Ousman Jaiteh, a senior mechanical engineering technology major, is passionate about understanding the intricacy behind how things work and finding an alternative source of energy.
He attended Carnegie Mellon University for two years, studying chemical engineering before coming to Point Park.
Now, the native African is working hard to finish his last year of college at Point Park.
“I pretty much work with the professors creating machines and finding various ways to make water run those machines,” Jaiteh said. “I really appreciate that they take their precious time to work with me because they believe in my dream of making cars run on hydrogen.”
Jaiteh was born in Banjul, Gambia and grew up with his parents and three siblings.
Life was comfortable in Gambia for Jaiteh, growing up with everything he needed. He also describes his experience growing up as strict yet open-minded.
His father was always pushing him to do his best, especially with his education. Meanwhile, his mother was more easy-going and taught him to see life in a positive way.
Jaiteh’s saddest moment of his life was when his mother passed away in 2005, before his final exam. Being strict and valuing his son’s education, Jaiteh’s father made him take the exam.
“When I lost my mom, I didn’t cry because it happens to everyone and that’s natural and that’s life,” he said.
From that moment on, Jaiteh became an even stronger person from the close bond he had with his mom.
The strength he gained from that life changing moment helped him become a highly ambitious person.
“My dream is to work for Exxon Mobil Corporation, working and creating alternative sources of energy,” Jaiteh said.
Jaiteh’s goal is to help people in whatever way he can every day.
“If I see someone begging in the streets, I help them. My mother would give the last of her money away to a person in need, so I get that from her,” he said. “I’m too selfless sometimes and it’s not good for me, but I can’t let someone feel helpless.”
Jaiteh’s friendly personality is a result from all the traveling he’s done and places he’s seen in various parts of the world.
He traveled a lot due to his father’s job at the United Nations. He has been to Sweden, France, England, Egypt, Congo, Mali, South Africa and Senegal, just to name a few place.
The main difference between Gambia and the United States, Jaiteh said, is the high levels of communication and open-mindedness in his home country.
In the U.S., people typically communicate only if they know each other, while in Gambia people are friendly with everyone.
“Here, people are more worried about impressing other people and getting nice things for people to see you a certain way and not for your own happiness,” Jaiteh said. “Here, most people think about what they want, not what they need. Not in Gambia. They believe that when what you need is satisfied then you can get what you want.”
