Saphir Esmail waited until his freshman orientation to first visit Temple University’s Main Campus. A native of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Esmail jumped into college life headfirst—adapting to his surroundings in a new country and in an unfamiliar city all at once.

“Surprisingly,” Esmail said, “it wasn’t that big of a culture shock. I’ve always been around different cultures, and I appreciated the diversity on Temple’s campus. To see so many people from so many backgrounds and to meet people from all over the world, that made me happy. I knew this was the place for me.”

A finance major and management information systems minor from the Fox School of Business, Esmail will graduate in May with Temple’s Class of 2015. He has accepted a position to become a business technology analyst with Deloitte Consulting LLP, in Washington, D.C.

Esmail credits his success at Temple to an upbringing steeped in multiculturalism. He attended a high school with students who represented 40 different nationalities. His first language is French, and he has been speaking English since the age of 8. As a result, Esmail said, he can always find something in common with everyone he encounters.

“Two summers ago, I worked as an Owl Team leader and, in the position, your objective is to make new students feel as comfortable as possible and help them adapt,” Esmail said. “For me, this was easy. I would tell the students, ‘I was in your shoes. I came to this great campus knowing just one fellow student. I took two airplanes to get here.’”

He also expects this ability to relate to others to serve him well in the professional world. “When it comes to consulting, you deal with different clients every day. The way you find success is in adapting quickly, and I’ve been able to achieve that,” he said.

He is known on campus as DJ Saphir, having worked a number of Temple-sponsored events during his undergraduate career in addition to other events off-campus. Esmail’s taste in music is reminiscent of his personal and professional experiences, he said.

“I’m influenced by everywhere and everything,” Esmail said. “I adapt the music I play to the specific event and situation. I don’t play just one genre. I blend everything.”

Esmail wouldn’t have it any other way.

- Christopher A. Vito