My Story – Aristhide Nobanza

A Journey of Faith, Fatherhood, Resilience, and Purpose

My story is a journey through rural villages, city streets, classrooms, workshops, transit tunnels, sports fields, and quiet spiritual turning points. It includes childhood creativity, survival and work, academic leadership in engineering, embedded systems projects, immigration to the United States, fatherhood, a health transformation, and a deep spiritual conversion.

The sections below describe how each season of my life has shaped my character, my faith, and my desire to build systems and environments that bless others.

Introduction

My name is Aristhide Nobanza. I am a father, an Information Technology student at BYU–Idaho, an engineer at heart, and a Lead Mechanical–Electrical–Communications Technician at WMATA.

My life blends engineering curiosity, spiritual transformation, and a deep commitment to my children, my community, and lifelong learning.

Early Foundations – Creativity, Rural Life, and Responsibility

My first structured learning began in the city, where I attended École Maternelle de la Garnison in Bafoussam. After kindergarten, our family returned closer to Baham Centre, and eventually settled at the Baham–Bangou frontier, where most of my formative memories were shaped.

Before this period, I do not recall any consistent male figure in the home except siblings and cousins. It was during our time at the Baham–Bangou frontier that my mother’s husband—married to her according to traditional customs—became a key influence in my life. He played an important role in my early education and craftsmanship, and many of the mathematical foundations I rely on today began with our struggles over multiplication and division around the family home.

Craftsmanship and Early Engineering Foundations

In the rural environment near the Baham–Bangou frontier, I spent my elementary years building practical, functional items from raffia and bamboo. Inspired by the craftsmanship I observed at home, I learned to create:

Raffia baskets (paniers en bambou)
Raffia wall panels used as room dividers or reinforcement
Raffia trays and household tools
Stools, benches, and bed frames made from raffia and bamboo
Small structures and everyday utility items

Through these crafts, I learned:

tension control
geometric symmetry
structural balance
pattern repetition
precision with limited resources
patient problem-solving

These moments were my first engineering classrooms—before any formal training in circuits or microcontrollers.

Helping My Mother — Beignets, Farming, and Daily Discipline

During this period, my mother sold beignets at Carrefour Socna, the known crossroads at the Baham–Bangou frontier. That is where I helped her:

mixing dough
frying beignets
selling to customers
handling coins and small transactions

This was my earliest training in entrepreneurship, discipline, and public interaction.

I also supported the household through:

harvesting and selling farm produce
performing manual farm labor
carrying out daily household responsibilities
managing routines despite resource limitations

These tasks shaped my endurance, responsibility, and sense of stewardship.

Summary of Impact

My childhood—moving from Bafoussam to Baham Centre and ultimately the Baham–Bangou frontier—formed a foundation built on:

craftsmanship
mathematics learned through struggle
resilience
entrepreneurship
labor
discipline
creativity
family responsibility

These experiences ignited the same mindset that would later guide my engineering work, embedded systems development, and leadership as an adult.

Secondary School in Yaoundé – Work, Challenges, and Resilience

Secondary school marked one of the most demanding transitions of my life. I moved to Yaoundé, where I lived with my uncle, his wife, and their two children. The environment was more structured, competitive, and academically intense than anything I had known. I faced major academic challenges, including repeating three full years: once when transitioning from the village to the city (Cinquième), again in Quatrième, and once more in Terminale. Although those moments felt discouraging, they became some of the strongest foundations of my resilience. Through persistence, I eventually earned tableau d’honneur and tableau d’encouragement, often with grades far above classmates. Mathematics became a strength; I still remember scoring 21/20 on a 6ème exam — a moment that helped rebuild my confidence in learning.

Life with my uncle’s family demanded responsibility and maturity. He was battling cancer, and every morning I helped his wife with cleaning, medication, and bandage care. One morning, after completing our usual routine, he passed away while we were assisting him. I carried him back to his bed. That moment shaped my understanding of duty, compassion, and the weight of being present for others in their most vulnerable moments.

To support myself and the household, I worked many small jobs during the school year and “grandes vacances”:

selling bananas, peanuts, and sugar cane
carrying groceries for customers at the market
loading and unloading parpaings (cement blocks)
mixing cement, sand, and water for masons
helping deliver and unload construction materials
making and selling popcorn in the evenings

These jobs helped me pay for:

school supplies
lunch
my first handheld Tetris game

In the evenings, after chores and schoolwork, I studied while selling popcorn by the roadside. These experiences taught me time-management, humility, and endurance under pressure. More importantly, they cultivated resilience, creativity, and self-discipline — qualities that would later carry me through engineering school, immigration challenges, and every stage of my professional life.

Entering Technical Education – Student Leadership & Early Engineering Projects

Before joining the University of Dschang, I briefly attended Université de Yaoundé I for physics. However, challenging family and financial circumstances required me to pause my studies and work to support myself and my family.

I worked at GROUPE SOLID MAISON BTP AFRIQUE SARL, doing both administrative and construction labor. My earnings allowed me to afford the requirements for the entrance exam into the Institut Universitaire de Technologie FOTSO Victor (IUT-FV) of the University of Dschang.

At IUT-FV, I earned several leadership roles:

Class Delegate (2005–2006, 2006–2007)
Délégué des Délégués (2006–2007)
Representative of Grandes Écoles at the University of Dschang (including FASA – Faculté d’Agronomie et des Sciences Agricoles)

As a student leader, I coordinated academic concerns, represented technical institutes at the university level, and participated in campus-wide initiatives.

Demonstration of my 8-Channel Relay Control Board to the Rector of the University of Dschang, the Director of the IUT-FV, their delegation, and fellow students.

This project showcased a microcontroller-based switching system designed to control multiple electrical loads independently. It was one of my earliest opportunities to present an engineering prototype in a formal academic setting and helped shape my confidence in public technical demonstrations.

Engineering Projects at IUT-FV

I developed several embedded and electronics projects:

8-Channel Relay Controller Board (solo project)
PIC Microcontroller Programmer using a MAX232 interface and a parallel port, programmed using Icprog
Radio transmitter and receiver prototypes presented during open-house “journées portes ouvertes”
Engineering demonstrations through the electronics club

I also led the project to design and build the first public outdoor benches at IUT-FV in collaboration with the génie civil club.

My capstone (PFE) was:

“Étude et Réalisation d’une Carte d’Acquisition pour Électroencéphalogrammes (EEG)”
using PIC16F877A, Proteus ISIS, MPLAB, and Borland C++ Builder.

These early engineering experiences confirmed my passion for electronics, design, and problem solving.

Professional Engineering – Express Union Headquarters (2008–2011)

I began at Express Union as an electronics bench technician, repairing computers, UPS units, modems, and electronic boards. I eventually became Chef de Bureau Maintenance, coordinating technicians across regional branches and supporting international locations.

My major achievements include designing and deploying two embedded systems:

GSM Intrusion Detection & Alerting System (PIC16F877A)
- Automatic SMS/call alerts
- Infrared sensors, siren, keypad, LED indicators
- Deployed across pilot banking agencies
Executive Intercom Communication System (PIC16F84A)
- Buzzer signaling
- Request/approve/deny logic
- Installed in headquarters executive offices

I also worked on:

Intercom systems
PC and printer maintenance
Training technicians
Coordinating multi-site maintenance

Later, around 2009, I installed electrical wiring in my family’s rural home—running power lines, installing outlets, switches, a distributing meter (compteur divisionnaire), and providing a television. This brought electricity to our home for the first time.

Immigration & Early U.S. Rebuilding Years (2011-2014)

I immigrated to the United States in 2011 completely alone, with no family members in the country. Those first years were marked by language barriers, cultural adjustment, financial pressure, and uncertainty about how to restart my academic path. It was a period that demanded resilience, discipline, and a willingness to rebuild from the ground up.

To survive and support myself, I held several responsibilities at once. During the nights, I worked as a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) and Geriatric Nursing Assistant (GNA) at Genesis HealthCare in Takoma Park (2012–2013), caring for elderly and vulnerable individuals. These roles taught me compassion, human dignity, emotional strength, and patience under pressure.

During the days, I worked part-time as a Mechanical–Electrical Technician with Mastech Engineering (2012–2014), maintaining HVAC and electrical systems, diagnosing issues with motors and climate-control units, and assisting with inspections across multi-unit facilities. This hands-on technical experience strengthened my engineering discipline and gave me a pathway out of pure survival mode.

In the evenings, I attended Montgomery College, balancing coursework with two jobs and the challenges of adaptation. This period of my life reflects the foundation of my work ethic today: long hours, spiritual humility, and steady progress in the face of uncertainty. It was during this time that I began to understand the depth of resilience the Lord was helping me develop.

WMATA Career (2013–Present)

Since 2013, I have worked at the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) and advanced to Lead Mechanical–Electrical–Communications Technician.

My responsibilities include:

Troubleshooting complex transit communication systems
Coordinating maintenance crews
Handling preventive and corrective maintenance
Documenting work in MAXIMO
Ensuring passenger safety and system reliability
Mentoring newer technicians

This role has strengthened my technical, leadership, and crisis-management skills.

Fatherhood – A Transformational Calling

Becoming a father in 2016 changed everything. It influenced my priorities, my spiritual openness, and eventually my decision to return to school. My children inspired me to become a better disciple, leader, and provider.

In 2024, a team from Church Headquarters filmed my family at home and produced a video on fatherhood using my voice. The footage captured our real life: cooking, praying, repairing devices, playing soccer, and spending time together. It became a powerful symbol of my values and my desire to influence my children’s lives with love, faith, and presence.

Health Transformation – Discipline and Agency

Around 2015, I received concerning health numbers: high cholesterol, high BMI, high A1C, and other risk markers. My doctor said that diet and exercise could help but that medication may be necessary later.

I chose discipline. Between 2017 and 2019, I:

ran the Marine Corps Marathon
ran the Rock & Roll Marathon
completed Cherry Blossom 10-milers
joined running groups
played competitive soccer
won four championship titles across two soccer teams

These changes restored my health and deepened my belief in agency, endurance, and persistence.

Spiritual Conversion – A Turning Point (2019–2020)

In 2019, while transferring between metro lines, I ran to catch a train. As the doors closed, I found myself standing next to two missionaries. Their kindness began a transformation I did not expect.

I attended church, studied with missionaries, wrestled with concerns about the Book of Mormon, and resisted at first. Eventually, I chose to experiment on the word. Applying the Word of Wisdom, discarding alcohol, paying tithing despite financial struggle, and trusting the Lord completely led to life-changing blessings.

Within months:

my habits changed
my ability to resist temptation strengthened
my courage increased
my finances dramatically improved
I became debt-free unexpectedly

I was baptized on December 14, 2019.

This spiritual awakening changed my identity and future.

Reawakening My Engineering Passion (2021)

In 2021, a missionary asked me:

“What gift do you feel God has given you that you can use to bless others?”

This question rekindled my passion for embedded systems. I invested in:

FusionPRO for PIC
MikroC PRO license
CodeGrip programmer
various accessories and components

This created a personal embedded systems lab in the U.S., preparing me to connect my early engineering foundation with my IT studies.

Return to School and IT Studies (2023–Present)

As my children grew older and life stabilized, I returned to school through BYU–Idaho’s online program. I am completing:

BAS in Information Technology (expected 2026)
Certificates in Systems Administration, Technical Support, and IT Professionalism

My coursework includes real technical projects such as:

Linux administration
Windows Server configuration
AWS cloud solutions
Web development
Project documentation
Ethical decision-making in IT

My Professional Growth Portfolio integrates both my technical skills and my spiritual identity.

Leadership, Service, and Community

I serve in multiple leadership roles:

Temple & Family History Consultant
Assistant Executive Secretary
Board Member – Friday Night Dancers (FND)
Board Member & Dance Chair – Folklore Society of Greater Washington (FSGW)
Member of The A-Team soccer club since 2017
Member of several running clubs in the DMV since 2014

These roles strengthen my ability to collaborate, serve, plan, mentor, and uplift others.

A Unified Life – Faith, Engineering, Technology, and Service

My journey unites:

rural creativity
academic leadership
embedded systems engineering
communications technology
immigration resilience
fatherhood
spiritual awakening
running and discipline
professional IT development

Each chapter has shaped my desire to build systems, environments, and relationships that uplift and protect others. My goal is to become a capable disciple-leader—one who uses technology, faith, and service to bless individuals, communities, and organizations.

Service & Leadership Roles

I serve as:

- Ward Assistant Executive Secretary

- Ward Temple & Family History Consultant

- Board Member, FSGW

- Board Member, Friday Night Dancers

- Soccer team member (A-Team)

- Active participant in local running clubs

Service, community, and stewardship remain central to my life.

Conclusion

My journey weaves together engineering curiosity, spiritual transformation, deep resilience, fatherhood, international growth, and a commitment to learning.

This biography reflects not only where I have been, but the principles guiding who I am becoming.

Contact

I'm always looking for new and exciting opportunities. Let's connect.

info@elevatewithnobanza.com

+1 301-778-4415