I am grateful! I am grateful to country where I grew up in. I grew up in Nigeria where the majority of people are Black and the traditional or expected degree to pursue in college is a STEM degree. It often heard by most the kids that they wanted to be a doctor or engineer. So, most graduates are usually Black and in the STEM field and most STEM jobs in Nigeria are occupied by Black people. Why is this information important? Getting a career in the STEM field has always been normal for me since I was a kid. I didn’t see it as impossible because I grew up in an environment where I saw successful Black people in the STEM field. These circumstances made me realize that a career in the STEM field was an option. I started to really get interested in the STEM field when I moved to the U.S. In high school, I got involved in various STEM related classes and extra-curricular activities that started to teach me critical thinking and problem-solving skills. I loved using my hands to design different mechanics that solved problems. However, there was a major problem in the environment that I was solving problems. There were very few Black people in the classes I attended meanwhile the high school was filled with Black people. I pondered why this was the case because this was very different from where I was originally from. In Nigeria, Black people are in all kinds of STEM field. This discrepancy with what I had experienced in Nigeria and what was going on in this new environment really bothered me. So, I went to do my research and I found out that Black workers made up only 9% of the STEM workforce. That made me understand why I was very interested in STEM and most Black students in the U.S are not. I grew up in a place where I saw successful Black engineers, doctors and working in STEM and that inspired me; however, there are few Black people working in the STEM field to show young Black people that they can do it too. This realization made me discover that I was kind of privileged that I grew up in place where I knew STEM was a viable option for me. I also found a new interest and motivation in why I want to work in the STEM field. I plan to become a successful STEM educator, so I can inspire other Black students to know that they can do it too. I first of all want to inspire young Black people around me like my little cousins, family friends and people close in the community. Then, I want to become part of that 9%, that would inspire Black people in the U.S to take on STEM. I plan to do this in the future by creating a non-profit organization that shows young Black students how fun the STEM field is and how they can do it too. I possible plan to create scholarships just like this one that encourages Black students to follow their dreams and passions in the STEM field.

I am grateful! I am grateful to country where I grew up in. I grew up in Nigeria where the majority of people are Black and the traditional or expected degree to pursue in college is a STEM degree. It often heard by most the kids that they wanted to become a doctor or engineer. So, most graduates are usually Black and in the STEM field and most STEM jobs in Nigeria are occupied by Black people. Why is this information important? Getting a career in the STEM field has always been normal for me since I was a kid. I didn’t see it as impossible because I grew up in an environment where I saw successful Black people in the STEM field. These circumstances made me realize that a career in the STEM field was an option. I started to really get interested in the STEM field when I moved to the U.S. In high school, I got involved in various STEM related classes and extra-curricular activities that started to teach me critical thinking and problem-solving skills. I loved using my hands to design different mechanics that solved problems. However, there was a major problem in the environment that I was solving problems. There were very few Black people in the classes I attended meanwhile the high school was filled with Black people. I pondered why this was the case because this was very different from where I was originally from. In Nigeria, Black people are in all kinds of STEM field. This discrepancy with what I had experienced in Nigeria and what was going on in this new environment really bothered me. So, I went to do my research and I found out that Black workers made up only 9% of the STEM workforce. That made me understand why I was very interested in STEM and why most Black students in the U.S are not. I grew up in a place where I saw successful Black engineers, doctors and working in STEM and that inspired me; however, there are few Black people working in the STEM field to show young Black people that they can do it too. This realization made me discover that I was kind of privileged that I grew up in a place where I knew STEM was a viable option for me. I also found a new interest and motivation in why I want to work in the STEM field. I plan to become a successful Mechanical engineer, so I can inspire other Black students to know that they can do it too. I first of all want to inspire young Black people around me like my little cousins, family friends and people close in the community. Then, I want to become part of that 9%, that would inspire Black people in the U.S to take on STEM. I plan to do this in the future by creating a non-profit organization that shows young Black students how fun a career in the STEM field is and how it is very attainable. I possible plan to create scholarships just like this one that encourages Black students to follow their dreams and passions in the STEM field.

The song that currently inspires me the most is called Tragic by Kid Lario Ft Nba Youngboy. This song talks about how the artist has gone through so many life trials and how the situations has made him who he is today. It talks about the times when he was in worst situations of his life; when he had no food to eat, no money, no friends to talk to etc. However, he currently successful and has the money to provide for him and his family. I relate to this song so much because I'm currently at a point of my life were things don't necessarily feel great and this song is great motivator to me. It motivates me to work hard so I can be able to provide for my family and I. I want to take care of my parents like how they have taken care of me during all these though times.

After a long time away from my favorite activity due to work, I was very happy and excited to be finally be able to play video games again. I remember myself coming back from work walking on the sidewalk just feeling excited that I was going to play the game as soon as I arrived home. I remember I was so giddy, that I almost fell. That's how happy I was. It was as if all my hard work has finally paid off.

My two favorite Physicist are Albert Einstein and Isaac Newton. However, there is something about Albert Einstein's story that resonates with me that makes him my number 1 guy. Einstein never gave up. Einstein had problems and challenges in every stage of his life, but he never gave up and followed his passion with drive, discipline and determination. One of his success stories that I admire is how he never gave up on his work even when his peers and the world doubted his Theory of Relativity. I cannot fathom how many roadblocks he encountered in seven plus years of researching and testing, but he never gave up until he was successful.