SNHU Spotlight: Darvin Ojha, BS in Biology Grad

Darvin Ojha ‘24, who emigrated from Nepal with his family more than six years ago, said he’s been fortunate to have the opportunity to attend college at Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU).

After earning his Bachelor of Science (BS) in Biology, he now plans to give back — not only to his family but to his community.

“It was a long journey for me and my parents coming from Nepal to the United States,” Ojha said. “We immigrated ... without knowing the English language at all.”

But Ojha and his parents were determined. Despite the challenges they faced with communication and adjusting to a new way of life, Ojha said they dedicated themselves to learning English and volunteering within the community.

“We’ve tackled this challenge with hard work and perseverance,” he said. “I learned that my family never gives up, no matter how huge the obstacle is. We always try to overcome the obstacle. We just fight through, and we just get it done.”

After graduating high school, Ojha enlisted in the U.S. Army, which was not only a long-held goal of his but also became an educational experience.

“I’ve always wanted to join the military since I was back in Nepal,” he said. “I had been training for that since I was a very young age. Being a part of the U.S. Army gave me more insights (into) the background and the social culture of this country. It really helped ... shape my mentality.”

After his discharge from the Army, Ojha came back home to New Hampshire and he decided to enroll at SNHU.

“The campus life was amazing,” he said. “I had really good connections with the professors. They mentored me throughout the whole process. Being ... with my fellow students, it was a great experience.”

While attending, Ojha became involved with The Chandler Center at SNHU, which engages and empowers students to be active citizens. “They guided me throughout my whole college career, as far as academics, volunteer services and any other challenges that I faced,” said Ojha.

In addition to this program, he said the support he received from Dr. Katharine York, the department chair of Biological Sciences, was instrumental.

"(Dr. York) has helped me with my academics, my learning," he said. "I would like to thank (her)."

Though Ojha received his degree in biology, he said his career path has changed with time. While he initially hoped to pursue medical school, he said he now plans to pursue an education in business and wants to earn his Master of Business Administration (MBA).

“I have other plans of opening different businesses and just expanding,” he said. “(This) has helped my family tremendously. We’re almost financially free.”

Ojha said he hopes to continue to support his family and others — particularly those who face developmental challenges. In the future, he'd like to start an organization that assists these individuals.

“I grew up with a friend who had challenges. Looking at his condition, he wasn’t ... getting the assistance that he needed," he said. "That kind of always made me think about how I could help.”

But Ojha’s plans don’t stop there. He also plans on starting a charity to help his community in Nepal.

“My parents were very unfortunate that they were not able to attend college due to financial reasons,” he said. “My father always pushed me to attend college, even though I always had different plans. Now that I reflect back on why my parents wanted me to attend college, I’m so fortunate that I was able to attend college.”

Now, Ojha wants to pay it forward.

“(The) education that I have gained has helped me not only provide for my community here in Manchester but also back home in Nepal, as we are planning to establish schools (and) provide help to people that did not get the same opportunity that I got.”

Abigayle Mahnken ’22 is an assistant content writer at Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU), where she earned a Bachelor of Arts (BA) in English and is currently earning a Master of Arts (MA) in English and Creative Writing. Passionate about storytelling and education, she enjoys learning from fellow students' experiences and sharing their stories. In her free time, she loves spending time with her family, reading, and learning. She also really likes video games. Connect with her on LinkedIn.