Life-changing

by DIANE GASPER-O’BRIEN photography by BOB DUFFY & DIANE GASPER-O’BRIEN

Sisters find the land of opportunity at FHSU

Like so many other graduates on commencement weekend at Fort Hays State University this spring, Yanoudji and Aminata Diarra smiled as they posed for photos, hugged, and helped steady each other’s caps.

At first glance, these siblings from Mali – a predominantly underdeveloped desert nation in Africa and home to the fabled ancient city of Timbuktu – appeared to be ordinary graduates.

However, their journey to cross that stage and receive their degrees differs distinctly from most college grads. It’s one they call “life-changing.”

“Fort Hays State is a place where anybody from anywhere can come and find what they are looking for,” Yanoudji said. “This place gave us a chance.”

The sisters were born in Mali. They moved to Denver with their dad, who called America “the land of opportunity,” when Yanoudji was just 11 years old, and Aminata was 6.

The young girls called the move a “culture shock.”

They laughed while reminiscing about their captivation with comforts in America they could not have even imagined enjoying before their move.

“We broke the vacuum cleaner because we tried to vacuum up everything,” Aminata said as Yanoudji nodded in agreement.

The girls returned home to Mali after their first few years in America before Yanoudji came back to Denver for good in time for middle school.

Aminata made several trips back and forth to Africa, making it difficult to get settled into a school routine while trying to master different native languages.

But persistence paid off. Aminata also returned to Denver to live in 2016, then came to FHSU two years later.

Yanoudji had aspirations of running track for the University of Northern Colorado in Greeley after a standout track season at Hinkley High in Aurora, Colo., but realized that wasn’t possible financially.

Another student from her high school was attending Fort Hays State and told Yanoudji to contact Coach Dennis Weber, then the head coach for the Tiger track and field team.

“I called Coach Weber and said I needed an opportunity,” Yanoudji said.

Weber gave Yanoudji that opportunity – and a $500 scholarship.

“By the time I left Fort Hays State, I was also getting room and board paid for,” Yanoudji said. “Looking back, Coach Weber is the reason we are here today.”

Knowing she would have to find a job, Yanoudji applied at IHOP, where she worked for her entire collegiate career.

She also said, “being on the track team kept me involved.”

Although alone in new surroundings in Hays, Yanoudji said she felt as comfortable as in any place she had ever lived in the United States since leaving her home country as a youngster.

“It was a smaller city than I was used to, and l loved how close-knit it was,” Yanoudji said. “Even as an 18-year-old on my own with no family around, I felt safe here in Hays.”

Yanoudji excelled for the Tigers as a sprinter. One of her relay teams (the 4x200-meter) still holds a school record today.

Dr. Jason McCullough, who took over head coaching duties at FHSU in 2017, gave Yanoudji another opportunity.

After using up her athletic eligibility, Yanoudji remained with the track and field program as a student assistant coach. On a whim, she started practicing the triple jump.

After looking up the triple jump record for her country, she realized that event was one in which she could excel. She now hopes to represent Mali in the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris.

“Coach McCullough gave me the opportunity to coach, which gave me the chance to work out on my own,” Yanoudji said.

Yanoudji earned a psychology degree from FHSU in 2018, then decided to pursue an associate degree in nursing at the North Central Kansas Technical College, a school across town with which FHSU has several partnerships.

She now serves as a registered nurse in the cardiac unit of Saint Joseph Hospital in Denver.

Aminata decided to attend FHSU, too, partly because following in her sister’s footsteps was something to which she had become accustomed since her younger years.

Aminata said that although her freshman year in college was challenging – adjusting to more changes and constantly trying to improve on her English language – she admits she learned a lot about herself.

“Africa is so family-centered, so here I had to make my own family, get out of my comfort zone to meet people,” Aminata said. “I fell in love with Fort Hays State because I felt like I was part of something bigger than myself.”

On Thursday, May 12, Yanoudji received her associate degree in nursing from NCK Tech at a ceremony held on the FHSU campus.

The next day, Aminata joined her older sister as an FHSU graduate when she crossed the stage at Gross Memorial Coliseum and proudly changed her tassel to the left side of her cap.

The sisters, with help from FHSU and NCK Tech, tried to bring their mother to Hays to attend their commencement ceremonies, but she wasn’t able to get her Visa in time.

“It would have been nice having our mom here,” Yanoudji said, “especially for her to see the place that helped shape us into who we are today. One day we would like to get her here to see Fort Hays State. She will be so proud.”

Amanita returned to Mali after her FHSU graduation to visit family in person for the first time in seven years. She plans to return to the United States to pursue a career in social work.

The sisters were giddy as they posed for photos near the phrase “Tiger Family” etched in the concrete sidewalk next to the Fischli-Wills Center for Student Success.

“I love this. I feel like FHSU is my family,” Amanita said. “This town gave me hope. This school, these professors, gave me hope.”

Yanoudji smiled while explaining the message on her graduation cap: “She was unstoppable, not because she didn’t have failures but because she did it despite them.”

“It’s been a long journey for us, one that I think is hard for some people to understand,” Yanoudji said. “Being able to stand on that stage despite everything we’ve been through is proof that there’s nothing you can’t accomplish if you set your mind to it and work hard. This place is amazing. It opened a lot of doors for us.”

We would like to hear what you think about the content in this issue of ROAR Magazine. Contact us at FHSUNews@fhsu.edu.