My name is Marvellous Alagbe. I was born in Nigeria and moved to the United States when I was 11 years old. Coming from Nigeria to the United States was a huge change for my family and me. We had to learn to speak the “Americanized” English because we were used to the British English, we had to adapt to the food, the way people dressed, the social norms, slangs, weather differences at a young age. This made me introverted. Even in the United States, we moved a lot due to better opportunities which made it hard to make friends while also learning to “modify” yourself to fit in. Living in the suburban part of Reading, it wasn’t much diversity. I remember my sister being bullied for her skin color. We had to adapt to the community we were in. After a few months, we began to feel more comfortable in the environment we were in until my mom told us we needed to move to Lancaster, PA because she got a better job opportunity. My sisters and I were devasted. We knew if we moved again, we would have to restart socially. To satisfy us, my mom arranged for us to commute but it was hard on everybody. Eventually we moved to Lancaster city permanently, where I went to middle school and high school which is more diverse than I had been used to my entirety in the United States. I was able to make friends and become more social and engaged in school. I learned it was easier to make friends being yourself than trying to change yourself to fit in. As my family and I gained more opportunities and settled in the country, I learned that there was no way we would be able to get to such level we are in now if we stayed in Nigeria because of the status, we had and how hard it was to sustain ourselves. My mom worked 3 jobs here in the United States to fend for my sisters and me. Her sacrifice and hard work are my motivation to succeed in school and everything I do. I want to ensure I repay her. The college I am in now is a PWI and slowly, I am learning to adjust to it because my goals are more important than fitting in. My journey impacted my life and career choices to be determined in my goals and not live life like I was raised even though I am grateful to my mother every day and to pick something I know will allow me to be successful financially. I want to become an actuary because it aligns with my passion for mathematics, problem-solving, business strategies and it pays well after passing the exams and getting in higher status. In addition to that, I would like to make a difference. During my research, a study showed a small proportion of actuaries who identify as Black with the percentage being around 1-2%. In another data, there is approximately 25-35% of female actuaries. With actuarial jobs being in high demand, as a woman of color, I would add to the growth of diversity by race and gender. I hope to share my experience with other black students and the process of reaching where I am. The actuarial profession has been dominated by white males historically and I believe it is essential to create an environment to highlight where students of all background feel supported and empowered to succeed.

I want to become an actuary because it aligns with my passion for mathematics, problem-solving, and business strategies. I first learned about the job actuary from my grams at the beginning of my junior year while discussing career opportunities. She told me she had a friend who is an actuary and makes a lot of money. That perked my attention. I researched more about it, and I found it was a mix of math and business which is my interests. Many people talk about the risks being taken during the job and the workload and stress it comes with but as someone who likes to challenge herself, that intrigued me even more in addition to the pay. I enjoy the rush of being challenged requiring critical thinking like doing crossword puzzles and the actuarial profession applies all these skills in a practical and real-world setting, accessing risk and making financial decisions. It focuses on combining math and business concepts which can help approach business challenges from a quantitative and logical viewpoint. I can use this to advocate for business strategies to be more effective and positively contribute to society. Although I can use the skills acquired for creating profits, I find innovative ways to promote fairness in the market. Although the rigorous exams and math frightens me, my school ensures practice tests and definite help in terms of studying and learning. This allows me to want to further strive for the certifications earning a sense of accomplishment, and financial rewards. A degree in this field will allow me to do something I enjoy as a career while being stable with strong job security and good pay. In addition to that, I would like to make a difference. During my research, a study showed a small proportion of actuaries who identify as Black with the percentage being around 1-2%. In another data, there is approximately 25-35% of female actuaries. With actuarial jobs being in high demand, as a woman of color, I would add to the growth of diversity by race and gender. As I aim to take my first actuarial exam in the summer, I can help offer guidance on studying, challenges, successes, and advice that I acquired to other students to inspire and encourage. This would help them access the resources and time management necessary to succeed in their actuarial journeys. After attending an actuary job shadow with Erie Insurance Company, I want to continue to network with other experienced actuaries to grow as an individual and in the profession. Like I heard of other actuaries’ experiences and journeys, I hope to share my own with other black students. The actuarial profession has been dominated by white males historically and I believe it is essential to create an environment to highlight where students of all background feel supported and empowered to succeed.

My family consists of my mom, my two sisters and me. My mom sacrificed a lot for my sisters and I by herself since we were younger. Originally from Nigeria, when we came to the United States, at a young age my mom worked 3 jobs to fend for my sisters and me. Her sacrifice and hard work are my motivation to succeed in school and everything I do. Coming from Nigeria to the United States was a huge change for my family and me. We had to learn to speak the “Americanized” English because we were used to the British English, we had to adapt to the food, the way people dressed, the social norms, slangs, weather differences. Living in the suburban part of Reading, PA, it wasn’t much diversity. I remember my sister being bullied for her skin color. We had to adapt to the community we were in. After a few months, we began to feel more comfortable in the environment we were in until my mom told us we needed to move to Lancaster, PA because she got a better job opportunity. This was another great decision my mom made for our family. Living in Lancaster made things easier for my mom. My sister and I got jobs allowing us to semi fend for ourselves. I am now a freshman in college pursuing to be an actuary. My goal is to be successful and repay my mother for her sacrifices on my sisters and I for most of my life. During my research, a study showed a small proportion of actuaries who identify as Black with the percentage being around 1-2%. In another data, there is approximately 25-35% of female actuaries. With actuarial jobs being in high demand, as a woman of color, I would add to the growth of diversity by race and gender. After attending an actuary job shadow with Erie Insurance Company, I want to continue to network with other experienced actuaries to grow as an individual and in the profession. Like I heard of other actuaries’ experiences and journeys, I hope to share my own with other black students. The actuarial profession has been dominated by white males historically and I believe it is essential to create an environment to highlight where students of all background feel supported and empowered to succeed. On campus, I seek to voice opinions on diversity, equity, and inclusion in addition, joining clubs to advocate racial equality. Even though I’m in the early stages of my journey to become an actuary, I am committed to contributing to the mission of increasing the number of successful black actuaries to promote diversity within the actuarial profession by supporting black students and professionals in their careers.