FORT KNOX, Ky. — It took Cadet Victor Erike, assigned to 8th Regiment, Advanced Camp, from Drexel University, a long time to feel like he was on the right path in his life.

After moving to the United States from Nigeria in 2024, Erike’s life went down various paths — all of which felt wrong to him. He worked as a dialysis technician, working with patients with diabetes and kidney problems, but never quite felt fulfilled.

“Somewhere along the way, I got bored with the work because it is not really my field. I am an IT guy,” Erike said.

It was not long before he made the choice to move to a field that he was more interested in — technology.

The choice to re-enroll in school and pursue his master’s degree in software engineering seemed simple at first. But after three months in the program, the cost of the degree caught up to him, and after realizing just how expensive going back to school would be, Erike knew he would have to find another way to pay for his education.

His answer lied with the United States Army.

But after he finished Basic Training, Erike reached out to the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps program at his school and inquired how he could take his new goal to the next level.

“I was like, since I have a degree, why not just visit somewhere that would make more of an impact rather than just as [an] enlisted [Soldier]?” Erike said.

Now, as a soldier at CST that is working towards his graduation, Erike claims that although the beginning of his time here was slow, now that the activities and training exercise have picked up, he truly considers this to be a fun opportunity for him.

With his love for technology and an education revolving around software engineering, he wants to commission into cybersecurity after he graduates, and he believes that his time with the Army is helping him learn the necessary skills needed for not only that field, but also for the possibility that he will open his own IT business in the future.

And even though he is a reserve, Erike claims that he often forgets that due to how often he finds himself donning the Army uniform, and he does not regret it one bit. In fact, if he could tell his past self one thing — a single word of advice — he knows exactly what he would say.

“I do good stuff, [and] I believe my actions inspire people,” Erike said. “{Just] keep doing great things, because you are meant to be great.”

Now, after all this time, he finally feels like he is on the right path.