From Congo to Campus, Elisee Okenge Hones Her Passion for Helping Others

The York College of Pennsylvania Nursing major reflects on her mother’s perseverance through illness and hard work and the opportunities awaiting them through a York Habitat for Humanity home.

Born in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Elisee Okenge ’27, a Nursing major at York College of Pennsylvania, moved to the United States at age 6 with her mother, Nsenga Boka, who was seeking a better future for herself and her daughter. 

“I’ve always had a love and passion for helping other people,” Elisee says. “Ever since I was a kid, I’ve been set on either becoming a nurse or a doctor.” 

Elisee grew up in Dover and heard about York College throughout her grade school years, especially its highly regarded Nursing program. When it came time to apply for higher education, she knew York College was the place for her. By the time she graduated from high school, Elisee had another connection to the College: her mother had begun working there on the custodial staff. 

A perspective shaped by grit

Apart from schoolwork, Elisee is a member of the Cheerleading Club and a flutist in the Concert Wind Band. She also works at an on-campus job. Balancing her academic responsibilities with work and extracurricular activities, Elisee commutes from Dover and spends long days on campus, often arriving early in the morning and leaving late at night. For her, York College feels like a second home.

Though she has embraced her new community at York College, Elisee’s perspective has been shaped largely by the grit and sacrifice she has seen in her mother’s journey. For years after moving to the U.S., Boka worked day in and day out, juggling night shifts, health challenges, and getting her daughter to school activities. Along the way, she became a U.S. citizen, which in turn meant Elisee became a citizen. Boka accomplished much of her hard work with the goal of giving her daughter a better future. 

“She’ll call me when I’m in the library studying, just to hear my voice,” Elisee says. “She’s always been there, pushing me to do my best.” 

Breaking ground for a new home

The commute to York College is about to become much shorter for Elisee and her mother. Last year, Boka qualified to purchase a new home through York Habitat for Humanity, and in October 2024, the mother and daughter broke ground for the York City dwelling. 

“The groundbreaking was so cool and overwhelming,” Elisee says. “It was a really neat experience.”

She is excited about the fresh start that the new home will provide for her and her mother after living with extended family since moving to the U.S. 

While Elisee is focused on her future as a nurse, she recognizes the weight of family expectations as the first in her mother’s family to attend college. 

“There’s definitely pressure,” she says. “Sometimes it doesn’t align with what I want to do, but I’ve built a great community of friends who support me.”

Boka’s resilience while persevering through so many hardships continues to inspire Elisee to concentrate on her goal of becoming a nurse and possibly a doctor, even when her path seems unclear. She’s eager to complete the classroom portion of her studies and get into clinical rotations, where she can put her passion for helping others into practice. 

“I’m really ready to get more hands-on experience. That’s my motivation to keep going,” Elisee says. 

She urges others in similar situations to keep pushing forward.

“It’s not going to be an easy road,” she says. “There’s going to be times where you definitely want to give up really badly, but keep persevering. Throughout the way, you’ll meet people who will be like family. The outcome will be so much better.”

Photo Credit: Our York Media