Chargers' Kamara aims to make difference in native Sierra Leone after returning to his 'second home'

BY ERIN JACKSON
GALESBURG — Larry Kamara's journey from Sierra Leone to the United States has shaped his determination to succeed as both a student and an athlete. Now, he's focused on turning those challenges into opportunities for his home country. 

The story of Kamara, a sophomore on the Sandburg men's cross country team, is a powerful one. Growing up in Sierra Leone — a West African country of 8.6 million — Kamara witnessed firsthand the challenges his community has faced, particularly in health care. Despite the limited access to technology and modern resources, social bonds were strong, and that sense of community fuels his passion to give back one day. 

Kamara came to Illinois as a foreign exchange student for his junior year of high school, attending United High School just outside of Monmouth. It was a huge leap, filled with excitement but also with struggles he hadn't anticipated.  

The U.S. education system was incredibly different from what Kamara was used to. In Sierra Leone, much of his learning was based on memory and oral tradition, with few opportunities to use technology for research or study. But in the U.S., technology was integrated into almost every aspect of education.

"It was like learning a whole new language," Kamara said of his first few months at United.

With determination and a love for math and physics, Kamara adapted quickly during his year in the U.S. That experience stayed with him, and he knew that continuing his education in America could offer a wealth of opportunities for him to grow as a student and an athlete. 

Before going back home, Joe and Lashaun Kness of Alpha, a couple that was friends with Kamara's host family here, contacted Kamara's mother about the possibility of having him stay with them while he went to college at Sandburg.

Kamara finished his junior year at United and returned to Sierra Leone to complete his high school education. All the while, he knew he wanted to get back to the U.S., and he made the difficult choice to leave his family again and return to Illinois, this time living with the Kness family.

"The U.S. is my second home, especially Illinois," Kamara said. "That's where my teammates, friends, and host family are."

Now in his second year at Sandburg, Kamara is on track to graduate this May with his associate in science. After that, he plans to transfer to a four-year college to complete his bachelor's in biomedical engineering.

"Sandburg is accepting of everyone and helps international students engage with others," Kamara said. "It gave me opportunities to learn about my teammates from Kenya too."

Although Kamara's left his home country twice, his goal remains clear: Return to Sierra Leone after completing his college education and make a meaningful impact on health care in his home country. He wants to use his knowledge in biomedical engineering to improve medical facilities and technology back home, ensuring that more people have access to quality health care. For Kamara, success isn't just about personal achievements — it's about lifting others along the way. 

"Everyone wants to be remembered by something," Kamara said, "but I'd rather be remembered by the contributions I made in the medical field than fame."