Leukemia Survivor Graduates UMBC With Two Degrees in Four Years

When Manav Narendra walks across the graduation stage at UMBC this spring, he'll carry two degrees, countless memories, and a perspective shaped by surviving leukemia as a child. The mathematics and computer science double major credits his mother's unwavering support and his university's close-knit community for helping him thrive both academically and personally.

Narendra came to UMBC as a QuestBridge Scholar from a single-parent household, choosing the Maryland campus for its intimate feel and merit scholarship. He worried about getting lost in the crowd at a larger school, and UMBC proved him right to trust his instincts.

The smaller class sizes became his secret weapon for connection. In classes of 20 to 30 students, real discussions sparked friendships that sustained him through a demanding course load designed to complete both degrees in four years.

He didn't just study. Narendra tutored math and Japanese at the Academic Success Center for three years, joined the Honors College and Pi Mu Epsilon mathematics honor society, and played pickup tennis to stay balanced.

Two internships at Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group taught him Excel and Visual Basic programming from scratch. The corporate experience showed him what professional accountability looks like, even though he realized he wanted something more independent and creative long term.

Why This Inspires

Behind every achievement stands Narendra's mother, who stopped working for years to care for him during cancer treatment. She navigated every appointment, advocated for his care, and carried the emotional weight he couldn't fully grasp as a child.

Her own story fuels his gratitude daily. In an India that discouraged women from pursuing higher education, she became the first person from her village to earn a doctorate in public health, then completed a postdoctoral fellowship at Duke University.

"I wasn't the brave one during treatment; she was," Narendra says. "She's overcome so much adversity to get me to where I am today, and for that I'm eternally humbled and grateful."

Now Narendra faces the tough job market with the same resilience that got him through chemotherapy. He's studying for actuarial certification exams, applying for positions in data analysis and underwriting, and staying open to moving anywhere.

After five years in Maryland, he's ready for the next chapter, carrying forward the lessons of gratitude, persistence, and the power of unwavering support.