Manny Apea is proving that an education can prepare you for more than one career — and sometimes the most meaningful path is the one you never planned.
When Manny Apea arrived at Duquesne University, he had a fairly clear idea of where he was headed.
Medical school.
The Germantown, Maryland, native came to Duquesne determined to strengthen his scientific foundation, challenge himself academically and prepare for a future in medicine.
But life had other possibilities waiting.
Today, the 2023 Duquesne graduate works in cloud engineering at the University of Rochester, supporting the technology and infrastructure behind research conducted by groups including the Genomics Research Center and the Center for Integrated Research Computing.
And that’s only one side of his story.
Outside of technology, Apea has built a career as an electric violinist and DJ, performing at weddings, private celebrations, corporate events and venues across the country.
Science. Technology. Music.
At first glance, the three may seem like completely different worlds.
For Apea, they are connected by something much more important: how he learned to think.
“Education should expand the number of possibilities in your life, not reduce them.”
He Didn’t Abandon Science. He Expanded the Possibilities.
Apea’s biotechnology education introduced him to biology, medicine, research and emerging technology while developing skills that would eventually prove useful far beyond a traditional scientific career.
Although he ultimately moved into cloud engineering, he continues to work around scientific research. He helps build and maintain the digital infrastructure that allows researchers to do their work.
“I may not be working at the bench, but I still contribute to the systems and infrastructure that help researchers do their work,” he said.
That distinction matters. Apea’s story isn’t about walking away from one career and starting over. It’s about recognizing that the skills you develop in one environment can travel with you.
The ability to analyze information. Research an unfamiliar subject. Solve complicated problems. Ask questions. Keep learning. Those skills have become just as valuable in cloud engineering as they were in biotechnology.
Learning to Be Comfortable With Not Knowing
One of the biggest lessons Apea took from his education was learning how to approach something he didn’t immediately understand.
Scientific research can be intimidating. Papers can contain unfamiliar terminology, complicated mechanisms and layers of information that don’t make sense on the first read. Apea learned not to let that complexity stop him.
“That process taught me how to be comfortable not knowing something right away. Instead of getting intimidated by complexity, I learned to slow down, research it, break it apart, and keep digging until it made sense.”
That same mindset now follows him into technology. When he’s troubleshooting cloud infrastructure or working through unfamiliar technical documentation, the subject may be different, but the approach remains the same. Get curious. Do the research. Break it down. Keep going.
The Violin His Parents Put in His Hands Came Back Into His Life
Apea’s career isn’t defined by technology alone. Music has become another important part of his life — and another example of an opportunity he didn’t necessarily know where to take when it first appeared.
His parents, who immigrated from Ghana, introduced him to the violin when he was young and encouraged him to take education seriously. Years later, Apea returned to the instrument. But this time, he wasn’t interested in simply recreating what he had learned as a child.
He began experimenting. Electric violin. R&B. Hip-hop. Afrobeats. Pop. Latin music. DJing.
What began as a creative outlet eventually developed into a business. Today, Apea performs for weddings, private events and corporate gatherings, combining violin with contemporary music and DJ performance.
And he has learned that building a music career requires many of the same skills needed to build a technology career. Marketing. Client communication. Contracts. Pricing. Equipment. Travel. Social media. Business development. The classroom may have taught him how to approach complex problems, but the real world has given him plenty of opportunities to put those skills into practice.
Sometimes You Have to Put Yourself Out There
Apea’s music journey also offers another lesson: opportunities don’t always arrive before you’re ready.
When he first began posting violin performances online, some videos attracted only a few hundred views. He kept posting. Eventually, someone from Long Island discovered one of his videos and contacted him about performing at a wedding. That single opportunity helped him see what might be possible.
His music was no longer simply something he enjoyed. It could become a business. And the opportunities continued. Apea was invited to appear on CBS Pittsburgh’s Talk Pittsburgh to talk about his music career. He has performed for celebrations and special occasions across multiple states.
One performance was particularly meaningful. He was invited to play for a family celebrating their daughter ringing the chemo bell after completing treatment.
“That experience stayed with me because it reminded me that music is not only about entertainment, social media, or being on a stage. Sometimes you are being invited into one of the most important days of someone’s life.”
A Career Without a Ceiling
Today, Apea isn’t interested in putting a ceiling on what comes next. Professionally, he wants to continue growing in cloud engineering, taking on increasingly complex challenges involving infrastructure, security and research technology.
At the same time, he is building his identity as a violinist, DJ, producer and creator. He wants to perform on larger stages. At festivals. In new cities. And eventually, internationally.
“I do not want to know exactly where the ceiling is. I want to keep building until I find out.”
Don’t Have Your Whole Life Figured Out
For students who feel pressure to know exactly what they want to do with their lives, Apea offers a different message. You don’t have to have every answer. You don’t even have to end up where you thought you were going.
What matters is continuing to develop the skills, curiosity and confidence that allow you to recognize an opportunity when it arrives.
“You do not need to have your entire life mapped out at 20, 22, or even 30. You just need to keep becoming someone who is prepared when the next opportunity appears.”
Manny Apea came to Duquesne preparing for medical school. He left with something broader: the ability to keep learning, adapt to change and recognize possibilities wherever they appear.
Your major doesn’t have to define your entire life. Your first job doesn’t have to be your last. A childhood passion can become a business. A science degree can lead into technology. And an education can give you tools you didn’t know you would need.
His story is a reminder that success doesn’t always look the way you imagined it — and that’s often the best part.