate at La Salle University, achieving a B.S. in Biology and a minor in Business Administration in May 2023. Born in Lagos, Nigeria, he is one of eleven children raised by religious parents who focused their teachings on morality and human growth. In 2015, Uche received a scholarship from the Youth Interlock Society and left his family to study in the United States. Under the mentorship of Dr. Earl Pearsall Jr., the chairperson of the Youth Interlock Society, he learned what it means to really be a beneficial part of society. The transition from an underdeveloped to a developed country came with the expectation that people were better off in the latter. The realization that this wasn’t the case was very surprising. Youth Interlock Society is in Chester, Pennsylvania, a low-income area with people who don’t have access to quality education, healthcare, or social resources. Under Dr. Pearsall’s mentorship, Uche quickly transitioned from a student to a volunteer, tutoring students, and helping organize trips to colleges. Uche hopes to help level the playing field by helping students with their schoolwork, college application essays, and extracurricular activities. Uche believes that every student in the program is just like him, and just as he has been helped and guided by his mentors, he hopes to help and guide others on a path where they can grow and become better people. His goal is to someday become a medical doctor. He wants to teach, treat, and help individuals from all backgrounds, with a focus on eliminating disparities in healthcare.
Download the article (pdf) Table of Contents Introduction Horace Pippin began creating art as a hobby in his childhood; this practice later served as an important force in both his physical and mental-health rehabilitation. This article discusses how Pippin’s paintings reflect a range of his experiences and demonstrate the power of art as a form […]