MCRD/ERR PARRIS ISLAND, S.C. -- An academic scholarship brought him to the United States of America. Unexpected circumstances brought him to the United States Navy.
After living in Nigeria for 17 years of his life and excelling academically in his local schools, Petty Officer Third Class Solomon Adelowo, along with three of his peers, was presented with a scholarship and offered the opportunity to select the country he wanted to continue his studies in. The scholarship paid for the trip to the selected country and would continue to pay for his classes as long as his grade point average was maintained above a 3.0.
"I had never thought about going outside of Africa before, but when the opportunity came up, I took it," Adelowo said.
Adelowo chose to go to Triton College in Chicago to learn to become a computer programmer. However, dealing with the stress of being in an unfamiliar area and away from his family for the first time, he could not maintain the requirements of the scholarship.
"I was not used to being away from home," said Adelowo, who left his mother, sister and three brothers in Africa.
The question, "what next?" began to smother Adelowo's thoughts. He knew he could not afford to pay for his own school; the scholarship was his only hope. Adolowo thought of joining the military and then made the effort to see what the services had to offer.
Though he checked out his options with the various braches of service, the Navy was what he had decided on. It was, after all, the first recruiting office he had visited.
"I think I had the typical misconceptions about the Army and Marine Corps," Adelowo laughed.
After signing his name on the dotted line, Adelowo began to "accelerate his life" in the Navy as a dental technician.
"I spent my first year in the Navy on a [ship]," Adelowo said.
Adapting to the unknown was the story of Adelowo's life.
"At first, I did not feel like I belonged in the Navy," he explained. "I did not hate being in the Navy, but I was different... I was in the United States Navy, but from Africa."
After the first year, Adelowo eventually became used to the lifestyles of the Navy, and although he was at times thousands miles away from his family, he kept in touch with them as much as possible.
"I talk to my family very often," he said. "They miss me a lot and I miss them too."
Now, six years later, Adelowo is known for his proficiency and professionalism in his job skills as he contributes to the Parris Island mission: making Marines.
Adelowo was recently named Sailor of the Quarter at the dental clinic aboard Parris Island. He plans on continuing his job skills and one day returning home to his family in Africa.