As a Nigerian woman in tech, my journey in computer science has been shaped by resilience and an unwavering desire to build technology that empowers people, especially those in underrepresented communities. My goals in computer science are not just about writing code or designing systems; they’re about creating technology with heart and intention. When I first started college, I didn’t just want to learn how to code; I wanted to understand how technology could solve real problems. Whether I was building a hotel booking website or deploying a live app to Azure, I always found myself thinking about the people on the other side of the screen. I recently graduated with my associate's degree in Computer Science and will continue my studies at Howard University this fall. Along the way, I stepped into leadership as president of my campus’s Girls Who Code chapter and discovered that helping others, especially women and girls, find their voice in tech brought me as much joy as programming itself. That balance between technical growth and community impact has become central to how I see my future. Outside the world of code, I’m passionate about mentorship and education. As a math tutor and student facilitator, I’ve seen how powerful it is when someone believes in your potential and gives you the tools to grow. These experiences sparked one of my biggest dreams: to establish a nonprofit called Technology Without Borders (TWB). TWB will focus on providing mentorship and tech education for youth in under-resourced communities, starting with Nigeria, my home country. I see it as a platform that will connect young people to opportunity, equip them with coding skills, and open doors they may not have known existed. My interests don’t stop there. I’m currently designing a mobile app that curates fashionable women’s shoes in sizes 10 and above—an idea born from the struggle of finding style and self-expression in a market that often overlooks people with larger feet. It might seem like a small problem, but for me, it’s a reminder of how technology can affirm identity, offer visibility, and meet people where they are. Projects like this one keep me grounded in the belief that code is a tool for inclusion. I recently launched my personal website—https://ezichichimezie.vercel.app/—a space where I share my journey and showcase my projects. I designed and built it myself, combining clean design with functionality to create something that feels authentically me. It’s a small example of what I love about coding: the ability to bring an idea to life, from scratch, and make it something others can connect with. The Lyndsey Scott Coding+ Scholarship would help me continue on this path, allowing me to merge technical excellence with creativity, compassion, and purpose. My identities and diverse passions don’t take away from my ability to succeed in computer science; they are what make me a better builder, teammate, and future engineer. With your support, I’ll keep crafting technology that reflects the richness of the world around me and make space for others to do the same.

INNOCENCE LOST When I think about my childhood, I see it in shades of brown as if looking through tinted glasses. The dry fog that coated everything in dust, the thirsty brown grass, the buildings— dulled down to one uniform shade of brown, the untarred roads that bellowed dust with each passing car, and the ‘used-to-be-white’ cows herded by little boys just as brown as the cows. I loved everything about my brown city—Kaduna. To my naive mind, life was simple. I walked to school every day, played until my socks turned brown, and ended the night at the dinner table with my working-class parents, who lamented Nigeria’s economy. I didn’t understand their worries then, but soon enough, I recognized the sacrifices they made for my innocence. I've always had a knack for numbers, and at nine, I declared myself a mathematician, only for my teacher to dismiss it as a terrible decision. I turned to engineering, but my parents scoffed, reminding me that big companies in Nigeria were disappearing. Slowly, the scales fell from my eyes. I was no longer blind to the fact that my parents were accountants and pharmacists, yet they relied on selling food to make ends meet; my hairdresser was a biochemist, my school’s janitor, a psychologist. At eighteen, the conversations at our dinner table made sense. Adulthood in Nigeria was proving far more difficult than my childhood had prepared me for. Desperate for an alternative, I turned to the internet—and stumbled on a YouTube video titled "Learn Java in 30 Minutes" by Derek Banes. For the first time, I saw a future I could build for myself. I spent every free moment learning to program, captivated by the ability to command a machine to follow my instructions. This newfound passion solidified my dream of becoming an engineer, and when the opportunity to study in the U.S. arose, I pursued a Computer Science degree. To make the most of this opportunity while keeping costs low, I began my studies at a community college, balancing coursework with working and applying for grants and essay contests to fund my education. In Fall 2024, I earned my Associate’s degree in Computer Science. But I know this is just the beginning. In Fall 2025, I will start my Bachelor’s program in Computer Science at the University of Maryland, College Park, where I hope to deepen my technical expertise. Alongside my studies, I have worked to uplift others facing similar struggles. Seeing the financial hardship of international (F-1) students at my school, I helped organize a fundraiser to provide scholarships for new F-1 students. I also encountered the diversity gap in tech, which pushed me to start a Girls Who Code chapter at my school and join WiCyS and NSBE. Through these organizations, I have led outreach programs to encourage more girls to explore coding and cybersecurity. Meanwhile, I have expanded my technical skills by building booking websites, portfolios, and an e-commerce app. After college, I aspire to work as a software engineer, developing applications that improve people’s lives while securing a better future for my family. Long term, I plan to establish Technology Without Borders (TWB), a nonprofit dedicated to providing mentorship and educational opportunities in technology for children in underdeveloped countries. I know what it’s like to have potential but lack guidance, and I want to ensure that bright, curious minds like mine have the support they need to thrive. Just as Derek Banes unknowingly changed my life, I hope to change the lives of others—proving that no dream is too far out of reach.

My fascination with technology was sparked by simple interactions with software like Encarta Kids. This early curiosity about how computers work led me to pursue computer science. However, growing up in an underdeveloped country with limited access to mentors and resources posed significant challenges. It wasn't until I came to the United States that my passion for computer science truly flourished. Drawn to programming, and app design, I switched my major to Computer Science. The interplay between back-end systems and user interfaces fascinates me, as it combines logic and creativity to enhance user experiences. Upon earning my computer science degree, my ultimate goal is to establish a tech company that designs and develops innovative applications. I aspire to create apps that serve practical needs and engage users. Beyond my professional ambitions, I am deeply committed to giving back to my community. I plan to launch an NGO, Technology Without Borders (TWB), dedicated to providing mentorship and educational opportunities, in technology, for children in underdeveloped countries. TWB will help bridge the gap for students who, like me, face challenges accessing quality education and mentorship. Each cohort will participate in a six-year program where teachers and mentors guide students to specialize in areas like cybersecurity and software engineering. This program will eliminate student costs by securing external funding, ensuring access is based solely on merit. Graduates of the program will give back by volunteering as teachers and mentors for future cohorts, helping bridge the diversity gap in technology fields. This cycle will foster a supportive community and ensure the program's continuity, empowering the next generation of tech leaders. I am currently pursuing an associate degree in Computer Science and have been accepted to Howard University to further my studies with a major in Computer Science and a minor in Business Administration. While I have received a merit scholarship, I need additional financial support. I believe I am the best fit for this scholarship because I am proactive in preparing for my future career, I have taken online courses in Java, Python, and HTML and am studying for the CompTIA Security Plus exam. Additionally, my extracurricular involvement, particularly as president of the Girls Who Code chapter at my school, reflects my dedication to empowering minorities in tech. This leadership role has allowed me to support female students and advocate for greater gender diversity in tech. I resonate deeply with the legacy of Chris Jackson, whose life exemplified the values of empathy, family, and perseverance. My tenacity and resilience have enabled me to overcome challenges, including adapting to life in the US. This experience has been character-building, teaching me to embrace my uniqueness and let my work and skills speak for themselves. Like Chris, I have faced financial challenges in pursuing my education, but I am determined to overcome them and make a meaningful impact. My experiences have taught me the importance of giving others my full attention and support, values that align with Chris's spirit of making others feel important and valued.

“Dad, why did they shut down?” I ask my father as we drive past what was once a lucrative hotel. “It’s the processes. There are just too many leakages in the hospitality business,” he replies with a sigh. I accept that explanation with unease because we don’t mention the carpentry shop, the salon, or the boutiques that have all closed down, none of which are members of the hospitality industry. We don’t acknowledge them because we own a restaurant business, and like a vice around our necks, we feel the impending doom. That is the experience of every entrepreneur in Nigeria, and I needed to know why. That was when I learned about the Restaurant Management Application Software. However, after careful consideration of the situation in my country, I realized that we didn't just need that application, we needed a General Entrepreneurial Application Software that helps small business owners start and stay in business, and I am in school today majoring in Computer Science because it is my goal to design this app. I could tell you that that was why I chose to study Computer Science, but that would be a lie. It was just the push I needed to finally make up my mind because frankly, I’ve always had an interest in Computer Software. It started as a child. My sister and I would play games on Encarta Kids. They were fun, but I would always wonder what goes on behind the screen. How does the computer know what to output? How is it so fast? How was it designed? Then I learned about binary numbers, and I was even more confused because I wondered how zeros and ones could give me such results. My greatest regret is that there were no opportunities for me to learn and explore programming as a child. My parents believed that as a girl my talents would be better spent studying medicine or something health-related. Yes, they made this decision for me, but I strongly believe that they just did not understand my passion, and there was no adult to explain it to them. That was the foundation for my non-Computer Science goal. Every day in Nigeria, more and more female talent gets wasted because of some archaic social construct of what a girl should do. However, I have suffered the consequences of this construct, and I aim to ensure that other girls do not face these consequences. Initially, I resolved to form an NGO to fund and support females from underdeveloped countries to achieve their dreams and goals in whatever field they choose, but I’ve come to see that this is unrealistic. Consequently, I have decided that my NGO will be geared toward girls who are interested in Computer Science, Software engineering, and other technology-related fields. I will work with like-minded individuals to educate parents on the importance of allowing their daughters to pursue their dreams from an early age, and I will work with these girls and give them the foundation they need to be Programmers, Software Engineers, and Computer Scientists. This is how I plan to integrate my Computer Science goal and my non-computer Science goal. Yes, I want to design an application to help small businesses, but I also want to help young girls achieve their goals. My NGO has the potential to produce the next group of women in tech in Nigeria, and so even if I don’t achieve my goal of creating my app, I can rest easy knowing that I have laid the foundation for future generations.