The first time I witnessed a screen reader in use, I was at Dr. Caldwell's office. She was grading papers, dictating into her MacBook as VoiceOver read out the essays in this flat, robotic voice. "Accessibility tools help," she told me, "but they still don't have the human touch." I recall seeing the cursor stop over a mangled sentence, skip over an image caption entirely, then just freeze. She let out a sigh, and something about that moment just stayed with me. I was a freshman then, still adjusting to the U.S., direct from Lagos, wide-eyed and trying to get a handle on things. Back home, we did what we had to do, hotwiring cables during power outages, trading PDFs over Telegram. Here, things were simpler in a sense, but oddly, I just kept noticing all these digital tools that just… weren't working for everyone. Not even for someone like Dr. Caldwell. That's when I started taking Computer Science seriously. I didn't just want to create tools that function—I wanted to create ones that actually understand. Tools that can capture nuance. That account for accent, culture, and the many different ways people interact with technology. Lately I've been doing a lot of work with natural language processing, training models on non-Western languages and testing voice navigation systems that can function in real time. But, tech is not my entire universe. Some part of me remains that child translating English jokes into Yoruba at family reunions. So, I pursued a second major in Linguistics, not for the grammar trees alone, but also because language reveals so much about us. I even began a small podcast, Accent Archive, where I speak to other immigrants regarding what it's like to "sound American"—and what happens when you don't. I also have this minor obsession with collecting idioms from different languages, like some people collect baseball cards. My grander dream, however, is not so technical. I'd love to build tools that are bearers of cultural memory, especially African stories. Not necessarily language lessons or translation apps, but living, breathing things. Think of a Duolingo that can instruct you not only to say "rice" in Igbo but to use a proverb like your grandmother. A Wolfram Alpha for oral culture. I saw that future during the Apple HBCU C2 Design Challenge. My team and I created an app that assists blind people in navigating unfamiliar environments using AI. We used TensorFlow and Firebase, sure—but the real win was getting it to understand daily language, local slang, and how humans really talk. My laptop crashed the evening before the deadline, and I spent half the night trying to salvage mangled code and rebuild API calls. We finished everything by 5:15 a.m. When we actually presented, I realized that the hardest part wasn't coding—it was remaining calm, thinking on your feet, and trusting the process. That encounter returned me to my original objective: creating technology that listens as good as it speaks. And I understand that being a part of a community like this will provide me something no forum or tutorial ever would, friendship, mentorship, and a community where tech isn't just code. It's connection. To me, success is not giving a TED Talk or selling a startup. It is my cousin in Lagos being able to learn Yoruba without shame. It is Dr. Caldwell being able to grade a paper without her screen reader crashing. Sometimes success is not loud, a simple "thank you" in a language you've fought to keep alive. That's the future I'm working towards. One where code isn't merely functional, but cultural.

The Apple HBCU C2 Design Challenge deadline was less than twenty-four hours away. My team and I had been working day and night for weeks on an AI accessibility app to assist visually impaired users in navigating new spaces. The interface was clean, our user testing had gone wonderfully, and it was all but finished. I was conducting final backend tests when, out of nowhere, my laptop froze. The cursor froze, my clicks were not being processed, and then—the screen of blackness. The black screen of death. Panic ensued. All of the backend code I'd written—LLM APIs, Firebase auth, real-time speech-to-text—was stuck in a machine that wouldn't move. I tried a reboot. Recovery mode. Nothing. With 18 hours left, failure would result in four months of wasted effort, disappointing my team, and leaving users who had tested our app with real hope. I knew I had to take it up to 11. I had to force a reset. The display returned. I grabbed my external Samsung T7 SSD and searched for backups. They were there but a week old—not ideal, but workable. I addressed the security logic first since one vulnerability there would take us out. I dove into Stack Overflow, scrolled through GitHub issues, and cross-referenced Firebase errors on Reddit. I reinstalled corrupted libraries line by line, coded around broken dependencies, and rewrote the authentication and speech modules from memory. By 4:27 AM, fingers aching and eyes weary, Ihad a build I could relaunch. At 5:15 AM, I pushed the final commit to GitHub. We made it in on time. When we presented our app, I steeled myself for feedback. But the judges were impressed. They saw our AI accurately describe environments and recognized the potential. "This could be a game-changer," one of them commented. We finished 3rd among 20 teams and were invited to present to Apple engineers. That night was more educational than any lesson. Not only about recovery methods or why you need backups—but that things fail. Tech fails. Plans fail. And when they do, you don't just quit. You debug, improvise, and struggle to find a way forward. I would definitely take part in a mentorship program with Inspire11. Mentorship would provide me with advice from actual innovators who've had—and solved—their own black-screen moments. It would offer the tools, network, and feedback to keep leveling up, not just at coding, but at team leading, solving meaty problems, and scaling big ideas. With Inspire11's support, I'll continue "turning it up to 11"—whether that's launching accessible tech, founding a startup, or helping others find their own way through obstacles.

The first time I truly understood success, I was sitting on the cold tiles of my dorm floor, surrounded by empty Red Bull cans and Post-it notes that had grown crumpled. My laptop screen was all aglow with lines upon lines of TensorFlow code, and my fingers were hovering over the keyboard. Things that were yet to be, froze, for it was 4:27 in the morning, just some hours before the deadline of the Apple HBCU C2 Design Challenge, and our team's AI-powered accessibility tool—our brainchild, our shot at achieving something great—hung by a thread. Out of nowhere, our server crashed the backend and I was straying around confused and scared. But then, amidst obscure GitHub threads and rewriting Firebase authentication logic, something moved down: a flicker that lasted for 10 seconds, and the app launched. It was my realization that this is not about winning a competition, but constructing, dismantling, and reconstructing. Success is a fluid term for me. It is the quiet comfort that comes from knowing I have the skills to solve problems, the bounce-back-ability to cope with failure, and the impulse to keep investing in growth. It's watching an idea move from abstract scribblings on a Chick-fil-A napkin into an actual tool that really makes another person's life better. It's when I see my visually impaired professor try out our app for use, and the app correctly tells him which exit is nearest, and he smiles. It's not just about being the best at something but also about producing something that actually matters. The program holds the weighting information in my scheme. Right now, I take mental notes of what I lack: higher mathematics; AI theories; the period of sitting in an accessible space with companies or researchers discussing novel ways to construct a model over the barriers of existing problems. Think about an AI and accessibility angle. Indeed, even the team built an app that described the environment in audio in real-time. I still see an unfinished room there too. Oh, new data, speech recognition models—how to bridge the gorge there. Ooh, that, I dream of addressing. This program offers the chance to stand beside professionals addressing the very problems I am thrashing my feet against, polishing the ability to enhance existing work—a model that can ultimately recognize a broader range of accents—I'm excited to be part of such an ensemble. Success for me is also going into a room and owning the sound of my voice. Growing up in Lagos, I quickly learned the invaluable lesson that silence is associated with incompetence. In classrooms where the American accent was law, my Nigerian twang seemed more like a curse. I was dreading "what did you say again?"' and consequently tightened up, sounding trite, distorting my accent, and withdrawing into guarded silence to shelter from the hassle of being, God forbid, asked to "speak properly." But success—at the heart of it all—means never suppressing my unique vocal style until the end of time. Success consists of standing in front of a room, pitching an idea with the same certainty held by my American colleagues, and knowing that my observations have value. This is just the opportunity that the present program is providing me. In her education, I can come to grips with this part, learning from some of the most skilled people who would have effectively navigated the same barriers. Success is also about helping others climb with me. . When my younger cousin was having a hard time with calculus, I sat down with him and walked him through problem sets, showing him Desmos and Wolfram Alpha, and not rest until he could solve derivatives in his sleep. I see the opportunity as being much bigger than me; it is a stepping stone into becoming the kind of person that brings others with. With the resources, the network, and mentorship from this program, I am able to create a bridge for those who, like me, have had to fight to be heard in spaces where they felt like outsiders. I picture success in moments. The moment I debug a problem that has held me for hours. The moment I help someone else push through their own barriers. The moment I sit across from a venture capitalist and, with clarity and conviction, express why an AI-based accessibility tool is worthy of funding. The moment I step out of a room with my head up, knowing with confidence that I spoke and was heard. This opportunity isn't just another line on my CV-it's a chance to refine the tools I need to build, speak and uplift. It's a chance to step in rooms once feeling too big, knowing fully well that I belong.

I am Kambili Nwankwo, a first-generation Nigerian immigrant studying at Huston-Tillotson University. In my childhood, there were days of power outages, overcrowded classrooms, and the humming of generators throughout the night. The constant thing remained my grandfather's voice narrating the account of Eri, the son of Gad, and how our people journeyed from Egypt, through Ethiopia and Sudan, to settle in Igboland. He would pause from recounting his story to tap his walking stick on the floor and say: "One must know from whence he/she came in order to know where he/she is going." I walked with those words as I left Nigeria for the United States. But a different struggle greeted me here. Young Black students in my community often had second thoughts about pursuing STEM programs, their spirits eroded over the years with the view that they were simply not built for it. I saw bright minds in classrooms extinguished by self-doubt. When I got the question in class about who had coded before, I was the only one in the room to raise my hand. Not that the others lacked intelligence; they simply had no idea that it was something they could do. That's why I set out to make a change. I decided to lead AI workshops at the HBCU AI Conference to show students how algorithms work—not via boring slides, but in a way that was relevant to them. We created an AI to analyse and detect social themes in song lyrics in a room of students who had never trained a model before. Their eyes lit up at the results, realizing that they, too, could build technology rather than just consume it. But I didn't go that far. Having realized how projects are destroyed by disorganization, I introduced structured workflows and tracking systems, little tweaks that drove a 40% increase in participation for events. As a team leader for the Apple HBCU C2 Design Challenge, I drove our teams away from just developing apps and into designing solutions that looked at accessibility issues in underserved communities. Every sleepless night spent debugging, every dynamic brainstorming session we had, brought our team one step closer to a bigger cause. My culture is present in all I do. We Igbo people are known as the "Japan of Africa": builders, innovators, problem-solvers. Even when history tried to erase us, we continued to create. The same people actually drive me in my quest of optimizing graphene production through AI, which is an innovation that could change the entire concept of renewable energy and water purification. But research needs funds, and I am somehow still breaking my back trying to balance tuition, living expenses, and unpaid research opportunities. Keeping the Dr. Soronnadi Nnaji Legacy Scholarship will alleviate my mind to focus on what is most important: bridging the gap in education, energy, and infrastructure through technology. It means one less sleepless night worrying about finances and a step closer to building solutions that pay the deepest honor to my culture while putting the world on the right course. My grandfather once told me, “The river that forgets its source will run dry.” I haven’t forgotten. I know exactly where I come from, and I know exactly where I’m going.

How have you been able to impact your community or environment and what change did your actions create? 400 - 600 words? My name is Kambili, and I am a college student pursuing computer science at Huston-Tillotson University. Growing up in Nigeria, I was always fascinated by technology- I can only remember being amazed that with just a few lines of code, one can create something useful, something that lasts. But one had access to limited resources and opportunities that were hard to find in the school system. However, I have always felt that to change, one has to create the opportunity that one wished had existed. One of the most significant impact I made in my community was through a youth coding program I designed while volunteering in Abuja. There was much eagerness in those students to learn something they had never written one line of code before. Our computers were outdated, lots of power outages most of the time, but we made it work. I taught them HTML, CSS and Arduino robotics, building websites and programming very basic robots. Initially, they hesitated and were not sure what they could do, but quite a change would happen as the lessons progressed. They started experimenting and producing their own projects-such that by the time we rounded up the program, they had completed fifteen functional websites and over twenty robotics projects. There was no better reward than seeing their confidence grow. I observed that beyond coding, the community center had a problem with organization. Programs would start, only to fizzle out due to poor planning. I instituted structured tracking systems as an improvement for keeping programs accountable and scheduled. Increased activity completion rates by 40% in several months. I also managed the local chess club, taking care of all record keeping, scheduling, and communication. Results: More people showed up, which increased activities by 20%. I want to keep using technology for real-world applications, and right now I'm into research into the use of AI to optimize graphene production, which is meant to revolutionize renewable energy and clean water systems. The challenge here is that I am juggling school and research responsibilities along with finances as well. A scholarship would allow me to focus on my studies and learn better with time, which, in turn, means I could devote more time to creating solutions that change the world. To me, making an impact does not only happen through big inventions or breakthroughs. It happens where you are at that moment, with what you have to create change. I have been a teacher to students in coding, have imposed order into community programs, built avenues through which people can access education or repair some facilities-the impact has indeed been lasting. With the right support, I know I can do even more. Thank you for your consideration.

How have you been able to impact your community or environment and what change did your actions create? 400 - 600 words? My name is Kambili, and I am a college student pursuing computer science at Huston-Tillotson University. Growing up in Nigeria, I was always fascinated by technology- I can only remember being amazed that with just a few lines of code, one can create something useful, something that lasts. But one had access to limited resources and opportunities that were hard to find in the school system. However, I have always felt that to change, one has to create the opportunity that one wished had existed. One of the most significant impact I made in my community was through a youth coding program I designed while volunteering in Abuja. There was much eagerness in those students to learn something they had never written one line of code before. Our computers were outdated, lots of power outages most of the time, but we made it work. I taught them HTML, CSS and Arduino robotics, building websites and programming very basic robots. Initially, they hesitated and were not sure what they could do, but quite a change would happen as the lessons progressed. They started experimenting and producing their own projects-such that by the time we rounded up the program, they had completed fifteen functional websites and over twenty robotics projects. There was no better reward than seeing their confidence grow. I observed that beyond coding, the community center had a problem with organization. Programs would start, only to fizzle out due to poor planning. I instituted structured tracking systems as an improvement for keeping programs accountable and scheduled. Increased activity completion rates by 40% in several months. I also managed the local chess club, taking care of all record keeping, scheduling, and communication. Results: More people showed up, which increased activities by 20%. I want to keep using technology for real-world applications, and right now I'm into research into the use of AI to optimize graphene production, which is meant to revolutionize renewable energy and clean water systems. The challenge here is that I am juggling school and research responsibilities along with finances as well. A scholarship would allow me to focus on my studies and learn better with time, which, in turn, means I could devote more time to creating solutions that change the world. To me, making an impact does not only happen through big inventions or breakthroughs. It happens where you are at that moment, with what you have to create change. I have been a teacher to students in coding, have imposed order into community programs, built avenues through which people can access education or repair some facilities-the impact has indeed been lasting. With the right support, I know I can do even more. Thank you for your consideration.

The very first time I found myself gazing at an iPhone was at age eight in the dusty courtyard of my school in Nigeria. One of my classmates had one-old, cracked-screen model; I recall a crowd gathering around him as he played some games. I did not care about the game. My interest was in how the phone actually functioned. How can a tap on the glass make something happen? Why do some apps work well, while others slow right down? That little device was but a gateway into a greater realm, the realm of the infinite. But my world was not infinite. At home, power outages were a routine occurrence. I oftentimes studied by the flickering light of candles, those orange flames flittering over the pages of my math textbook. My parents had worked hard- my father managing a small restaurant he put together after our family gas station burned down, and my mother selling real estate, forever chasing the next commission. It was even harder for us to make it through college with tuition fees hanging over our heads like a storm cloud. Coming to America to attend college did not seem to be an option but rather a leap of faith. I felt like that child staring at the iPhone all over again: amazed, curious, and somewhat dazed by all that was thrown at me from every direction. Too much pressure was placed on me by the homework, too much shock from the cultural change, and far too many psychological traumas from the pressures of finance. I sometimes sat in my dorm room, staring into the darkness of my laptop screen, thinking about how I would pay for the next semester. Then I would remember my father's calloused hands that had worked hard in the kitchen all day, and my mother bargaining determinedly with clients on the phone. Giving up was never an option. I worked on what I truly loved-software development, problem-solving, and creation. I was involved in various leadership roles from leading Swift app development for the Apple HBCU C2 Design Challenge to organizing AI workshops for the HBCU AI Conference all at Huston Tillotson University. And I wasn't just coding; I was applying technology to solve real-world problems, figuring out how to make AI more accessible, more useful. Not only would this type of scholarship reduce the financial burden, but it would also buy time---the most precious resource there is. Time for research, time for building, time for pushing the envelope on projects that could potentially change lives. Currently, I am researching graphene: a substance that could potentially change clean energy, health, and water filtration. I am working on building a prototype AI engine to optimize the mass production of high-quality graphene through a plasma-based CO₂ method. This is not theoretical; rather, it is practical, urgent, and necessary. It has been discovery and perseverance through all that I've traversed in my journey, both from my first iPhone up to now my ongoing research. The scholarship would not only enable me to study but ultimately in investing in my work, the problem I am ironing out, and the future I am bent on creating.

The very first time I found myself gazing at an iPhone was at age eight in the dusty courtyard of my school in Nigeria. One of my classmates had one-old, cracked-screen model; I recall a crowd gathering around him as he played some games. I did not care about the game. My interest was in how the phone actually functioned. How can a tap on the glass make something happen? Why do some apps work well, while others slow right down? That little device was but a gateway into a greater realm, the realm of the infinite. But my world was not infinite. At home, power outages were a routine occurrence. I oftentimes studied by the flickering light of candles, those orange flames flittering over the pages of my math textbook. My parents had worked hard- my father managing a small restaurant he put together after our family gas station burned down, and my mother selling real estate, forever chasing the next commission. It was even harder for us to make it through college with tuition fees hanging over our heads like a storm cloud. Coming to America to attend college did not seem to be an option but rather a leap of faith. I felt like that child staring at the iPhone all over again: amazed, curious, and somewhat dazed by all that was thrown at me from every direction. Too much pressure was placed on me by the homework, too much shock from the cultural change, and far too many psychological traumas from the pressures of finance. I sometimes sat in my dorm room, staring into the darkness of my laptop screen, thinking about how I would pay for the next semester. Then I would remember my father's calloused hands that had worked hard in the kitchen all day, and my mother bargaining determinedly with clients on the phone. Giving up was never an option. I worked on what I truly loved-software development, problem-solving, and creation. I was involved in various leadership roles from leading Swift app development for the Apple HBCU C2 Design Challenge to organizing AI workshops for the HBCU AI Conference all at Huston Tillotson University. And I wasn't just coding; I was applying technology to solve real-world problems, figuring out how to make AI more accessible, more useful. Not only would this type of scholarship reduce the financial burden, but it would also buy time---the most precious resource there is. Time for research, time for building, time for pushing the envelope on projects that could potentially change lives. Currently, I am researching graphene: a substance that could potentially change clean energy, health, and water filtration. I am working on building a prototype AI engine to optimize the mass production of high-quality graphene through a plasma-based CO₂ method. This is not theoretical; rather, it is practical, urgent, and necessary. It has been discovery and perseverance through all that I've traversed in my journey, both from my first iPhone up to now my ongoing research. The scholarship would not only enable me to study but ultimately in investing in my work, the problem I am ironing out, and the future I am bent on creating.

The very first time I found myself gazing at an iPhone was at age eight in the dusty courtyard of my school in Nigeria. One of my classmates had one-old, cracked-screen model; I recall a crowd gathering around him as he played some games. I did not care about the game. My interest was in how the phone actually functioned. How can a tap on the glass make something happen? Why do some apps work well, while others slow right down? That little device was but a gateway into a greater realm, the realm of the infinite. But my world was not infinite. At home, power outages were a routine occurrence. I oftentimes studied by the flickering light of candles, those orange flames flittering over the pages of my math textbook. My parents had worked hard- my father managing a small restaurant he put together after our family gas station burned down, and my mother selling real estate, forever chasing the next commission. It was even harder for us to make it through college with tuition fees hanging over our heads like a storm cloud. Coming to America to attend college did not seem to be an option but rather a leap of faith. I felt like that child staring at the iPhone all over again: amazed, curious, and somewhat dazed by all that was thrown at me from every direction. Too much pressure was placed on me by the homework, too much shock from the cultural change, and far too many psychological traumas from the pressures of finance. I sometimes sat in my dorm room, staring into the darkness of my laptop screen, thinking about how I would pay for the next semester. Then I would remember my father's calloused hands that had worked hard in the kitchen all day, and my mother bargaining determinedly with clients on the phone. Giving up was never an option. I worked on what I truly loved-software development, problem-solving, and creation. I was involved in various leadership roles from leading Swift app development for the Apple HBCU C2 Design Challenge to organizing AI workshops for the HBCU AI Conference all at Huston Tillotson University. And I wasn't just coding; I was applying technology to solve real-world problems, figuring out how to make AI more accessible, more useful. Not only would this type of scholarship reduce the financial burden, but it would also buy time---the most precious resource there is. Time for research, time for building, time for pushing the envelope on projects that could potentially change lives. Currently, I am researching graphene: a substance that could potentially change clean energy, health, and water filtration. I am working on building a prototype AI engine to optimize the mass production of high-quality graphene through a plasma-based CO₂ method. This is not theoretical; rather, it is practical, urgent, and necessary. It has been discovery and perseverance through all that I've traversed in my journey, both from my first iPhone up to now my ongoing research. The scholarship would not only enable me to study but ultimately in investing in my work, the problem I am ironing out, and the future I am bent on creating.

I remember that night too well: the hushed voice of the television soothing my family in that little living room while the last scraps of rice and stew awaited cleansing on plates from dinner. Then came the sound of my mother’s phone ringing, and the calm shattered. She answered the call; her face became stony. My father’s voice was sharp and frightened through the receiver. The gas station-our gas station-was gone! Tanker explosion: pumps turned into a roaring inferno occupying the metal canopy, the tiny cashier's booth where I once sat counting change, the old dispensers that my father wiped down every evening. My mother’s knuckles turned white as she clutched the couch armrest. When my father made it back late that night, shoulders slumped under the weight of the news, it had felt like losing an arm to us. The entirety of this was not just business for him; it was life-a firm that put food on our table, paid my school fees, and lit our house when the mains failed. I thought of the meals we wouldn't have, the tuition that wouldn't have been paid, the nights we would be in darkness. And my thoughts turned to my mother's small jewellry business, her few clients, which could never keep us afloat. As I lay wide awake on my narrow bed that night, staring at the ceiling fan creaking above me, I realized one thing: it was not just about loss but about escape. I had been attracted to the life I had watched on TV movies across the streets of New York City, American universities across TV shows. The juxtaposition was striking-their world and mine, the old pavement outside my school, our lab's old computers, and the harshness of my boarding school. The boarding school was a world of cold concrete walls, 5:00 AM wake-up bells, and prefects who carried canes to procure silence from our ruffled voices. The dining hall served stiff yam and watery soup, while the dormitories reeked of sweat and mosquito repellent. After prayers in the chapel, I stayed behind for some time, sitting on wood pews well after others had gone. I prayed for not riches, not lands, but a chance; a way out... a way to something more. When high school came to an end, no mysterious benefactor swooped in to pluck me from Nigeria. Rather, the reality set in-I had to hold on for the time being. Refusing to be defeated, my father borrowed some money and opened a small restaurant. I spent my gap year helping in the office, frying plantains in a hot pan, plating jollof rice, and serving hot bowls of pepper soup to customers. My mother got a job as a real estate agent, closing her first sale with a handshake that meant survival, not just commission. Step by step, we put our family back together again. The best part of it all is that my parents have become my greatest inspiration. My father would rise before dawn to light the charcoal stoves of the family restaurant; my mother would still put on the shiniest suit for every rejection she had had to face. As I pursue studies in software engineering in the US. I want to make systems such that no business like my father's would someday go under. I would like to bring technology into financial security where no child sees their future burn to ashes. And I know more than ever at this point that there is no miracle to come. Only work. Only persistence. Only the determination to turn loss into something greater.

Across the street, Emeka, the neighbourhood tinkerer, would crouch over a disassembled radio, his calloused hands piecing it back together while a circle of wide-eyed kids watched in awe. One highlights memory remains in me: Emeka - the local handyman around children-trying to piece together a broken radio. Such patience and passion motivated me to think: If we can repair broken ones, then it can also build a new. This collective effort inspired me to gather six kids in our neighbourhood, who were aged between 12 and 16, inside my family's little dim-lit living room. I started with an old laptop, and some borrowed from Tunde, the local internet café owner. I would conduct weekend coding workshops. We explored Scratch, created simple animations, and even tried our hands at Python. The challenges were many-power outage, no internet-but that resolve I saw in the eyes of those kids pushed us on. When I first entered Austin, Texas, and stepped onto the halls of the campus of Huston-Tillotson University, the magic of that same electric curiosity seemed to strangle the heart of me. The Robotics Club became my refuge—a hive where machines sprung to life, ideas ignited like circuitry in motion. One evening, I saw Priya sitting over a workstation, brow furrowed, struggling to solder a tiny circuit board. Every time she tried, the iron trembled, refusing to conceive a bond with the fused metal. I didn't jump right in, though, but pulled up a chair beside her. "Let's try this together," I said, guiding her hand to steady the iron while explaining how heat and patience create a faultless bond. "It's not just about precision," I added, "it's about trusting the process." Slowly, like magic, the solder transformed into a perfect bead joining the components. Moments later, as the circuit lit up, the glow was not that of the LED alone but also from the thrill of achievement aglow in Priya's face. That same spirit of togetherness carried over into larger undertakings: at a seminar I organized on campuses for budding self-sow grow-seeds on the possibilities that AI would have in renewable energy, the halls were abuzz with some questions such as, "Can AI make solar grids more efficient in unserved areas?" "How do we apply the conductivity of graphene to energy storage. Such discussions did not stop with the seminar, as they flowed into late-night brainstorming sessions where equations mixed with dreams on whiteboards smeared with eraser marks. The same thing happened that evening in Priya. I saw a similar transformation while she was part of a discussion on the various applications of graphene. It was now a concept for a first-year engineering student, Maria, an idea she drew out on the board—a wearable graphene sensor for monitoring vitals. Initially, her drawings were scrawny, yet her questions were tough. Together we fine-tuned this non-idea after learning all about existing patents and material limitations late in the night. When the concept came to be her project for the semester. Impact, I believe, is not born out of big gestures, but rather very small, seeding acts which push the collective forward. I want to grow these moments into a future where what I do in AI and materials science solves energy access and environmental sustainability issues, which shows that small acts can indeed change the world.

The streets of Lagos buzzed with the hum of life: children's laughter mingled with the crackle of frying plantains from street vendors, a rhythmic clang of metal, as mechanics worked tirelessly on battered vehicles. In my part of the world, a blackout doesn't inconvenience anyone; it is an event that happens every night. I can still picture us huddled under a flickering kerosene lamp, my siblings and I turning empty cereal boxes into makeshift robots. Across the street, Emeka, the neighbourhood tinkerer, would crouch over a disassembled radio, his calloused hands piecing it back together while a circle of wide-eyed kids watched in awe. Necessity wasn't just a mother of invention here-it was the air we breathed. One highlights memory remains in me: Emeka - the local handyman around children-trying to piece together a broken radio. Such patience and passion motivated me to think: If we can repair broken ones, then it can also build a new. This collective effort inspired me to gather six kids in our neighbourhood, who were aged between 12 and 16, inside my family's little dim-lit living room. I started with an old laptop, and some borrowed from Tunde, the local internet café owner. I would conduct weekend coding workshops. We explored Scratch, created simple animations, and even tried our hands at Python. The challenges were many-power outage, no internet-but that resolve I saw in the eyes of those kids pushed us on. And two years down the line, three of them were in the STEM degrees in Nigerian universities, proving what collective curiosity can engender. When I first entered Austin, Texas, and stepped onto the halls of the campus of Huston-Tillotson University, the magic of that same electric curiosity seemed to strangle the heart of me. The Robotics Club became my refuge—a hive where machines sprung to life, ideas ignited like circuitry in motion. One evening, in the hum of 3D printers whirring away, I saw Priya sitting over a workstation, brow furrowed, struggling to solder a tiny circuit board. Every time she tried, the iron trembled, refusing to conceive a bond with the fused metal. I didn't jump right in, though, but pulled up a chair beside her. "Let's try this together," I said, guiding her hand to steady the iron while explaining how heat and patience create a faultless bond. "It's not just about precision," I added, "it's about trusting the process." Slowly, like magic, the solder transformed into a perfect bead joining the components. Moments later, as the circuit lit up, the glow was not that of the LED alone but also from the thrill of achievement aglow in Priya's face. That same spirit of togetherness carried over into larger undertakings: at a seminar I organized on campuses for budding self-sow grow-seeds on the possibilities that AI would have in renewable energy, the halls were abuzz with some questions such as, "Can AI make solar grids more efficient in unserved areas?" "How do we apply the conductivity of graphene to energy storage?" I could see the innovative spark in the eyes of my contemporaries as we carried out these revolutionary ideas. Such discussions did not stop with the seminar, as they flowed into late-night brainstorming sessions where equations mixed with dreams on whiteboards smeared with eraser marks. The same thing happened that evening in Priya. I saw a similar transformation while she was part of a discussion on the various applications of graphene. It was now a concept for a first-year engineering student, Maria, an idea she drew out on the board—a wearable graphene sensor for monitoring vitals. Initially, her drawings were scrawny, yet her questions were tough. Together we fine-tuned this non-idea after learning all about existing patents and material limitations late in the night. When the concept came to be her project for the semester, I could see the pride in her eyes mirroring my own, for the one little spark ignites a multitude. Impact, I believe, is not born out of big gestures, but rather very small, seeding acts which push the collective forward. I want to grow these moments into a future where what I do in AI and materials science solves energy access and environmental sustainability issues, which shows that small acts can indeed change the world.

Growing up,I always had an innate drive within it, a sense of quest that wakes a child from sleep and a lifelong orientation to bring about an indelible impact in the world. But the way was not entirely smooth. My first trip to the United States was for a degree program in Computer Science at Huston-Tillotson University, and I felt heavy with sadness. I had to deal with so much: the foreign student experience and academic expectations, plus the financial strain was just too overwhelming. My parents always believed in the power of education, even when they supported it at a distance. But I just couldn't understand how someone like me, an international student, would go through the whole process of paying college tuition and no scholarships, like it was going to be a hurdle. I have always had a passion for problem-solving and creativity since childhood. Growing up in Nigeria, I learned to love technology, especially its capacity to solve pressing social issues. As a child, I used to wonder about how technology would help close gaps, solve problems, and open doors to possibilities. That made my decision to study computer science because it's the field that suits my abilities and leaves a lot of room for creative innovation and improvements in the world. One evening when everything felt overwhelming, I went for a walk on the university campus. Under the boundless Texas sky, I finally sat down to think about my dreams: dreams not just of personal success, but of the world. Yet the thought of graphene and the infinite possibilities to propel forward renewable-energy, health-care, and clean-water systems seemed so far, yet so imperative. It dawned on me then that this journey wasn't one of escape from challenges. This scholarship would free some of the study pressure with financial assistance, enabling me to dive deep into various aspects of research in AI and graphene technology. It would lift some responsibilities and allow me more time and energy to work on developing cutting-edge devices for optimizing the mass production of high-quality graphene through the plasma-based CO₂ method. Because such work has unparalleled magnitudes-the revolutionizing graphene sustainable fields like energy, medical diagnostics, and water filtration-this is the brink of a new era, and this is the place where I want to be. It is not just for me, but an investment for awesome future innovations inspired by an ever-curious heart wanting to give back to change the world and solve some of the pressing problems. I have started research on plasma-based methods while also looking into places where AI could potentially increase performance and scalability. Scholarships like this would enable me to focus entirely on building my prototype AI engine, attending interdisciplinary and other workshops, and making use of the resources that build bridges between computer science. By investing in my education, you will help turn my vision into reality, building a future in which innovation addresses mankind's most pressing problems.

“When you wake up in the morning, tell yourself: The people I deal with today will be meddling, ungrateful, arrogant, dishonest, jealous, and surly. They are like this because they can’t tell good from evil. But I have seen the nature of good and evil, and I know that the wrongdoer has his soul diseased. So I will be tolerant with them and show them the path to virtue, not by words, but by my example. For it is better to do what is right than to speak what is right.”. The essence of Marcus Aurelius' ‘Meditations’ has very much to do with the idea of personal responsibility and the human condition, which could necessarily evoke for him a philosophy towards resilience in life's difficult circumstances, self-discipline in moments of temptation, and along with that, a serene acceptance of life's uncertainties. This exegesis really reflects the Stoic virtues of tolerance, wisdom, and moral courage, urging the reader to overcome emotions and ground oneself on understanding well-established universal principles of good and evil. Yet among other even simple texts, it would present to us the greatest challenge of nature-nay, not from the standpoint of others, but from our very selves-about what to do with our chaotic existence. At the outset of this essay, there is an honest admission from Marcus Aurelius: that people are born defective. Anyone who has ever had anything to do with society would find a corner struck by such an impressive list of undesirable human qualities as “meddling, ungrateful, arrogant, dishonest, jealous, and surly.” The most dismal catalog of vices does not merely characterize a somewhat unpleasant reality; it makes the reader face primal, chaotic elements of human interaction. These faults are not tied to one class or tribe of people alone but characterize humankind as a whole: they are within us all, waiting to be unleashed by our daily experiences. But instead of giving in to such darkness out of nihilism or despondency, Marcus gives us a common antithesis: self-awareness. Such things are not because they are always or necessarily there; such things are but further manifestations of a much bigger illness: in the mind's inability to distinguish what is good from what is evil. Not helpless victims of circumstances that cage us, but renewed by understanding what is truly virtuous, we choose how to respond to such deficiency, not with bitterness and anger but some degree of forbearance and grace. Here we meet at the center of the passage: how to behave when faced with the worst in others. This quote, “they are like this because they can’t tell good from evil” can be thought as much about how Marcus realized the human ignorance a state of ignorance not originated by ill intent but by lack of knowledge or insight-for the Stoics knew that knowledge was not merely the repertoire of the intellect, but a reflection of the conformity to nature and universal reason. The goodness for Marcus actually did not consist of platitudes or abstract ideals at all, but rather by virtue the practice of reason, justice, self-control, and courage in every deed or action. And by the way, the vices to him are simply manifestations of one in a twisted soul, an individual not only morally depraved but also in every other respect from the rest of people. Those having those vices are yet to see or understand the better path for themselves. This is a very critical perception thought in terms of seeing others in the light of their ignorance, rather than malice. It transforms frustration into compassion. The clearly so-called "surliness" and "jealousy," do not in any way define evil in a Stoic sense; being lost in one's own misconceptions of what life is so bound to be. For Marcus, that's why he does not teach us to demonize others but keep an attitude of tolerance and compassion in mind since everyone is traveling their own journey toward understanding the real nature of good. At this point, Marcus Aurelius suggests that we should lead by example rather than by words. This advice is a clear rejection of rhetorical self-righteousness. Too often, we find ourselves arguing for what is right, debating in circles, and proclaiming lofty ideals. Yet, according to Marcus, our actions speak louder than words. Words can be empty; they can be corrupted by pride, arrogance, and the very vices that we seek to denounce. But actions—the consistent, deliberate expression of virtue in our daily lives—carry an inherent power that transcends the ephemeral nature of speech. To demonstrate moral courage through behavior, in the midst of adversity, is the truest form of teaching. Marcus's challenge to us is not to get into some contest about words or ideals. He asks us to embody the philosophy we claim to have. This, indeed, is the ultimate test of whether one is true to his philosophy. Philosophy, for a Stoic, is not an academic exercise or an intellectual pastime: it is a way of living. It is to be lived out in the uh in the relationships with those who have exactly the same faults we are trying to get rid of. After all, how can we learn more than that if we do not actively engage it through practice? In this sense, Marcus is arguing for deeper interrogation with our own character. To lead by example is to self-scrutinise for our own inner battles, our own biases, and our own failures. It requires brutal self-honesty. The inner war becomes as important as the external one. The Stoic discipline is not merely to put up with the frailty of others but also to recognize and conquer one's own weakness-sins of anger, pride, and impatience-does make the greatness of a human being. In the end, however, the true measure of wisdom in a person is not pointing out the failures in others but transcending one's own weaknesses in view of those failures. Not mere exhibition of personal tolerance, but the conquest of emotions is the path to peace of mind. The truth of life is, according to Marcus Aurelius, that others cannot be made to behave in the way that pleases or suits us. We cannot set the world to our own ideas. However, we can control what happens in our hearts. Following this line, we elevate ourselves above any emotional turmoil that others may wish to provoke. In the end, Stoic finds peace by facing the world with wisdom, self-control, and compassion. This text also stresses the fact of the moral duty which knowledge demands. To know what is good morally obliges us to do it. Merely knowing virtue is not enough. To be a virtuous person means to live according to one's own understanding of what is good and to set that example for others. This way, one elevates one's own soul while he/she serves as a guide to others. Here in this passage by Marcus Aurelius, we understand that personal transformation begins with understanding the others and, of course, oneself. In Stoic philosophy, the evils we encounter in the world are not actually evils but signs of ignorance failing to have knowledge of good and bad. Our reaction should not be anger or judgment but should take action through empathy. Leading by example will not only lift us, but it would also pave the way for others to follow. Thus, this passage becomes, in essence, the compass through which one should navigate the sea that is full of human imperfections. It urges one to come above the noise created by one's impulses, towards the actions reserved for the higher ideals. The real tough one, as Marcus Aurelius teaches us, lies not in just seeing the good but actually living it-the good life, each day, at every encounter, through every moment. This brings transformation for not only himself but of the world around him as well.

I genuinely could not help but ponder, what's the use? It was not just the coding assignments or the examinations ahead; it was all the other things—the weight of being an international student, the financial strain, the nagging silent pressure that came from expectations, the fear of failing. As I contemplated this, my mind drifted to the quiet strength that had always been within me-an invisible thread woven through my life from the very beginning. And I realized that faith had been this thread. Not the kind of faith that waits for signs and miracles, but the deeper, more unshakable belief that all things, even the very moments in life when it seems like the universe has the world's one quietest hold on us at that time, do have a purpose. In Nigeria, faith was not just a word; it was a force that shaped the very fabric of our lives. It was by that doctrine that my mother, a woman of whose prayers the biggest havoc created could be silenced, taught me all prayers were irrelevant if not accompanied with the understanding that every struggle, every hurdle, forms part of something bigger-a pattern we don't understand yet. I watched her brave the hardships of bringing up three children in a country that was perennially on the edge of economic collapse. There was always within her, a great belief that everything, good or bad, led to something better. That trust into the unknown is what keeps me grounded and calling into action now with all the uncertainty. It reminded me through that luminous glow from that screen in my dorm room that my journey was not just about self but about tapping into something far greater than myself and more beautiful than the limitations of this world-God's presence, the driving whispers of a divine purpose. The coming days were not different but were approached in a new way. It is there that one could no longer count every hurdle as an insurmountable wall; it was beginning to appear in a different light-as smaller components of a bigger machine where answers wouldn't have to come out all at once, but would be gradually revealed. And working through assignments, going for classes, and preparing for exams, faith didn't just make light of all the weight that was troubling me; it helped me see beauty even in the struggle. The codes I wrote are no longer just technical tasks, but steps toward building something meaningful: a future that combines my passion for technology and my desire to make a positive impact on this world. As I gaze into the future, I see my faith not as a compartment in my journey but a foundation on which everything rests. It is not a passive force that waits for things to happen; it is active, dynamic, and present in every decision I make. I mean it is my firm belief that, with the right determination and mindset, I could greatly help to solve the most pressing problems of the world—through technology, but more important, through a purpose coming from something larger than myself. Therefore, as I continue my studies and embark on a career in AI, materials science, and computer science, I know that my faith will guide me not only through doubt but through successful moments in life. It will remind me that every little step forward is a piece of something much greater than I can even imagine. And then when I look back, I will see the invisible thread of faith woven through the fabric of everything I have achieved.

A mosaic of puzzles, the universe is a sophisticated web of forces, matter, and phenomena. We know much about it, but it is far from complete. To lift the veil of real secrets from the cosmos, we must come up with materials defying the very limits of the accepted. Graphene-the two-dimensional, atom-thin layer of carbon with chemical properties so extraordinary that it might as well be alchemical. It is not just a material but a revelation, an industry that will lead into something deeper about the universe and our placement in it. Fundamentally, graphene refers to the one single layer of carbon atoms that has been interconnected in a hexagonal network. And even though it appears quite simple, this compound possesses amazing properties. It is almost 200 times stronger than steel, has conductivity about 20 times better than that of copper, and it is almost completely transparent. The discovery of graphene in 2004 earned Andre Geim and Konstantin Novoselov a Nobel Prize, and his applications have now spilled into all things-from quantum computing to medical innovations. The real promise of its future lies in changing our approach to exploring and understanding the universe. More effective space exploration, better imaging of distant galaxies, maybe even revealing to humans what dark matter really is-all have graphene as their potential catalyst for a new age of discovery. Even material limits had always determined the course of humanity in galactic exploration. Rockets must endure very high temperature during lift-off and re-entry, while a spacecraft must be made lighter than air but still be very tough, and electronic components work perfectly in zero gravity. Graphene meets almost all challenges. Spacecraft of the future will have their surfaces coated with graphene with the most unprecedented protection against cosmic radiation that has always restricted astronauts and electronics. Graphene, which can conduct heat as no other material does, will radically transform heat management systems to allow spacecraft to survive in extremely cold shadows on Mars or blazingly hot adjacent to Mercury. Spacecraft could be designed to be lighter and stronger, potentially traveling to distances outside the reach of most planets. Graphene-enhanced sensors can also initiate detection of very weak signals from far-off stars and planets with phenomenal precision. Graphene bolometers-have already proven to have sensitivity that outruns other technologies-are electromagnetic measuring devices that should be enhanced to detect the faintest traces of this. The instruments could be vital in probes of the cosmic microwave background, the weak remnant of the Big Bang, which could shed some light on the beginning of the universe. The enigmas of the universe-such as the decryption of dark matter, the origins of black holes, and the possibility of other dimensions-demand types of computation power beyond any that are available at this time. Quantum computing is an emerging field that promises to solve problems that traditional computers cannot. Graphene should transform this field. It has the right properties-amazing conductivity and very low resistance at room temperature-for developing qubits, the basic units of quantum computers. Unlike traditional silicon-based systems, graphene-based qubits are likely to work at much higher temperatures and much greater stability. Simulations could be attempted for cosmic phenomena like gravitational waves or galaxy formation dynamics, allowing answers to questions that have baffled scientists for centuries. At present, perhaps one of the greatest deep questions humanity struggles with is: are we all alone in the universe? In answering, scientists need to investigate exoplanets outside our solar system for signs of habitability. Graphene-based technologies may prove the key to making those technologies possible. Graphene membranes which are developmentally very strong and have excellent permeability are expected to find much use in water filtration and air purification. In terms of space exploration, such membranes could provide the means for developing long-duration sustainable life-support systems, in addition to helping filter and analyse trace gases-such as oxygen or methane-that indicate life by proving the presence of even the faintest emissions in the atmospheres of exoplanets. One thing that graphene does on Earth and makes possible developments in astrobiology, which studies life in the universe, is the modelling of biological membranes. Laboratory models of extraterrestrial environments that are comparable to those under which life might evolve very differently from those conditions on Earth can be produced with the aid of graphene. In addition to all that it implies, graphene invites us to think about the very idea of invention. It challenges our understanding of matter and possibility-once it has been brought into being. How can something so thin-almost two-dimensional-be so strong and adaptable? Graphene begs us to redefine the limits of material science and its relationship with simple and complex. Graphene holds the capacity to open up buried meanings freedom at the physical level. Clearly, though, it has also strong philosophical implications based on its transparency: it is a material that allows light to pass through almost unimpeded and yet remains, for the most part, almost indestructible. This "being visible yet invulnerable" replicates the paradox present in the universe: that of fragility threatened with resilience. Graphene provides a metaphor for exploration: transparent enough to see beyond the known but resilient enough to withstand the rigours of discovery. Undoubtedly, graphene brings to our disposal the mechanism through which we might discover the unknown and solve some of its many riddles: what is dark energy, how do black holes truly behave, and what lies beyond the observable universe? It is evidence of graphene, with unmatched properties, proving itself to be a tool for investigation as far as these enigmas are concerned. For instance, its application in advanced spectroscopy could help stare at distant components of stars and galaxies with unmatched precision, and perhaps one day decipher their compositions. Such atomic interaction of this material with light may even allow developing new understanding of quantum phenomena, shedding light on the very fabric of reality. There may be entirely new properties of graphene, the further boundary being horizontalized by technologies, which we do not even know yet. We know that space is mostly full of surprises while traversing it, and this could relate even on the exploration of further possibilities on graphene. In order to comprehend the nature of our universe, we require tools that will allow us to see beyond the visible and measure things beyond touch. Graphene is such a tool, with its capabilities being miraculous. It exhibits the spirit of understanding, which stands on the edge of what we can know and what we can aspire to know. It is for enabling new discoveries in space exploration and in quantum computing and the search for alien life, so that it may be positioned not just as a material, but rather as something which serves in the discovery of the very secrets of existence. It reminds one that indeed there are mysteries of the universe that act not as walls but rather as doors to enter through. The renowned strength, transparency, and versatility of graphene inspire people to look deeper, dream bigger, and think bolder. Understanding graphene brings a person closer to understanding the universe-and thus, himself.

Moving into this beautiful country for further studies at Huston-Tillotson University is one of the greatest opportunities granted to my family and me, but one of the greatest challenges too. One of the greatest hurdles was the finances incurred in a foreign country while living through the economic instability and severe inflation back home in Nigeria. This journey has tested our strength, made us change our views and mode of behaviour in some situations while fighting towards achieving our goals, and motivated me to do whatever it takes to utilize this opportunity best. Huston-Tillotson became my final choice when I got shortlisted for the W.E.B. Du Bois Honors Program in Computer Science. It was the type of program one would wish to apply for because of the prestige attached to it, plus it is less expensive than other universities in the U.S. Unfortunately, despite all my efforts and eligibility, I wasn’t able to get into the program due to the limited slots available. This was disheartening because it would have taken $15,000 off tuition and left a very manageable balance of about $9,000 for my family to cover. Nevertheless, my parents did not waver in being with me in my education because it's an investment in my future, though heavy financially. In Nigeria, we witnessed blistering inflation and kneeling economy that literally killed the currency value and rubs him raw on the entire education spending on fees abroad. My parents sacrificed a lot on a comfortless and prioritized me above them. This strongly builds on the hope that whatever they have prepared would inspire me to confront challenges head-on and aspire for excellence in everything besides any circumstances. Conform one of the most complex achievements very difficult to accomplish in this transition limited resource availability for international students. Most grants required U.S. citizenship, and most on-campus jobs are work-study eligible, making it difficult to find a job that does not require these standards to earn money on campus. These difficulties made me think creatively about funding for my education. I planned to finance the tuition fees with some future internships on campus and external scholarships like this application. These hurdles shaped my notion of being resourceful and perseverant and gave me a solid work ethic. However, despite such challenges, it is this passion for computer science and innovation that keeps me going. Growing up in Nigeria, I was inspired by the Fortune 500 companies and the impact that their founders' innovations left on society. These truths fuelled my dream to be an entrepreneur and innovator with a passion for artificial intelligence and material science. I envision my future company that will marry AI and graphene technologies to address global challenges, such as renewable energy storage, healthcare diagnostics, and environmental sustainability. It came from a desire to use my education not just for personal benefits but to meaningfully contribute to society. This scholarship will relieve some of the financial burden on my family, allowing me to focus completely on my studies and career ambitions. It will also allow me to reapply for the W.E.B. Du Bois Honors Program next year and to take advantage of the opportunities available at Huston-Tillotson University. More importantly, it will solidify my resolve to give back by creating innovative solutions in computer science that really speak to the problems faced by real people, in honor of the sacrifices my family has made.

With the world evolving by leaps and bounds through the latest innovations, it puts me right in the place of what I had always wanted to do coupled with the determination to create an impact. The computer science education I receive from Huston-Tillotson University forms the basis of all that I aspire to, yet I dream above that. I want to apply materials science and artificial intelligence (AI) for groundbreaking inventions in certain industries such as finance, renewable energy, and healthcare. Yes, I grew and got attracted to technology's ability to address societal issues when living in Nigeria. Moving to the United States was a bold step, but it excited me because I wanted to be in such an environment where learning becomes more dynamic with people's creativity and curiosity. Probably one my wildest dreams: establishing an AI-based system that optimizes plasma-based CO₂ processes to ultimately achieve the mass production of high-quality graphene. This is a "wonder material" with unique properties; that is, of super-strength, conductance, and flexibility. Graphene will metamorphose many fields-from most effective solar panels to some exhilarating medical diagnostics to sustainable water filtration systems. Such work is aimed at placing solutions to global challenges such as renewable energy and access to clean water through the cheap and sustainable scaling up of graphene supply. I have started research on plasma-based methods while also looking into places where AI could potentially increase performance and scalability. Scholarships like this would enable me to focus entirely on building my prototype AI engine, attending interdisciplinary and other workshops, and making use of the resources that build bridges between computer science. By investing in my education, you will help turn my vision into reality, building a future in which innovation addresses mankind's most pressing problems.

This was the evening before my very first class at Huston-Tillotson University, Austin, Texas on September 1st, 2024. Sitting on the edge of my dorm bed, looking at the unfamiliar skyline outside my window, I twiddled my fingers and juggled thoughts in my mind. Back there in Abuja, Nigeria, I had family, friends, and community known by the very last alleys. Everything was just a bit weird- the accents, the food, the teaching. I was also very excited to go for computer science; but, mostly, would I really make it through this new place? Weeks turned out to be very tough. The Introduction to Robotics class, for which I had specifically signed up, turned out to be the main challenge. Assignment by Dr. Nelson, our teacher, “Programming a robotic arm to automate navigating obstacles”. Well, it sounded easy. Then, I opened the IDE on my laptop, and the rows of code made me feel as if there was some wall I would never ever climb. I spent hours in the campus library poring over textbooks, searching online forums, only to come up even more confused. A particularly disheartening moment was when, during a group assignment, my classmates, Jake and Nitesh, were already discussing advanced algorithms of which I had no inkling. I sat in silent embarrassment, feeling like I was in the wrong place and overwhelmed. That night, I called my mother in tears. "Why did I think I could handle this?" I asked her. Her response was simple but firm: "Kambili, every expert was once a beginner. You’ve always risen to challenges before, and you’ll do it again." Her words encouraged me to seek help. I made an appointment with my academic advisor Mrs. Turner, who listened to my explanation of my problems. She informed me about a robotics workshop that would run by senior students and linked me up with more programming resources. At the workshop, I met Chinedu, a Nigerian senior who smiled broadly when I introduced myself. "I know how difficult it can be at first," he said, offering me tutoring after classes. Chinedu's talking to me was therefore a turning point. He broke concepts regarding loops and conditional statements into digestible bits, stuffing examples from Nigerian life into them to bring them closer. "Think of the robotic arm as a danfo bus navigating through Lagos traffic," he said one evening while drawing a flowchart. That simple analogy helped the pieces click. For the first time, I felt a flicker of confidence. Back then, it was a great challenge for me to overcome the homesickness creeping up on me with my progress in robotics. The warmth of plantains frying, the sounds of jollof rice being prepared, the loud chatter of my siblings, and the familiar sounds of street vendors all echoed in my mind but were absent in Austin. I usually went back to my room immediately after classes, avoiding social activities. One afternoon, while I was studying in the library, I heard some students laughing in Pidgin English. At first, I sort of introduced myself, and they welcomed me. From then on, this small circle of Nigerian students became my lifeline. They gave me tips on everything from finding Nigerian grocery stores to how to survive through finals week. At the end of the first semester, everything changed. Thanks to Chinedu, I not only completed my robotic arm project but also delivered it confidently in class. When Dr. Nelson praised our group for building an efficient pathfinding algorithm, pride filled my heart. However, I can manage the homesickness with the company of my new friends.