Senior Roland Nkansah found his stride at Rochambeau Alternative High School

For much of his childhood and teenage years, change was a constant for Roland Nkansah.

He moved from city to city, school to school, adapting to new environments, new classmates and new routines while trying to find his footing. The instability weighed on him mentally and emotionally, he said, leaving him searching for a place where he finally felt supported and understood.

That place turned out to be Rochambeau Alternative High School.

“It means a lot to me,” said Roland, a senior preparing to graduate next month. 

“Everything’s been complicated, but I’m happy that I’m finally in a place where everybody’s very helpful and able to teach me to be a better version of myself and be ready to get out into the real world,” he said sitting alongside his mentor, school Director Khali Murrell.

Roland, who was born in Ghana, transferred to Rochambeau during his junior year after struggling to find the right fit at his previous school. Once he arrived, he said, his outlook on education began to change.

“The teachers are very understanding of what’s going on,” he said. “They know how to keep me on task, make sure I’m always focused and always get my work done. Once I came here, I saw a whole different side of high school. It really changed my perspective on how to be a great student.”

That growth has shown both in and out of the classroom.

Roland earned High Honor Roll recognition twice, maintaining averages of 95 or higher, while also receiving character and scholar-athlete awards. On Wednesday night, he was among the students honored during Senior Awards Night at White Plains High School, where he proudly accepted the Harry Jefferson and Lois Van Epps scholarships totaling $1,250.

Athletics also became an important outlet and source of discipline for Roland. A dedicated basketball player and track athlete, he recently received the Tom Eaton Award for dedication, leadership and sportsmanship

.Sports were not always part of his plan, however.

As a child, Roland dreamed of playing baseball. He trained through the Police Athletic League in Yonkers, learning the fundamentals of the game, but struggled to find opportunities and teams to continue pursuing the sport.

Eventually, he shifted his focus to basketball, beginning to seriously learn the game in eighth grade.

Now, athletics have become central to his identity and future aspirations.

Roland hopes to attend college and pursue a career in physical education, with dreams of someday teaching and mentoring young people through sports. His dream school is the hoops powerhouse University of Connecticut.

“I see myself in a nice school teaching kids sports and physical education,” he said. “Showing them how to be active.”

Along the way, Roland said one of the most influential people in his life has been a mentor he affectionately calls his “uncle,” Steve Sullivan, whom he met at age 12 while attending Dr. Kenneth Clark Academy.

Though not related by blood, Roland said Mr. Sullivan became a steady presence during difficult periods in his life.

“I was going through a lot of anxiety and always running around and stuff like that,” Roland said. “But he’s the reason why I’m more focused and why I stay on task and do work and actually want to be better. Every downfall that I had in my life, he had my back.”

Roland credits those experiences — and the many transitions he endured growing up — with helping him develop resilience and adaptability.

He attended schools in Yonkers, Mount Vernon and White Plains while moving frequently between communities, often needing to start over socially and academically.

“It was stressful,” he said. “I had to adapt to different environments and meet new people consistently.”

Still, Roland’s friendly personality helped him build connections wherever he went. Today, he describes himself as someone who enjoys helping others and staying active, whether through sports, video games or community work.

As part of a position with Westhab, Roland worked as a teen assistant, helping staff members and children at a residence facility while also assisting with cleaning and daily responsibilities.

At Rochambeau, he also participated in leadership opportunities, including attending a leadership conference in Albany and preparing for mock job interviews with Ms. Murrell to help students develop professional skills for the workforce.

“This is basically to prepare me for when I really have to take that step and get a job and talk to an interviewer,” Roland said.

As graduation approaches, Roland admitted his emotions are mixed.

“I’m a little nervous,” he said with a smile. “I can’t really explain how I feel.”

But after years of uncertainty and change, he now faces the future with something that once seemed harder to find: confidence in himself and optimism about what comes next.