When Physician Assistant (PA) Sixtus relocated to Lubbock, Texas in 2000, he was the only Cameroonian in the city. He began working at Covenant Health, part of the Providence family, and credits both the organization and the community with profoundly enriching his life. This has inspired him to share that same positive experience with others. “When I came to Lubbock, I was the only one. Now we have 65 Cameroonian families.” Read on for his story.

Sixtus’ path to Covenant Health

Sixtus moved to Lubbock “without knowing a single person in this town and just having faith in what God’s plan was for my life.” He began working at Covenant as a transporter and nurse aide and Sixtus says he had an excellent working relationship with his nurse coworkers. “They took interest and wanted to see me grow,” he explains. With their help, Sixtus worked his way to unit secretary and monitor technician, until ultimately, into his current role as a PA.

Reflecting on the experience, Sixtus says, “My coworkers saw something in me that I did not see in myself. I didn’t know what a PA was, and I had a nurse who told me I should consider being one.” He was able to take advantage of the tuition reimbursement benefit to get the schooling he needed to succeed in his career and still credits those initial supporters with his positive experience. Says, Sixtus, “Some of the nurses are still at Covenant today. I see them every single day and I thank them every single day for what they’ve done for me. Covenant is by far one of the best places I’ve ever worked at.”

Personal growth through relationships at work

Sixtus says that Covenant hasn’t just helped him grow in his career—his coworkers and leaders have helped him grow personally, as well. “Covenant is just one of those places you don’t see. You have people who are truly compassionate and committed to an exceptional experience for their patients. You have leadership that cares about its employees and their growth. Covenant has helped me in becoming the person that I am today. The clinician that I am today. The father that I am today. It has been an amazing experience and something I will never trade for anything else.”

Raising a family in Lubbock

In West Texas, Sixtus discovered his new home. “Someone who’s never been to Lubbock before might come here and go, where in the world am I? Until you meet the people. Then you realize ‘this is where I’m supposed to be.’ Lubbock is a wonderful place to raise a family and grow as a professional.”

Some of the things Sixtus appreciates about Lubbock are its low cost of living; his easy, seven-minute commute; and the community’s friendly neighborhoods; good schools and plenty of things to do. As a PTA dad, Sixtus says, “Personally, I’m involved in my kids’ activities. One of my boys is playing soccer. The other one plays basketball, and they get very competitive. We get to travel with them and it’s great.”

Creating a Cameroonian community in West Texas

Sixtus has had such a positive experience during his two-plus decades in Lubbock that he felt that other Cameroonians should be offered the same experience. “Many people wondered why I was going to Lubbock, Texas,” he says. “I have made it my goal to help others see what I have been able to find here.”

Sixtus began helping other families migrate to West Texas and become gainfully employed at Covenant or other organizations. He says, “Since arriving in the US more than two decades ago, I have had several family members follow under my sponsorship. Two of them have lived with me and my family while pursuing their education. My wife and I took care of their basic needs and tuition. We helped with that first car, taught them how to drive and even helped them get that first job. They never had to worry about where their meals would come from. If they needed anything, they had a cell phone to dial our numbers.”

“They’re successfully raising kids and happy because Lubbock and Covenant offer what you are just not going to find in most other places. I tell other Cameroonians, ‘Once you get here, you’re going to see exactly what I’m talking about. It’s a beautiful place. The people are warm and wonderful. There’s a vibrant community, lots of things to do. And at Covenant, regardless of your background, regardless of your race, the organization is working to make sure that you have the opportunities that you need to grow.’”

Sixtus says of his efforts to build a Cameroonian community in Lubbock, “So far, I’ve helped about 80 people.” He hopes there will be many more to come.

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