As a little boy in a small village in Haiti, Nelson Rhomberg helped take care of his younger siblings. He couldn’t go to school because his single mother couldn’t afford to send him. She herself had never been to school or learned to read or write.

At the age of 12, Rhomberg was taken to a crèche. Three years later, when he was 15, a family in Mount Vernon, Iowa adopted him.

He soon had his first-ever experience in education and quickly realized how life-changing the opportunity to go to school could be.

Rhomberg tested at an early elementary school level and had a long way to go to catch up with his classmates. But thanks to teachers who cared about him and adoptive parents who understood the importance of education, he made steady progress, including by taking summer classes.

He initially started in seventh grade and skipped eighth. Though he faced many changes in his life and had much to learn — not only in school but also about American customs — Rhomberg felt surrounded by people who cared.

He graduated from Mount Vernon High School in 2021 and enrolled at Kirkwood Community College. It was something he had never envisioned for himself, having never seen anyone in his family, or even in Haiti, attend college. He simply couldn’t picture himself earning a degree.

“It’s impossible stuff for people like me from my country,” Rhomberg says.

Yet his adoptive parents both had college degrees, and his high school teachers saw his potential, too. He was especially inspired by his high school basketball coach, who got to know him well and saw him work with kids. In fact, it was his coach who suggested Rhomberg consider becoming a teacher.

Rhomberg studied liberal arts at Kirkwood, graduating with his associate degree in May 2023. He then transferred to UNI on the recommendation of his parents, who knew the quality education the university provided.

Rhomberg quickly experienced that quality firsthand.
 

“It wasn’t the school that made it a home for me — it was the people and the professors who are very welcoming and helpful with my education.”

Inspired by his high school PE teacher, Rhomberg decided to major in physical education teaching.

“He showed me that it’s not just about PE,” he says. “He taught us how to be good humans and treat other people.”

Those lessons have stuck with Rhomberg. Because he has been so impacted by the opportunity to get an education, he wants to instill that same gratitude in his own students, encouraging them to take full advantage of their school years.

For Rhomberg, his biggest accomplishment so far is attending college. But he’s quick to credit the people who gave him the opportunity to succeed.

“In life, I think you just need a few people to believe in you,” he says. “People who can remind you of how far you’ve come.”

UNI has been filled with people just like that — his classmates, professors and staff members. One person in particular is Fabio Fontana.

“Nelson has an extremely positive aura about himself,” Fontana, head of the Department of Kinesiology and Athletic Training, says. “You can see that many of his peers truly enjoy interacting with him. In addition, he always makes a tremendous effort to complete his academic work and never complains about difficulties.”

Fontana recalls a time when he supported Rhomberg through a challenging ordeal.

“I was blown away by his maturity and politeness, no matter how tough the situation became,” he says. “I am confident that Nelson will be an exceptional physical educator and coach.”

Outside of his coursework, Rhomberg has been active in intramural basketball and serves on the practice squad for the women’s basketball team. He has also worked as the team’s equipment manager, washing uniforms and packing for away games. Additionally, he has participated in Dance Marathon, which gave him insight into ways to better help children who are struggling.

The biggest lesson UNI has taught Rhomberg is not to be afraid to try new things or ask for help.

“I know it can be scary to ask people for help, but don’t worry about it,” he says. “If you do ask for help, it can take you a very long way.”

Beyond earning a degree he never thought possible, Rhomberg has most enjoyed getting to know people across campus. He made it a ritual to eat breakfast in the cafeteria every morning and always thanked the employees serving food. He also enjoys chatting with the maintenance workers in Dancer Hall, where he lives.

After graduation, Rhomberg hopes to secure a PE teaching job and create financial stability for himself so he can help ensure his family’s safety back home, especially since they often have only one meal a day.

“I love my job, which is basically to be here for my students, but I also want to be able to provide for my family,” he says.

That thoughtfulness is at the core of who Rhomberg is. And if there’s one thing that sums Rhomberg up, it’s this:

“Being the person who offers a smile to others is important because someone might go an entire day without that kindness,” he says. “They might go to bed grumpy because no one checked on them. I want to be the person who smiles and says hi.”