Henry Barwotoe

“The only person standing in your way is yourself.”

One of eight children, Henry arrived in the U.S. after spending 15 years in a refugee camp in Ghana, where he and his mother and siblings ended up after fleeing war in their homeland of Liberia. Henry entered the U.S. as a refugee, and found work in retail and manufacturing before deciding to go to college.

Other than On Point, Henry had little support on his college journey. On Point took him on college visits, helped him apply for financial aid, provided rides to and from college, and helped him buy books and college supplies. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in Human Resources in 2012, and, with the help of On Point for Jobs, was hired by Syracuse University in the Human Resources Department.

As a member of the first Liberian family to arrive in Syracuse, Henry feels a responsibility to help others from his country. He formed a Liberian Community Group that helps with medical appointments, driver’s licenses, language skills, jobs, tutoring and interpreting.

“It doesn’t matter where you come from,” Henry said. “What matters is how you can make your life and the lives of others better.”