The road to graduation had many twists and turns for Junghye Roh, originally from South Korea. But after several trials and tribulations, he will walk across the stage to accept his diploma on Saturday, May 7.
Roh began his academic studies at Montgomery County Community College, and decided to transfer to Penn State Berks in 2009 and pursue a bachelor of science in electro-mechanical engineering technology.
“Penn State has a very good engineering program,” stated Roh. “The electro-mechanical engineering technology curriculum provides a good combination of knowledge and hands-on training that prepare you for real-world opportunities.”
Soon after beginning his studies at Berks, he lost several members of family. Suffering from depression and feeling homesick, Roh decided to take an academic leave of absence for a year in 2011 to return to Korea and join the military. He returned to Penn State Berks in the fall semester of 2013 but soon decided to return to Korea, again.
It was after working as a machine engineer in Korea and feeling discontent with the work environment and attitude toward employees who did not have a college degree that Roh decided to return to Penn State Berks and finish what he started. He returned to the college in the fall of 2015 determined to complete his degree.
What does the future hold for Roh? He plans to remain in the United States and pursue a career in the automobile industry, and eventually attend graduate school.
He states that he hopes his story serves as an inspiration to other international students and advises them to finish school despite obstacles that stand in their way and to never give up.