My name is Oluwakayode David Oluwole, and I was born and raised in Chicago as a first-generation student. My parents are both Nigerian, and my dad immigrated to America when he was 18. So, when asked what my greatest inspiration in life is, my answer would simply be my father’s work ethic. My father was able to come to America as an immigrant with no money to his name and work his way up into getting multiple college degrees and becoming a nurse. My father has not only inspired me to be a hard worker to achieve my goals and aspirations, but he has had so much influence in my life that I started volunteering alongside him from a young age at a soup kitchen called The Lord’s Table (TLT). At the time, I did not know that my volunteer work would shape my career plans in the future. This work continuously drives me to have a voice and impact in my community. My tasks at TLT were simple: gather chairs and pass out utensils. Through this ministry, I have been exposed to the conditions of homelessness in the city of Chicago. This was my first taste of what I wanted to do in the future. At TLT, families are not only warmed by the heat of the room, but by the presence of a loving community. I love initiating games for children during Christmas dinner events and helping with food preparation with other members. Together, we encourage one another and engage in meaningful group discussions learning about the power of faith and perseverance. My father provided me with a solid understanding of myself, the world around me, and the importance of selflessness from a young age. I am thankful that he took me to soup kitchens to see firsthand the difficulties that come with homelessness or living in disadvantaged neighborhoods. The drive to be a voice and do more for my community stems from my experiences volunteering at TLT. Hence, I hope to be able to use my college education to open a law firm focused on social justice, which will allow me to incorporate my experiences with service to navigate how to improve various issues regarding social inequality. As an incoming freshman at Cornell University, I plan on utilizing knowledge gained from the classroom to address societal challenges, which perfectly aligns with my goals to continue with service beyond high school. In a society where a multitude of African Americans are incarcerated, yet the amount of African American lawyers is minuscule, it is vital to have representation in the legal community. Overall, I see myself learning about pertinent concepts both inside and outside the courtroom on how to reform the future of the American workplace and address social challenges. All in all, I know that my experiences at soup kitchens with my dad helped mold me into a trailblazer waiting to put my mark on the world.

The United States has a very flawed criminal justice system that has disproportionately affected African Americans. I am dedicated to promoting social justice because I have seen firsthand the difficulties that come with the lack of representation in African American Communities. Hence, I hope to be able to use my college education to open a law firm focused on social justice, which will allow me to incorporate my experiences with service to navigate how to improve various issues regarding social inequality. I plan on tackling all forms of social inequality and using law as an outlet to fight for the unrepresented in my community. I genuinely believe that using law to combat injustice is the best path because as a lawyer, I can be a voice to the countless minorities who have been failed by the criminal justice system. By opening a social justice law firm, I will be equipped with the tools to combat discrimination that African Americans have faced throughout the history of America. In a society where a multitude of African Americans are incarcerated, yet the amount of African American lawyers is minuscule, it is vital to have representation in the legal community. Furthermore, coming from a school where I am the only African American male in my grade, I recognize the importance of breaking barriers to encourage diversity. As an incoming freshman at Cornell University, I plan on utilizing knowledge gained from the classroom to address societal challenges, which perfectly aligns with my goals to continue with service beyond high school. As an individual who appreciates combining passion with service, opening my own law firm appeals to me because of the breadth of options available to help people in need and the fieldwork component that will allow me to spend time working and having personal conversations with people in the community. I have developed integral technical skills due to my work in soup kitchens that will allow me to understand complex employee relations, and ultimately prepare me for a future in law. The time I spent at soup kitchens was beneficial to my education as it encouraged thought leadership, in which one can offer guidance to those around them. Thought leadership is an essential key when working with communities and organizations, because you are able to develop a personal relationship with the people you are working with. This is a skill that is specifically utilized in college as you need to pave your own path when at school. Through starting my own law firm, I hope to confront issues that are facing various communities by engaging in meaningful dialogues with my community and proposing effective solutions to make an impact on society. Overall, I see myself learning about pertinent concepts both inside and outside the courtroom on how to reform the criminal justice system e and address social challenges. All in all, I know that my experiences in college will help mold me into a trailblazer waiting to put my mark on the world. My values of engaging in community service are rooted in my drive to challenge my preconceived notions, while working to make a difference. Furthermore, I see myself engaging in meaningful dialogues about issues facing various communities, while implementing solutions to bring about a change.

If I was asked to bluntly describe my 2020 with one word it would be: Rollercoaster. I was born and raised in the city of Chicago, Illinois, a city with an assortment of ethnicities across zip codes. From preschool through junior high, I was surrounded by the diversity in the Chicago public school system. Transitioning from a public school whose demographics were balanced across the scale, to a private high school where I was the only Black male in my grade, I experienced a culture shock. I was faced with many uncomfortable conversations on whether Black Lives Matter was political propaganda or if the brutally slain George Floyd’s death was justified. As the only person of color in my friend group, I contemplated if I would be shunned for voicing my opinion. However, by listening to my friends' opinions and giving my perspective, I was able to help them understand the point of view of many African Americans and discuss issues such as police brutality and systematic racism. I let my friends know that it was wrong and immoral to say that George Floyd’s murder was justified. With the countless people who face police brutality, I knew it was important to voice my opinion and stand up for what I believe in. I chose to stand up, because I knew how important it was for people to understand my point of view. My values are rooted in my drive to challenge preconceived notions while working to make a difference. If I had the opportunity to do it again, I would. Stopping a cycle of ignorance is paramount in our society today. As unsettling as these conversations were for me, I learned that everyone has different opinions and ideas on controversial topics, but the ability to step back and listen with an open mind is key to solving divides in our society. This year also gave me a new career path for the future; my passion for seeking justice and equality led me to law. I hope to open a law firm focused on social justice, which will allow me to incorporate my experiences with service to navigate how to improve various issues regarding social inequality. Through this career path, I will be equipped with the tools to combat discrimination that African Americans have faced throughout the history of America. In a society where a multitude of African Americans are incarcerated, yet the amount of African American lawyers is minuscule, it is vital to have representation in the legal community. As a leader, it is essential to be able to work with individuals despite their differing social status. As an incoming freshman at Cornell University, I plan on utilizing knowledge gained from the classroom to address societal challenges, which perfectly aligns with my goals to continue with service beyond high school. Therefore, in the future, I will not shy away from respectfully expressing my ideals with people or friends with differing views, while also being a good listener.