System.out.println(“Hello World! My name is Ezichi Chimezie”); That was the first line of code I ever typed. I was 19, fresh out of high school, and going through one of the toughest times in my life. I felt lost, directionless, and weighed down by uncertainty. But coding gave me something to hold on to. What excited me most was its potential to solve real-world problems, and two years later, I was able to put that potential into practice. As president of the Girls Who Code chapter at my community college, I once led a project that grew out of a casual complaint during one of our weekly meetings: someone mentioned how hard it was to find shoes for women with larger sizes. That conversation sparked the idea for a mobile app that uses web scraping to curate shoe listings from across the internet for women who wear size 10 and above. While this project may seem small, it demonstrates that technology is a practical tool for solving problems, and this is the mindset I will take with me as I go further in my career. Over time, my curiosity about computer science evolved. While I still love coding, I’ve grown especially interested in machine learning (ML)—the intelligence behind AI. I’m fascinated by how data, math, and statistical models can be used to train machines to recognize patterns, make predictions, and emulate human decision-making. My goal is to become an ML engineer. To pursue this path, I plan to complete my bachelor’s degree at the University of Maryland, College Park. Though it is an expensive school, it is one of the few universities offering a dedicated Machine Learning Track within its computer science program. This track will equip me with the hands-on experience and technical foundation I need to launch my career straight out of college. Receiving this scholarship would help close the financial gap and bring me closer to realizing that dream. My journey into tech was shaped not only by inspiration but also by struggle. Shortly after I discovered coding, I received the opportunity to study abroad in the United States. I was excited but quickly faced a new set of challenges. It was a stark change in environment, and my accent made communication difficult, but foremost among my challenges was financial hardship. As an international student, I didn’t initially realize I was ineligible for most scholarships and aid. In addition, the exchange rate between Nigeria and the US made the situation harder, so while my parents tried their best to help, there was a limit to what they could do. Still, I refused to give up. I recognized that I had been presented with a rare opportunity and was determined to be optimistic about it, so I made a plan. I enrolled at a community college to reduce costs, applied aggressively for scholarships and essay contests, and took a job as a computer science tutor. Through hard work and determination, I completed my associate’s degree with a 4.0 GPA—without accruing any debt. These experiences have also deepened my understanding of why diversity and inclusion matter in tech. First, technology must reflect diverse perspectives so it can meet the needs of different communities. For instance, in many West African societies, there is limited awareness of how diet affects health. Popular health apps often ignore local cuisines and the genetic predispositions common to our communities. Consequently, one of my first goals as a machine learning engineer is to build an AI-powered nutritionist that recommends personalized meal plans using local ingredients, while accounting for age, genetics, and risk factors such as cardiovascular disease. Second, representation is crucial. Young people need to see people who look like them achieving success in tech, so they can believe they belong too. I know firsthand how powerful—and painful—the absence of mentorship can be. Growing up, I didn’t think I had a place in tech because the people I saw thriving in the field didn’t look like me. That’s why my long-term goal is to establish Technology Without Borders (TWB), a nonprofit that offers mentorship and tech education to children in underdeveloped countries. I want to be the mentor I never had and make sure other bright, curious minds have the guidance they need to thrive. Ultimately, increasing diversity in tech and developing more inclusive technology go hand in hand, and I am committed to being part of that transformation.

MY JOURNEY THROUGH CODE Two years ago, I lay on my bed, staring into the darkness, seeing nothing. The regular chirping of crickets outside my window was the only reminder that life existed beyond my little bubble. I was so anxious that I couldn’t sleep, but this was nothing new. Sleepless nights had become routine since I graduated from high school. I hadn’t always been that way. Looking back, my childhood was deceptively peaceful. To my naive mind, life was simple. I was considered one of the “smart kids.” My parents, two of the most hardworking people I know, instilled in me the belief that success was based on merit, so I worked hard. I earned top grades. Therefore, you can imagine my shock when I realized that, within my environment, academic excellence might get you through school, but opportunities weren’t based on merit. I felt powerless, hopeless, and resentful—toward the systemic inequalities that rendered hard work meaningless, toward my own ignorance, and most of all toward the helplessness I couldn’t shake. I hated feeling like my future was out of my control. Then, one day, while aimlessly scrolling online, I stumbled across a video by Derek Banes titled “Learn Java in 30 Minutes.” That was the beginning. I was immediately drawn to coding for one key reason: it gave me control. With code, I could make the computer respond to my ideas. In that small yet significant way, the feeling of helplessness began to fade. So, what motivates me? The desire to have a purpose, the desire to create projects —ideas born of my imagination— that solve real-life problems, and the desire to help other youth who experience the same emptiness I experienced find their purpose. If I could do anything with my life, it would be to work relentlessly to create opportunities for children in underserved countries, because every day, talent gets wasted in systems designed to favor the privileged. Today, I’m about to become a junior at the University of Maryland, College Park, majoring in Computer Science and working toward a career in machine learning (ML) engineering. I’ve come a long way from the person I was two years ago. STEM, particularly technology, is no longer just an escape to me — it’s a world to be explored. Machine learning is one facet of technology that truly excites me because it is the intelligence behind AI. I’m fascinated by how math, data, and statistical models can be used to train machines to recognize patterns, make predictions, and emulate human decision-making. I’m also deeply curious about quantum computing and the potential of qubits to revolutionize how we solve problems that are currently beyond the reach of classical computers. But, more than anything, what excites me most about technology is its ability to solve real-world problems. As president of the Girls Who Code chapter at my community college, I once led a project that grew out of a casual complaint during one of our weekly sessions—someone mentioned how hard it was to find shoes for women with larger sizes. That conversation sparked the idea for a mobile app that uses web scraping to curate shoe listings from across the internet for women who wear size 10 and above. While this project may seem small, it demonstrates the fact that technology is a practical tool for solving problems, and this is the mindset I will take with me as I go further in my career. As I work toward becoming an ML engineer, one of my goals is to train models that can integrate meaningfully into the daily lives of underrepresented communities. For instance, within West African communities, there is limited awareness of how diet influences health. Existing apps that track diet often ignore native cuisines and genetic predispositions common to West Africans. As an ML engineer, this will be one of my first projects— building an AI-powered nutritionist that recommends personalized meal plans using local foods while considering age, genetics, and health risks such as cardiovascular conditions. I’m proud of how far I’ve come, but it’s been a difficult journey. Shortly after discovering coding, I received the opportunity to study abroad in the United States, and I knew Computer Science was the right path for me. On getting here, I faced a new array of challenges. It was a stark change in environment, and my accent made communication difficult, but foremost among my challenges was financial hardship. As an international student, I didn’t initially realize I was ineligible for most scholarships and aid. In addition, the exchange rate between Nigeria and the US made the situation harder, so while my parents tried their best to help, there was a limit to what they could do. Still, I refused to be discouraged. I recognized that I had been presented with a rare opportunity and was determined to be optimistic about it, so I made a plan. I enrolled at a community college to reduce costs, aggressively applied for scholarships and essay contests, and took on a job, on campus, as a Computer Science tutor. I am glad to say that while in college, I expanded my technical skill set by building a booking website, a portfolio site, and a mobile shopping app. I also earned my CompTIA Security+ certification and completed my associate’s degree with a 4.0 GPA—all without accruing debt. It was difficult, but through persistence and resolve, I made it. Looking ahead, I’m committed to using my skills to create meaningful, positive changes. My long-term goal is to establish Technology Without Borders (TWB), a nonprofit that offers mentorship and tech education to children in underdeveloped countries. I know what it feels like to be trapped in a limiting environment; therefore, with this golden opportunity, I hope to provide more opportunities for others.

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.