Black Students in STEM Scholarship

PERSONAL STATEMENT FOR AERONAUTICAL ENGINEERING A real-life experience nudged me on this journey to be part of the crew to proffer a solution to the incessant and numerous problems that has dogged the transportation and aviation segment of my country, Nigeria.  As soon as I could understand events, I was told about the unfortunate plane crash that claimed the lives of over 100 students in my country on the 10th of December, 2005. My mum told me how my Grandma rushed home with so much anxiety to tell about the Sosoliso Plane crash enroute Port Harcourt from Abuja conveying students of Jesuit Memorial College and how they were all feared dead. She recounted how our very close friends were aboard that flight, how parents and siblings were already at the airport waiting anxiously to welcome their loved ones. I still remember the painful look on her face, the sighs, and the tears rushing down her eyes as she narrated the sad event to us. Our neighbor’s children were on that ill fated flight, my dad's colleague lost all 3 children, our family friend lost their first son too, the list kept going on. It was truly a tragedy, a black day for Nigeria. The story prompted so many questions within me, questions that required answers. What could have gone wrong?’ ‘Was there nothing the pilot could do?’ ‘Was it a problem that could have been solved earlier? ‘How do Airplanes work?’ Could it have been a technical or mechanical fault? These and many more troubled my mind. Over the years I found out that this unfortunate crash had a negative effect on people around me. Over 80% of persons I interacted with were terrified of flying. They lacked faith in the aviation system of our nation and the condition of our local planes. They most times joked about all these mishaps being the activities of unknown forces working against our Nation. Although I sometimes agreed with their trail of thoughts, deep within me was a desire to study and acquire knowledge in this area. Thinking of proper management of these planes prompted questions. There were concerns and questions about the under-development and severe lack of competent engineers in my country. I couldn’t help wondering why Nigeria has not made significant strides towards training, and even building aircrafts and why there is heavy dependence on foreign companies and professionals. This thought emboldened me with the determination to contribute towards the amelioration of this challenge. It also shaped my career choice as I studied hard throughout college. Coincidentally, my high-school was situated close to an international airport. The constant opportunity to see flights arriving and leaving the airport sort of kept this burden and vision alive in my mind. I knew that one day; I could be at the forefront of solving a real problem that will have an impact on many lives. Luckily, I have an earlier inclination for the sciences and mathematics. I truly enjoy Physics in particular. I studied hard because I am firmly resolved that it is very possible to put an end to situations like this in future even on a continent and a country like Nigeria that is faced with numerous challenges.