My journey to America was one of many bumps and hurdles. And my journey after getting here has been even bumpier. Somehow, I draw immense strength from within myself, daily, to fight for my dreams. When I decided to leave Nigeria, the place I call home, I had been at the University of Lagos for 16 months; only completing 1 semester. There had been an 8-month-long strike by the academic staff union and another by the non-academic staff. The flow of education was being disrupted every year, and students were losing interest in school. I had to leave. I started applying to American schools without telling anybody. After I got into about 5 schools, I made my parents aware. They were proud of me but concerned because we couldn’t afford it. My mother depleted her pension fund to pay for the portion of my first-semester tuition not covered by scholarships. Getting my visa approved taught me to be a tenacious quick-thinker. The consul who interviewed me decided against approving my visa because she didn’t think I would make it to school in time for my first day of classes. These interviews lasted 5 minutes or less, and once you missed your chance, it was over. That was 8 am in Nigeria and 1 am in Alabama, where my school is located. I knew no one would be in-office to attend to me at that time, so I asked the embassy to give me a slip permitting me back into the embassy, the next day. This wasn’t a normal thing, but they made one for me – the consul looked amused. I went home and emailed every official on my school's website explaining my situation. I left voicemails and messages saying I needed help. When they asked what they could do, I attached a draft of a letter saying my school would accept me even if I resumed a week late and asked if they would put their signature on it and send it to the American embassy before I went back the next day. I don’t know how many people signed it but when I got to the embassy the next day, they had decided to approve and expedite my visa so I could make it for the first day of class. That experience taught me how to fight for my needs. Last semester, I went sick without health insurance for over a week. When I got better, I lobbied and advocated for better conditions for international students until an association dedicated to catering to our needs was established and I was elected president. In a world where dreams are often constrained by circumstance, I stand as a beacon of hope. I dared to dream that I could do what most considered impossible for “someone like me.” My love for education and belief in the power of diligence and determination brought me to where I am today. My path has been marked by resilience, unwavering commitment, and an insatiable hunger for knowledge. Again, I dare to dream of being a world-renowned economist who advocates for policies that will turn economies around for good. I want my life to inspire positive economic change, and inspire people to take the necessary steps to implement those changes on small AND large scales.

Some would rather believe that colonization, imperialism, and slavery are things of the past. Unfortunately, they’re not. These issues have created systems of marginalization and segregation all around the world. I plan to use my education in economics, data analysis, and international finance to shed light on these issues and how they affect specific communities. I will also research and formulate policies that can help the international community move past the effects of the atrocities that were committed toward black people and other marginalized races and ethnicities. These policies will empower Black communities by creating opportunities for economic mobility, fostering entrepreneurship, and advocating for diversity and equity in business practices. My education equips me with the tools to understand economic systems and how they impact marginalized communities. I aim to leverage this knowledge to create financial literacy programs specifically tailored to Black individuals and underserved communities. By promoting financial education, I can help others build wealth, invest wisely, and understand the broader economic factors that shape their opportunities. As I advance in my career, I plan to advocate for diversity at leadership levels in the corporate world. As a black woman who has worked multiple jobs, I have only had a boss who looked like me once, and it was one of my best work experiences ever. I’ll never forget her; her name is Nicole Howard and she taught me so much. I was 18. She has had a massive impact on how I see myself and the rooms I permit myself to be confident in. It was an amazing feeling and every black girl deserves to experience it too. Black representation in boardrooms and executive positions remains limited, and with my background, I aim to be a voice pushing for inclusive hiring practices and diversity in decision-making roles. Using my education, I can make a strong case for the business and ethical value of diversity, showing companies how inclusive policies lead to innovation and long-term success. I also recognize the importance of networking and mentorship. Throughout my career, I intend to create and be part of initiatives that connect Black professionals with opportunities and mentors who can guide them. Education is not just about personal success; it’s about pulling others up with you, and I plan to use my platform to do exactly that. I am an alumnus of some of these programs such as WSDA (Wall Street Diversity Accelerator) and WSB (Wall Street Bound). I intend to become a mentor in these programs once I start making my way in my career. By combining my education with these initiatives, I hope to pave the way for future generations of Black business leaders who can challenge the status quo and contribute to a more equitable and diverse business world.

Something happened when I was 9 that baffled me. My mum decided to buy a loaf of bread instead of 2. We were a pretty big family and 1 loaf of bread had never been enough. I remember being so confused when she gave her reason to be that "the economy is bad." I asked her how she knew that, and she said, "Don't you pay attention when we watch the news? That's what they are saying!" My little head asked a million questions that day, "who are 'they', how did 'they' decide the economy was bad, and why are we taking their word for it?" I knew that day, that I wanted to be 'they' - only that I would deliver news that the economy was better, and everyone would believe me. That was what began my profound interest in economics and the world of global finance. I read so much and started paying attention to the news. It was also around that time that I realized how poor we were. I grew up in a country, run by men who are experts in the game of politics but appear to know very little about the economic world. With time, I realized that governmental authority may be one of our only real powers as humans. My whole life, I saw people with this power, abuse it in so many ways. Every academic and professional decision I have made since I was 9 has been geared toward molding me into someone who can wield such power and harness it to better my economy. I will gather as much knowledge and understanding as possible about the economic, financial, and social structures of the world. I will develop skills and expertise that can address pressing social and environmental issues facing my community, through research, policy advocacy, and community outreach initiatives. I had a personal project a few years ago, where I analyzed the effects of global policies on small-scale economies. Small-scale economies make up large-scale economies, so, the true effect of large-scale policies depends on how it affects small-scale economies. I had the opportunity to present this project at a Women In Business Leadership event last year. I hope to one day be in a position to influence the policies that affect small and large-scale economies alike. In a nutshell, I want my life and career to inspire positive economic change and inspire people to take the steps necessary to implement those changes. My journey through education has been marked by the challenges posed by my financial situation. My parents are very poor and have taken out so many loans, that any more would take away the roof from over their heads. However, these obstacles have only fueled my determination to succeed and make a meaningful impact on society. Receiving this scholarship would alleviate the financial burden that has impeded my academic pursuits and serve as a catalyst for achieving my dream of becoming a leader in my field. Thank you!

As an international student from Nigeria, my identity is deeply rooted in my experiences growing up in a region that is both diverse and underrepresented/misrepresented on the global stage. Coming from a continent that often faces economic and social challenges, my journey has been shaped by the complexities of these circumstances, as well as the richness of African culture and resilience. Studying economics and international finance, I have a clear vision of how my background influences my academic path and how it will continue to impact my future. Growing up in Africa, I witnessed firsthand the disparities in wealth distribution, limited access to resources, and the impact of global financial policies on developing nations. I grew up in a country, run by men who are experts in the game of politics but seem to know little about the economic world. From a young age, I understood already how that fractured my country. I fully decided Economics was what I would study on a random Tuesday when I was 9. My mum bought 1 loaf of bread instead of 2 because “Dollar was rising.” I wanted to understand what that was all about. These experiences and many others have fueled my desire to understand economics and finance at a deeper level so that I can contribute meaningfully to solving these challenges both within Africa and globally. The obstacles I have faced, such as limited educational opportunities, have made me even more determined to succeed. Access to quality education in many African countries can be a privilege rather than a right, and overcoming these barriers has taught me the value of perseverance and resourcefulness. My journey as an international student is a testament to the aspirations of many young Africans who strive to make a difference despite facing systemic obstacles. It is this understanding that drives me to not only pursue a career in international finance but also to advocate for equitable economic development that benefits marginalized communities. In the future, I aim to leverage my education and professional career to bridge the gap between developing and developed nations, particularly focusing on policies that promote sustainable economic growth in Africa. I believe that by understanding the financial systems that govern global markets, I can contribute to creating more inclusive financial policies that uplift underrepresented populations. My background, while often seen as a challenge, is my greatest strength, and it gives me the determination and outlook to challenge the status quo and work toward a more equitable global economy. As I continue my academic journey, I recognize that my identity as an African student in economics and international finance is a significant asset. It allows me to bring a unique voice to discussions about global finance, especially as they relate to developing nations. I am committed to using this platform to advocate for policies that are not only economically sound but also socially just. I will help build a future where economic opportunity is not determined by geography, but by potential.

Adversity is a state or instance of serious and continued difficulty. My name is Ore and unfortunately, I know what adversity means. From that, I have also come to learn what resilience means - the ability to successfully adapt to stressors, and maintain psychological well-being in the face of adversity. My name is Ore. I’m a 19-year-old international student from Nigeria majoring in Economics and Data Analytics with a minor in Finance. When I decided to leave my country, family, and everything I knew, I had already been in a Nigerian University for 16 months but only completed 1 semester. There had been an 8-month-long strike by the academic staff union and another by the non-academic staff. The flow of education was being disrupted every year and students were losing interest in school; I had to leave. Coming to America was tough and life as a teenage immigrant has definitely been tougher. It took a while before I found my people and I struggled a lot. I was met with various culture shocks and felt lost all the time. It took months before I got my health insurance sorted, and I went sick without treatment many times. I would stand in front of my mirror and question if I even deserved to be there. Even when I had no money and ate one meal a day, I couldn’t risk telling anyone in my family because I was afraid it would get back to my mum and trigger her schizophrenic episodes. These struggles lit a spark in me to build a community for international students at my predominantly white university. When I fell ill and struggled to have my health insurance sorted for over a week - I wondered how many other international students faced similar challenges. Motivated to enact change, I scheduled meetings with deans and directors to address this issue. As a result of these discussions and advocacy efforts, plans for a new union dedicated to serving the needs of international students have been set in motion. I am honored to have been selected as the president of this forthcoming union and eager to lead initiatives that will improve the support systems available to international students on campus. Whenever someone thanks me for doing it, I tell them I did it for myself as much as I did for them. The African philosophy of Ubuntu says, “I am because we are.” Dysfunctionality births dysfunctionality until one person steps out and breaks the cycle. That is who I want to be. My adversity showed me how resilient and compassionate I actually am and I am grateful for my experiences and all the people I met along the way. My advice to anyone facing adversity now is to remember that it doesn’t last forever. Keeping that in mind, do not be afraid to accept offers of help from others, and don’t ever think you are not in a position to offer help to others. The journey out of adversity is even more fulfilling when it turns out you helped other people despite your own struggles.

I’m a 20-year-old International student from Nigeria majoring in Economics and Data Analytics with a minor in Finance. When I decided to leave Nigeria, I had been at the University of Lagos for 16 months but only completed 1 semester. There had been an 8-month-long strike by the academic staff union and another by the non-academic staff. The flow of education was being disrupted every year and students were losing interest in school. I had to leave. I've been in the US since January 2023, and haven’t seen any of my family members since then. I started applying to schools abroad without telling anybody. It wasn’t until I got into about 5 schools that I made my parents aware. They were proud of me but concerned because we couldn’t afford it. I am the last child and only girl in my family. I guess they decided if they were going to pour all their resources into anyone, it might as well be me. My mother depleted her pension fund to pay for my first semester. Coming to America was tough and life as a teenage immigrant has been tougher. I struggled in silence for a long time. I was met with various culture shocks and felt lost all the time. It took months before I got my health insurance sorted, and I went sick without treatment many times. I would stand in front of my mirror and question if I even deserved to be there. When I had no money and ate one meal a day, I couldn’t risk telling anyone in my family because I was afraid it would get back to my mum and trigger her anxiety and schizophrenic episodes. Out of those struggles, I grew and evolved into who I am today. I am surprised by my strength and potential for community building because my way out of that depressive phase was by taking steps to help those like me. Last Thanksgiving, I hosted a lunch for 18 international students like me from universities in the area who had nowhere to go for the break. They were mostly freshmen who had come to America that summer. I cooked Nigerian meals and we sat on the floor of my dorm talking about random things. My most fulfilling experience of 2023, was creating a temporary home for people whose real homes are 8000 miles away. My decision to pursue a career in Economics is fueled by my dedication to understanding the complexities of global and local economic systems. I decided it was what I wanted to do on a random Tuesday when I was 9. My mum bought 1 loaf of bread instead of 2 because “dollar was rising.” I wanted to understand what that was all about. I grew up in a country, run by men who are experts in the game of politics but seem to know little about the economic world. From a young age, I understood already how that fractured my country. Women like Okonjo-Iweala and Kemi Adeosun, who excelled in the Minister of Finance position despite constantly getting their power undermined by men, were also key players in my career decision. My life’s goal is to contribute positively to society by creating innovative solutions that address pressing economic challenges in underdeveloped and developing countries. My post-graduate plan is to combine my BSc with an MSc, work for about 4 years after, get on my feet, and pay off all the debt my family took out to send me to school. Then go back to school for an MBA in Finance and International policy.

I knew life as an international student would be hard but I had to do it anyways. I am an international student from Lagos, Nigeria and when I left my family and country behind to come to the USA in January, 2023, I had been in the university for almost 2 years but had only completed 1 semester. The education system in my country was getting worse and I needed to leave. All around me, people were dropping out to do other things but school was my plan A and I couldn't afford to drop out. I need to gain knowledge to impact the world in the way that I want to. My goal in life is to contribute positively to society by creating innovative solutions that address pressing economic challenges in underdeveloped and developing countries. In today's fast-paced and complex world, understanding economic trends, mastering data interpretation, and applying financial principles are not just beneficial but essential. These skills empower individuals, organizations, and governments to navigate uncertainty, drive informed decision-making, and foster sustainable growth. I started applying to schools in America without telling anyone in my family and I didn't tell anyone until I got accepted into 4 schools. My parents fought tooth and nail to get me where I am today. I have struggled in this country with no family or health insurance, working 2 or more jobs. Knowing that my hard work will eventually pay off and I can impact the world in the way that I'm trying to, keeps me going and stops me from giving up.

The last time I felt empowered was when I was empowering others. One of my favorite musicians, Davido, has a famous quote that goes “We rise by lifting others.” While many may think this statement has a selfish spin to it, I think it’s rather selfless. How much power can you really say you have if the people around you are not empowered? No man is an island and we should always do our best to empower others. It’s important because if we want to see good in the world, we should be harbingers of good ourselves. Coming to America was tough but life as a teenage immigrant has been tougher. It took a while before I found friends and I struggled a lot. I couldn’t discuss these struggles with my mum because she battles severe anxiety from time to time and I didn’t want her to be worried about me. I was met with various culture shocks and felt lost all the time. It took months before I got my health insurance sorted and I went sick without treatment many times. I would stand in front of my mirror and question if I even deserved to be there. The struggles I faced lit a spark in me. I recognized that the needs of international students were not always promptly addressed. When I fell ill and struggled to have my health insurance sorted for over a week - I wondered how many other international students faced similar challenges. Motivated to enact change, I scheduled meetings with deans and directors to address this issue. As a result of these discussions and advocacy efforts, plans for a new union dedicated to serving the needs of international students have been set in motion. I am honored to have been selected as the president of this forthcoming union and eager to lead initiatives that will improve the support systems available to international students on campus. Last Thanksgiving, I hosted a lunch for 18 international students like me from 3 universities in the area who had nowhere to go for the break. They were mostly freshmen who had come to America that summer. I cooked African meals, and we sat on the floor of my common area talking about the things that brought us together, the things that made us happy, and the things that made us terrified. I wanted to do my best to let them know they were not alone. My most fulfilling experience of 2023, was creating a temporary home for people whose real homes are 8000 miles away. My decision to pursue a career in Economics is fueled by my dedication to understanding the complexities of global and local economic systems. On a random Tuesday, when I was 9, my mum stopped buying 2 loaves of bread and started buying one. I was so confused when she gave her reason to be that some guy on the news said the economy would soon get worse because of something that happened with Saudi Arabia, on a different continent. My goal in life is to contribute positively to society by creating innovative solutions that address pressing economic challenges in underdeveloped and developing countries. In today's fast-paced and complex world, understanding economic trends, mastering data interpretation, and applying financial principles are not just beneficial but essential. These skills empower individuals, organizations, and governments to navigate uncertainty, drive informed decision-making, and foster sustainable growth. I want my life to represent positive change and to inspire people to take the necessary steps to make those changes.

I’m a 19-year-old International student from Nigeria majoring in Economics and Data Analytics with a minor in Finance. When I decided to leave Nigeria, I had been at the University of Lagos for 16 months but only completed 1 semester. There had been an 8-month-long strike by the academic staff union and another by the non-academic staff. The flow of education was being disrupted every year and students were losing interest in school. I had to leave. I've been in the US since January 2023, and haven’t seen any of my family members since then. I started applying to schools abroad without telling anybody. It wasn’t until I got into about 5 schools that I made my parents aware. They were proud of me but concerned because we couldn’t afford it. I am the last child and only girl in my family. I guess they decided if they were going to pour all their resources into anyone, it might as well be me. My mother depleted her pension fund to pay for my first semester. Coming to America was tough and life as a teenage immigrant has been tougher. I struggled in silence for a long time. I was met with various culture shocks and felt lost all the time. It took months before I got my health insurance sorted, and I went sick without treatment many times. I would stand in front of my mirror and question if I even deserved to be there. When I had no money and ate one meal a day, I couldn’t risk telling anyone in my family because I was afraid it would get back to my mum and trigger her schizophrenic episodes. Out of those struggles, I grew and evolved into who I am today. I am surprised by my strength and potential for community building because my way out of that depressive phase was by taking steps to help those like me. Last Thanksgiving, I hosted a lunch for 18 international students like me from universities in the area who had nowhere to go for the break. They were mostly freshmen who had come to America that summer. I cooked Nigerian meals and we sat on the floor of my dorm talking about random things. My most fulfilling experience of 2023, was creating a temporary home for people whose real homes are 8000 miles away. My decision to pursue a career in Economics is fueled by my dedication to understanding the complexities of global and local economic systems. I decided it was what I wanted to do on a random Tuesday when I was 9; my mum bought 1 loaf of bread instead of 2 because “dollar was rising.” I wanted to understand what that was all about. I grew up in a country, run by men who are experts in the game of politics but seem to know little about the economic world. From a young age, I understood already how that fractured my country. Women like Okonjo-Iweala and Kemi Adeosun, who excelled in the Minister of Finance position despite constantly getting their power undermined by men, were also key players in my career decision. My life’s goal is to contribute positively to society by creating innovative solutions that address pressing economic challenges in underdeveloped and developing countries. My post-graduate plan is to combine my BSc with an MSc, work for about 4 years after, get on my feet, and pay off all the debt my family took out to send me to school. Then go back to school for an MBA in Finance and International policy.

Adversity is a state or instance of serious and continued difficulty. My name is Ore and unfortunately, I know what adversity means. From that, I have also come to learn what resilience means - the ability to successfully adapt to stressors, and maintain psychological well-being in the face of adversity. My name is Ore. I’m a 19-year-old international student from Nigeria majoring in Economics and Data Analytics with a minor in Finance. When I decided to leave my country, family, and everything I knew, I had already been in a Nigerian University for 16 months but only completed 1 semester. There had been an 8-month-long strike by the academic staff union and another by the non-academic staff. The flow of education was being disrupted every year and students were losing interest in school; I had to leave. Coming to America was tough and life as a teenage immigrant has definitely been tougher. It took a while before I found my people and I struggled a lot. I was met with various culture shocks and felt lost all the time. It took months before I got my health insurance sorted, and I went sick without treatment many times. I would stand in front of my mirror and question if I even deserved to be there. Even when I had no money and ate one meal a day, I couldn’t risk telling anyone in my family because I was afraid it would get back to my mum and trigger her schizophrenic episodes. These struggles lit a spark in me to build a community for international students at my predominantly white university. When I fell ill and struggled to have my health insurance sorted for over a week - I wondered how many other international students faced similar challenges. Motivated to enact change, I scheduled meetings with deans and directors to address this issue. As a result of these discussions and advocacy efforts, plans for a new union dedicated to serving the needs of international students have been set in motion. I am honored to have been selected as the president of this forthcoming union and eager to lead initiatives that will improve the support systems available to international students on campus. Whenever someone thanks me for doing it, I tell them I did it for myself as much as I did for them. The African philosophy of Ubuntu says, “I am because we are.” Dysfunctionality births dysfunctionality until one person steps out and breaks the cycle. That is who I want to be. My adversity showed me how resilient and compassionate I am and I'm grateful for my experiences and all the people I met along the way. My advice to anyone facing adversity now is to remember that it doesn’t last forever. Keeping that in mind, do not be afraid to accept offers of help from others, and don’t ever think you are not in a position to offer it to others. The journey out of adversity is even more fulfilling when it turns out you helped other people despite your own struggles. Thank you for this opportunity!

My siblings and I used to ask each other when we were younger; If you could choose any job or career to do for the rest of your life, and money was not a determining factor, what would you pick? And every time I had the same answer, I would be a tourist. I didn't even have to think about it twice. If money were not a problem, I would explore 24 countries each year going to 2 countries every month. I would immerse myself in different cultures, music, foods, and folklore; I'd be a citizen of the world! I'd start from Africa because it's home, and then make my way across all the other continents. I wanted to see how each trip would change and modify my perception and understanding of my own home and the rest of the world. It fascinates me how several cultures have different versions of the same story. Travel has a remarkable capacity to shape and transform individuals in profound ways. It transcends mere sightseeing or vacationing; it is an immersive journey that opens doors to new cultures, perspectives, and environments, fostering personal growth and development. My first conscious experience with travel that I can remember was when I was 12. We had a school trip to the Whispering Palms in Badagry, Lagos, Nigeria. To provide context, Badagry is the ancient town where the transatlantic slave trade commenced. In 1473, a Portuguese merchant named Ferman Gomez initiated the slave trade by selling slaves to Europe through the port of Badagry. Our teachers took us to see the Badagry Heritage Museum, and it was on that day that I truly grasped the profound impact of slavery and colonization on African civilization. I distinctly remember seeing chains from the 15th century and struggling to accept that they were designed for human necks. A 20-minute ride across the sea took us to Benin Republic, a neighboring country. Here, we went to the Bronze Arc in Ouidah, Benin. This was the place that the slaves at that time referred to as the "point of no return." If the slave traders were able to get you past this Arc, you could as well kiss your freedom goodbye. Ever since that day, I have wanted to see the depiction of slavery in the museums of other countries. In April, I had the opportunity to go to the African American Museum of History and Culture in DC and it felt like a continuation of the story that had ended at the Bronze Arc in Benin. I cried as I learned about the lives of the people who passed the point of no return. Next, I want to see Olympus, Greece; the home of Greek Mythology. I have read about it my whole life and going to Olympus is like fulfilling the wishes of my inner child. Traveling is so significant because it is not merely about the places we visit but the profound impact they have on our hearts and minds.

Hello, my name is Ore. I’m a 19-year-old international student, majoring in Economics and Data Analytics with a minor in Finance at the University of Alabama in Huntsville. I immigrated to the United States at the age of 18 in pursuit of a better education. The struggles I faced as an international student lit a spark in me. I recognized that the needs of international students were not always promptly addressed. When I fell ill and struggled to have my health insurance sorted for over a week - I wondered how many other international students faced similar challenges. Motivated to enact change, I scheduled meetings with deans and directors to address this issue. As a result of these discussions and advocacy efforts, plans for a new union dedicated to serving the needs of international students have been set in motion. I am honored to have been selected as the president of this forthcoming union and eager to lead initiatives that will improve the support systems available to international students on campus. Last Thanksgiving, I hosted a lunch for 18 international students like me from 3 universities in the area who had nowhere to go for the break. They were mostly freshmen who had come to America that summer. I cooked African meals, and we sat on the floor of my common area talking about the things that brought us together, the things that made us happy, and the things that made us terrified. I wanted to do my best to let them know they were not alone. My most fulfilling experience of 2023, was creating a temporary home for people whose real homes are 8000 miles away. Since moving to America and joining my school, I've had numerous opportunities to actively engage with its community. I serve as a member of both the student government body and the Green Club, where I contribute to initiatives focused on sustainability and environmental awareness. Additionally, I'm part of a new campus team called SOAR (Serving, Organizing, Advocating, and Reflecting). With SOAR, I've participated in two impactful programs: The Big Event, a day of service at over 15 locations in the Huntsville area, and the Swap Shop, where students donated clothes and had the opportunity to 'shop for free.' Any remaining clothing was donated to the Salvation Army. This summer, I had the opportunity to work with an investment firm whose philosophy is centered around driving a more sustainable economy. After this experience, I can categorically say that climate change – and the lack of awareness of it, is the biggest issue in society today. Many people may have heard the terms ‘global warming’ and ‘climate change’ but there is still a gap in the awareness and understanding of the threat that climate change poses for our planet. Research shows that while there is a general awareness of climate change, the understanding of its gravity and urgency may not be fully realized by the public. This underscores the need for continued education and communication about the impacts and risks of climate change as well as what we can do personally and collectively to help As individuals, we must educate ourselves, pay attention to the changes in our ecosystem, and make sustainable life choices concerning our diet and transportation. How we invest our money matters. Our ecosystem is an asset and climate change is an asset management problem. I hope to bring awareness of this in my community and to all those around me

My greatest achievement is daring to dream. Growing up in a third-world country, you hear about universities like Yale, Harvard, and Stanford but never really think you can make it there. For a time, I gave into that narrative and believed there wasn’t a way for me to get the education I so desperately wanted. My name is Ore, I’m a 19-year-old international student from Nigeria, majoring in Economics and Data Analytics with a minor in Finance at the University of Alabama in Huntsville. I immigrated to the United States at the age of 18 in pursuit of a better education. I graduated high school at the age of 16 and was ready to take in all the world had to teach me about Economics and global finance. Unfortunately, things didn’t go that way. When I decided to leave my country, family, and everything I knew, I had already been in the university for 16 months but only completed 1 semester. The flow of education in my country was being disrupted every year and students were losing interest in school; I had to leave. I did my research and started applying to schools in America without telling anyone. I knew that I would be discouraged and for good reasons, too. I come from an average family in Nigeria which translates to a very poor country in America. My mum was getting sick more often, too. She suffers from severe anxiety and gets schizophrenic from time to time. She went undiagnosed for a very long time and my family was constantly recovering from her episodes. It wasn’t until I got into about 5 schools that I told my parents about it. They were happy and proud but considerably worried because we couldn’t afford it. All the thoughts I had about being perceived as selfish by my family melted away when my mother told me she would close her pension fund to pay for my first semester. I had a dream and she was going to stand by me till it was fulfilled. Getting my visa approved taught me how much of a tenacious quick-thinker I am. The consul who interviewed me decided against approving my visa because she didn’t think I would make it to school in time for my first day of classes. These interviews lasted 5 minutes or less, and once you missed your chance, it was over. That was 8am in Nigeria and 1am in Alabama where my would-be school was located. I knew there would be no one in school to attend to me even if I called so I asked the embassy if they could give me a slip permitting me back into the embassy, the next day. This wasn’t a normal thing, but they made one for me – the consul looked amused. I went home and emailed every official on my school's website explaining my situation. I left voicemails and messages saying I needed help. When they asked what they could do, I attached a draft of a letter saying my school would accept me even if I resumed a week late and asked if they would put their signature on it and send it to the American embassy before I went back the next day. I don’t know how many people signed it but when I got to the embassy the next day, they had decided to not only approve but expedite my visa so I could make it for the first day of class. That experience taught me how to fight for my needs. Last semester, I went sick without health insurance for over a week. When I got better, I lobbied and advocated for better conditions for international students until an association dedicated to catering to our needs was established. In a world where dreams are often constrained by circumstance, I stand as a beacon of hope. I dared to dream that I could do what most considered impossible for “someone like me.” My love for education and belief in the power of diligence and determination brought me to where I am today. My path has been marked by resilience, unwavering commitment, and an insatiable hunger for knowledge. Again, I dare to dream of being a world-renowned economist who advocates for policies that will turn economies around for good. I want my life to inspire positive economic change, and inspire people to take the necessary steps to implement those changes on small AND large scales.

When I was growing up, no one talked about their mental health. That’s how it is in most African societies. As long as you’re not locked up in an institution or roaming the streets without a clue what you’re doing, there is “nothing wrong with your mental health.” I was very young when I realized how dysfunctional that was. In secondary school, back in Nigeria, I wrote random essays about my thoughts but kept them private. One of my essays was titled “I’m mentally stable or at least I think I am.” In this essay, I talked about how the man living down my street was probably bipolar and not tormented by evil spirits as people said; the rich man’s wife who was never happy was not ‘ungrateful’ and was perhaps going through a depressive phase; and the little boy who everyone labeled stubborn and restless, was probably on the ADHD spectrum. I was 13. Many years later, my mom’s younger sister found the book where I wrote those things and encouraged me to have that particular essay published. I think she knew how much I suffered quietly but didn’t know how to help me. I’m glad I listened to her because the first blog I reached out to, Ayanfe, published my essay the next week. I was happy to see a lot of comments agreeing with me. At the very least, I thought, the next generation of Africans would not go around mislabeling people struggling with mental health issues. My mother suffers from severe anxiety and she went most of her life without a diagnosis. She would have these violent schizophrenia-like episodes, that doctors we could afford couldn’t explain, and those lasted about 2 weeks. Apparently, she gave birth to me during one of those episodes. Nobody in my family ever talked about my mum’s issues the way they needed to be talked about. We would always pray, restrict her from leaving the house, and keep all the sharp objects locked away. When I was younger, my dad shielded me from a lot of the ugly stuff but it was hard to hide. One day I woke up in the middle of the night and found my mum on the floor in the corridor sitting in her poop and hitting her head on the wall repeatedly. My brother and I carried her to the bathroom to clean her up. I cried quietly throughout the day. The funny thing about these episodes is that once they were over, she would get better, go back to work, and have no recollection of the weeks that passed. All she knew was that she was sick and we nursed her back to health. My dad always said not to talk about it once she got better. And then we would go over two years without another. Because we didn’t know much about my mom’s sickness, I nursed a fear that it was hereditary. I did a lot of personal research into whatever could have caused my mum’s sickness. I know her mum died when she was young and she had to take care of a lot of things for her siblings because her father was a polygamous drunk. I guessed that was the beginning of her anxiety. Whatever the opposite of anxiety was, I wanted that. I never thought about things outside my control and protected my peace a little too severely. As a result, I developed low blood pressure. I was 16 when my hypotension was confirmed. My blood pressure was about 83/57 when I was active and about, and even lower in the mornings. I didn’t care, as long as I was as far away from my mum’s illness as possible. My brother had his first schizophrenic episode in 2019. I was in boarding school at the time, so my family kept it from me. When it happened again in 2021, I was there to witness it. It was so subtle and sudden. I didn’t catch the signs because I didn’t know to look out for them. I was a mess but couldn’t show it because I had to take care of him while my parents and eldest brother were at work. Being an international student far from home, I sometimes feel guilty for leaving them. My mum has had one episode since I moved to America in 2023 and I called home every day to check up on her. The process of coming to America was tough and life as a teenage immigrant has definitely been tougher. It took a while before I found my people and I struggled a lot. I was met with various culture shocks and felt lost all the time. It took months before I got my health insurance sorted and I went sick without treatment many times. I would stand in front of my mirror and question if I even deserved to be there. Even when I had no money and ate one meal a day, I couldn’t risk telling anyone in my family because I was afraid it would get back to my mum and trigger her anxiety. These struggles lit a spark in me to build a community for international students at my predominantly white university. Whenever someone thanks me for doing it, I let them know that I did it for myself as much as I did it for them. The African philosophy of Ubuntu says, “I am because we are.” Dysfunctionality births dysfunctionality until one person steps out and breaks the cycle. That is who I want to be. I will continue to use my voice to advocate for the sensitization and destigmatization of mental health issues in communities all around the world.

I am an immigrant. My experience as a teenage immigrant has been somewhat different from that of the child or grandchild of an immigrant in the sense that I had to grow up very fast. My name is Ore, I’m a 19-year-old international student from Nigeria, majoring in Economics and Data Analytics with a minor in Finance at the University of Alabama in Huntsville. I immigrated to the United States at the age of 18 in pursuit of a better education. When I decided to leave my country, family, and everything I knew, I had already been in the university for 16 months but only completed 1 semester. The flow of education was being disrupted every year and students were losing interest in school; I had to leave. Life as an immigrant has been tough and I have had to be tougher. My parents are poor by American standards and the only reason they let me move here was because I said I would take care of myself. In my family, I’m the big dreamer; the one who dares. It took a while before I found my people and I struggled a lot. I couldn’t discuss these struggles with my mum because she battles severe anxiety from time to time and I didn’t want her to be worried about me. I was met with various culture shocks and felt lost all the time. It took months before I got my health insurance sorted and I went sick without treatment many times. I would stand in front of my mirror and question if I even deserved to be there. There were days I cried throughout because I was tired of working 2 jobs to take care of myself. In all this, I couldn’t quit. So many people are banking on my success, and I cannot afford to let them down. The struggles I faced lit a spark in me. When I fell ill and had no insurance, I recognized that the needs of international students were not always promptly addressed - I wondered how many other international students faced similar challenges. When I got better, I met with directors and deans and advocated for better conditions for international students. A new union dedicated to serving the needs of international students has been set in motion and I am honored to have been chosen as the president. If I could walk in someone’s shoes for a day, it would be the president of a country, maybe the USA. As an economics major, this opportunity would allow me to gain invaluable insights into the intersection of economic policy and governance, understanding how decisions made at the highest level impact millions of lives. My decision to pursue a career in Economics is fueled by my dedication to understanding the complexities of global and local economic systems. I have always been fascinated by such things, even as a child. I knew I wanted to be an economist at the age of 9. I have a personal project where I analyze the effects of global policies on small-scale economies. Small-scale economies make up large-scale economies, so, the true effect of large-scale policies depends on how it affects small-scale economies. People often tell me that my dreams are too big or that wanting to impact change on such a large economic scale is only a phase I will grow out of but I don’t think so. Every academic and career decision I have made has been geared toward molding me into someone who can yield economic or governmental power for the greater good and I definitely will.

Ms. Eleanor was unto something when she said 4 ingredients were necessary to achieve positive educational outcomes. Support, access, funding, and drive. At various points in my life, I have lacked one or more of these things but one has always been present: Drive. Even when I battled with my self-image, my drive and ambition saw me through. My name is Ore. I’m a 19-year-old international student majoring in Economics and Data Analytics with a minor in Finance. When I decided to leave my country and everything I knew, I had already been in a Nigerian University for 16 months but only completed 1 semester. There had been an 8-month-long strike by the academic staff union and another by the non-academic staff. The flow of education was being disrupted every year and students were losing interest in school; I had to leave. I started applying to schools abroad without telling anyone. It wasn’t until I got into about 5 schools that I made my parents aware. They were proud of me but reasonably concerned because we were poor. I am the last child and only girl in my family. I guess they decided if they were going to pour all their resources into anyone, it might as well be me. My mother literally depleted her pension fund to pay for my first semester. I started classes in January 2023 and was just grateful to be there. But as the months passed, many strange feelings began to creep in. I questioned myself in ways I never had before. Adjusting to a new country on your own, as a teenager, is challenging physically, financially, and emotionally. I was met with various culture shocks and felt lost all the time. It took months before I got my health insurance sorted and I went sick without treatment many times. I would stand in front of my mirror and question if I even deserved to be there. I couldn’t discuss these struggles with my mum because she battles severe anxiety from time to time and I didn’t want her to be worried about me. I had access to the education I so desperately wanted but I had lost my support system in the process. My journey out of that hole was one of growth and self-discovery. I built my support system by creating support for others. After the debacle with my health insurance, I wondered how many other international students faced similar challenges. As a result of many meetings and advocacy efforts, a new union for international students was announced and I am honored to have been elected the first president. Last Thanksgiving, I hosted a lunch for 18 girls who were international students like me and had nowhere to go for the break. They were from 3 different universities in the area and were glad to come as many of them had gotten to America that summer and didn’t know many people. We sat on the floor of my common area, ate, and talked about the things that brought us together, the things that made us happy, and the things that made us terrified. I wanted to do my best to let them know they were not alone. My most fulfilling experience of 2023, was creating a temporary home for people whose real homes are 8000 miles away. Of all 4 ingredients, funding is the only one I still lack. I am faced with the possibility of being asked to withdraw from the University next fall. This scholarship will enable me to keep everything I have worked for. Thank you for the opportunity!

The story of my life has taught me not to fear adversity because what doesn’t kill you, can definitely make you stronger. My first semester at my current university was a lot for me. I thought I was strong; I thought I could handle it, after all, I had fought tooth and nail to be there. My name is Ore. I’m a 19-year-old international student from Nigeria majoring in Economics and Data Analytics with a minor in Finance. When I decided to leave my country and everything I knew, I had already been in a Nigerian University for 16 months but only completed 1 semester. There had been an 8-month-long strike by the academic staff union and another by the non-academic staff. The flow of education was being disrupted every year and students were losing interest in school; I had to leave. I started applying to schools abroad without telling anyone. It wasn’t until I got into about 5 schools that I made my parents aware. They were proud of me but reasonably concerned because we were poor. I am the last child and only girl in my family. I guess they decided if they were going to pour all their resources into anyone, it might as well be me. My mother literally depleted her pension fund to pay for my first semester. I started classes in January 2023 and was just grateful to be there. But as the months passed, many strange feelings began to creep in. I questioned myself in ways I never had before. Adjusting to a new country on your own, as a teenager, is challenging physically, financially, and emotionally. It took a while before I found my people and I struggled a lot. I couldn’t discuss these struggles with my mum because she battles severe anxiety from time to time and I didn’t want her to be worried about me. I was met with various culture shocks and felt lost all the time. It took months before I got my health insurance sorted and I went sick without treatment many times. I would stand in front of my mirror and question if I even deserved to be there. The littlest things sent me into a spiral. One of the dinner ladies at the cafeteria couldn’t understand my accent; it made me sad for days. It was less about that particular interaction and more about what it meant. I felt like a fish on dry land a lot of the time. I’m glad that out of those struggles, I grew and evolved into the person I am today. I was able to carve a support system in my community. My church was my support system. I found so many other people like me. I even ran into someone who attended the same high school as me in Nigeria. On my first day at the church, I was overwhelmed in the best way possible. I got to my dorm and called my mum to tell her all about it. They took care of me, let me stay at their houses over Christmas, and drove me to Walmart whenever I needed to go. The struggles I faced lit a spark in me. I recognized that the needs of international students were not always promptly addressed. When I fell ill and struggled to have my health insurance sorted for over a week - I wondered how many other international students faced similar challenges. Motivated to enact change, I scheduled meetings with deans and directors to address this issue. As a result of these discussions and advocacy efforts, plans for a new union dedicated to serving the needs of international students have been set in motion. I am honored to have been selected as the president of this forthcoming union and eager to lead initiatives that will improve the support systems available to international students on campus. Last Thanksgiving, I hosted a lunch for 18 international students like me from universities in the area who had nowhere to go for the break. They were mostly freshmen who had come to America that summer. I cooked African meals, and we sat on the floor of my common area talking about the things that brought us together, the things that made us happy, and the things that made us terrified. We sat on the floor of my common area and talked about the things that brought us together, the things that made us happy, and the things that made us terrified. I wanted to do my best to let them know they were not alone. My most fulfilling experience of 2023, was creating a temporary home for people whose real homes are 8000 miles away. Adversity is mostly caused by factors that we cannot control. I find that the easiest way through is to focus on the factors we can control. In my case, I found my people. Walking with someone can make even the darkest tunnel seem less daunting.

My name is Ore. I’m a 19-year-old International student from Nigeria majoring in Economics and Data Analytics with a minor in Finance. My interests include reading, basketball, violin, music, running, movies, etc. I believe pursuing as many of your interests as possible gives you a full life. I have been in the US since January 2023, and haven’t seen any of my family members since then. Getting my visa approved seemed like a ‘freak miracle’; because it happened out of nowhere. When I decided to leave Nigeria, I had been at the University of Lagos for 16 months but only completed one semester. There had been an 8-month-long strike by the academic staff union and another by the non-academic staff. The flow of education was being disrupted every year and students were losing interest in school. I had to leave. I took the SATs in secondary school, so, I started applying to schools abroad without telling anybody. It wasn’t until I got into about 5 schools that I made my parents aware. They were proud of me but reasonably concerned because we couldn’t afford it. I am the last child and only girl in my family. I guess they decided if they were going to pour all their resources into anyone, it might as well be me. My mother basically depleted her pension fund to pay for my first semester. I am currently looking into transferring to a cheaper university. Life as an international student has definitely been tough, especially in a predominantly white institution. It took a while before I found my people and I struggled a lot. I couldn’t discuss these struggles with my mum because she battles severe anxiety from time to time and I didn’t want her to be worried about me. I was met with various culture shocks and felt lost all the time. It took months before I got my health insurance sorted and I went sick without treatment many times. I would stand in front of my mirror and question if I even deserved to be there. I’m glad that out of those struggles, I grew and evolved into the person I am today. I have definitely surprised myself by how strong I am and the potential I have for community building. Last Thanksgiving, I hosted a lunch for 18 international students like me from universities in the area who had nowhere to go for the break. They were mostly freshmen who had come to America that summer. I cooked Nigerian meals and we sat on the floor of my dorm singing rhymes we all marched to in primary school. My most fulfilling experience of 2023, was creating a temporary home for people whose real homes are 8000 miles away. My decision to pursue a career in Economics is fueled by my dedication to understanding the complexities of global and local economic systems. I decided it was what I wanted to do on a random Tuesday when I was 9; my mum bought 1 loaf of bread instead of 2 because “dollar was rising.” I wanted to understand what that was all about. I grew up in a country, run by men who are experts in the game of politics but seem to know little about the economic world. From a young age, I understood already how that fractured my country. My life’s goal is to contribute positively to society by creating innovative solutions that address pressing economic challenges in underdeveloped and developing countries.

The funny thing about being an entrepreneur in college is that you are most likely the labor and the capital too. Staying ahead of your school work is the best way to go, so you have enough time to be all three for your business. My name is Ore, I’m a 19-year-old international student majoring in Economics and Data Analytics. I have been braiding hair since I was 15. I come from a low-income family and the only way I can realistically finish college is by working part-time to cover the tuition. Being an international student, I do not qualify for many loans and financial aid opportunities. I work part-time as an administrative and events coordinator for a department on campus, while also being a part-time braider. As a braider in college, your schedule is not as predictable and organized as you may prefer. You could get calls from clients on Saturday morning begging if they can be squeezed in before Monday, and you’d have to take it because those appointments make you the most money. I have learned to complete assignments as early as possible, so, I can make appointments with clients whenever they need my help. Thankfully, I enjoy braiding hair. I enjoy taking care of hair and making sure hair is treated with love and understanding because that is how I grew up seeing hair. Growing up, I learned so many organic and nutritious techniques for taking care of hair from the elderly people around me, and I hope to pass it on for generations. I want to create a haircare line made without harmful chemicals that would cater to all hair types from 1a to 4c, and all the combinations in between. I want my brand to cater to diseases plaguing women's and men’s hair. I learned from my grand aunt that silk is the best material for hair. Its smooth texture, moisture retention, hypoallergenic nature, and anti-frizz benefits contribute to healthier, shinier, and more manageable hair. My line will also curate silk packages for hair care - sheets, pillowcases, hair wraps, bonnets, scrunchies, and hair ties all made from ‘“the best material for hair.” Despite having busy schedule with work and class, I have had the opportunity to immerse myself in my campus community at the University of Alabama in Huntsville. I am a member of the student government body and the Green Club. I joined a team on campus called SOAR (Serving, Organizing, Advocating, and Reflecting). With SOAR, I participated in 2 impactful programs: The Big Event, a day of service at 15+ service locations throughout the Huntsville area, and the Swap Shop, where students donated clothes and “shopped for free.” The leftover clothes were donated to the Salvation Army. Beyond the campus, I’m a part of the WomenInTech Huntsville‘s Operations team. I volunteer with the Food Bank of North Alabama 3 times a month, and the Women in Economic Development Council (WEDC) through a program called IMMERSE. On Sundays, I teach ages 6-9 at Sunday school in my local church. During Thanksgiving, I hosted a lunch in my dorm room for 18 girls from 3 universities in Huntsville who were international students like me and had nowhere to go for the break. My most fulfilling experience in 2023 was creating a temporary home for girls whose real homes were 8000 miles away.

Hello, my name is Ore and I am an international student from Nigeria. I am majoring in Economics and Data Analytics with a minor in Finance. I love to crochet, read, and play the violin. I enjoy spending time with my friends and making conscious efforts to create a community for international students around me. My goal in life is to be the first female Central Bank Governor in Nigeria and hopefully build a career in governance and politics. My decision to pursue a career in Economics is fueled by my dedication to understanding the complexities of global and local economic systems. I grew up in a country, run by men who are experts in the game of politics but know little about the economic world. For the longest time, I tried to understand why women are deemed the inferior subspecies. The few women in my country who have held positions of power, such as Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala and Kemi Adeosun, have done exceptionally well despite having their positions sometimes undermined by men in power. I have come to realize that governmental authority may be the only real superpower that humans have. My whole life, I have seen people who have this power, abuse it in so many ways. Every academic and professional decision I have made since I was 12 has been geared toward molding me into someone who can wield such a superpower and harness it to better my economy. I will gather as much knowledge and understanding as possible about the world's economic, financial, and social structures. I will develop skills and expertise that can address pressing social and environmental issues facing my community, through research, policy advocacy, and community outreach initiatives. I want to develop strategies that will turn underdeveloped economies around for good. I have a personal project where I analyze the effect of global policies on small-scale economies, because small-scale economies make up large-scale economies, so, the true effect of large-scale policies depends on how it affects small-scale economies. In a nutshell, I want my life to inspire positive economic change and inspire people to take the steps to implement those changes. As a leader and pioneer in multiple clubs and associations in my school, I have been able to build a sense of social responsibility and commitment to my community. My father used to say to me, “Train a girl child, train a nation.” I am fortunate that I grew up with parents who emptied their bank accounts to ensure their only daughter was educated. Unfortunately, not every girl grew up with that. Just this week, the speaker of a State House of Assembly in Nigeria disclosed that 100 female orphans who lost their parents in banditry attacks will “have dowries provided for them and be given out in marriage this month.” In 2024, this is how some people in power still regard women as property to be bought and sold. There was no effort to educate or grant these young girls some form of autonomy over their lives, but it should not be so. I know that most parties in a developing or underdeveloped economy suffer to some degree but I believe that the women in these countries are put through some of the most dehumanizing trials ever. I will continue to use my voice on whatever scale I can, to advocate for the rights and education of the girl child because I believe that they are the agents of change that we need in the future and we deserve better.

Hello, my name is Ore. I'm an international student from Nigeria. I am majoring in Economics and Data Analytics with a minor in Finance. My goal in life is to be the first female Central Bank Governor in Nigeria and receiving this scholarship will help me achieve that goal. I will pay this forward by continuing to use my voice on whatever scale I can, to advocate for the rights and education of the girl child because I believe that they are the agents of change that we need in the future. After graduating from secondary school during COVID-19, I faced one challenge after the other. I was admitted into the University of Lagos, Nigeria almost immediately after graduation, which is no easy feat. Because of the backlog from COVID-19, it took a year before I resumed. Since my set was scheduled to start classes in November 2021, the university decided to merge my set with the 2021 graduating class. Because of that, they had to drop some of their previously admitted students. I made it through that process and started my classes in the Economics program in 2021. After a few months, the Academic Staff Union went on an 8-month-long strike and schools were shut down. My decision to leave my country, friends, and family behind to come to America on my own was not an easy one. I had to leave because I could feel my goals and dreams being truncated. Growing up in Nigeria and witnessing firsthand, the effects of economic instability and political mismanagement influenced my desire to make a difference. My decision to pursue a career in Economics is fueled by my dedication to understanding the complexities of global economic systems. I want to effect positive change in my home country and beyond. I could not see myself achieving those dreams if I continued in my university back home. I took matters into my own hands and started applying to schools in America without telling anyone. It wasn't until after I got into about five schools that I brought my parents into it. They were very proud of me, but there was some hesitancy because none of the schools had offered me a full-ride scholarship. I could understand their hesitancy as we were not rich. I convinced them to allow me to go to the school that offered me the most money, and I would get as many scholarships as possible, to cover the rest. My mother depleted her pension fund to pay for my first year. That was only the first of the difficulties I faced coming to America. Getting my student visa approved only a week before classes started was a feat I had to surmount with calmness and resilience. My Visa was denied because the consulate at the embassy believed I would not be able to make it to school in time for the beginning of the semester. I called every phone number on my school's website and left a message directing them on how to contact the US embassy to get them to issue my Visa, anyway. This was not protocol but I had to think fast and remain level-headed if I was going to cross this hurdle. It worked. It is with this tenacity that I have tackled every hurdle that has come my way since I stepped off that plane on the 12th of January 2023. Thank you for this opportunity to help girls pay for higher education and thank you for reading my story.

We are a product of our environment. I don't believe that people are born with an innate purpose to be doctors, lawyers, or engineers. I believe the things we see, hear, and experience shape what we think our purpose is. I don't have much, but I count myself lucky in one way: I know what I want to do with my life. When I was 9, my mum brought a loaf of bread home. My family always ate 2 loaves of bread, so she always bought 2 loaves of bread, but this day, she bought 1. I remember being so confused when she gave her reason to be that "the economy is bad." I asked her how she knew that, and she said, "Don't you watch the news? That's what they are saying!" My little head asked a million questions that day, "who are 'they', how did 'they' decide the economy was bad, why are we taking their word for it?" I knew that day that I wanted to be 'they' - only that I would deliver news that the economy was getting better and everyone would believe me. As years passed, 'they' delivered more bad news, and the economy got worse. This started to affect so many other things in my country, such as education. By the time I decided to leave Nigeria, I had been in the university for 16 months but was only able to complete 1 semester. There had been an 8-month-long strike by the academic staff union, and then another strike by the non-academic staff. The flow of education was being disrupted every year and students were losing interest in school. I had to leave. When I was 18, I moved to America by myself to start university all over again, majoring in the same course, Economics. This was not an easy move, but I am grateful that my parents believed in me; My mother depleted her pension fund to pay for my first semester. And even now she sinks into more and more debt to keep up, as the value of the naira keeps falling against the dollar, so that I will not be asked to withdraw from my school. I grew up in a country, run by men who are experts in the game of politics but know little about the economic world. I have come to realize that governmental authority may be the only real superpower that humans have. My whole life, I have seen people who have this power, abuse it in so many ways. Every academic and professional decision I have made has been geared toward molding me into someone who can wield such a superpower and harness it to better my economy. I will gather as much knowledge and understanding as possible about the world’s economic, financial, and social structures. I want to develop skills and expertise that can address pressing social and environmental issues facing my community, through research, policy advocacy, and community outreach initiatives. I have a personal project where I analyze the effect of global policies on small-scale economies, because small-scale economies make up large-scale economies, so, the true effect of large-scale policies depends on how it affects small-scale economies. In a nutshell, I want my life to inspire positive economic change and inspire people to take the steps to implement those changes. I want to develop policies and strategies that can turn underdeveloped economies around for good.

Something I discovered at a young age is that you get better at something if you teach it to someone else. Personal development is vital, but you cannot truly have a transformative impact by keeping to yourself. I attended a highly competitive boarding school for the most formative years of my life, ages 10 to 16, and I can say that I thrived by carrying others along. Once I had a firm grasp of any topic or subject we were being taught, I would find someone in my class who hadn’t gotten it yet and explain it to them to the best of my ability. Sometimes, in the process of explaining it to them, I’d get a better understanding of the topic myself. People always wondered how I got perfect scores on tests and exams; my secret was remembering those conversations. Knowledge is like a candle. Lighting another person’s candle with yours doesn't diminish your light – it only illuminates the path forward. I've embraced a dedication to continuous learning and self-improvement, recognizing that my ability to help others be their best is linked to my personal growth. I seek opportunities for professional development, such as workshops, seminars, online courses, and certifications, to expand my skills. I also do not shy away from my interests and have gained skills consequently. For example, I have always wanted to know how to play the violin, so, this spring, I bought one and have been teaching myself using resources on YouTube. I have skills that I have been told are unimportant to my career. The society we live in today has a subtle way of killing curiosity. The older you get, you’re expected to find one thing and dedicate all your time and resources towards being that thing. This, in turn, hinders many people from developing diverse skills that interest them. Society encourages us to kill our interests in fields that aren’t our careers, and I wish it were not so. If you want to learn a new instrument, go ahead! You can be a data scientist and a saxophonist. During the first semester of my sophomore year, I undertook a significant initiative that I am immensely proud of. As a student at a predominantly white institution, I recognized that the needs of international students were not always promptly addressed. This realization struck me when I fell ill and struggled to have my health insurance sorted for over a week - I wondered how many other international students faced similar challenges. Motivated to enact change, I scheduled multiple meetings with deans and directors to address this issue. As a result of these discussions and advocacy efforts, plans for a new union dedicated to serving the needs of international students have been set in motion. I am honored to have been selected as the president of this forthcoming union and eager to lead initiatives that will improve the support systems available to international students on campus. I was honored as one of the top 20 students at my college earlier this year and a piece was published about me. I was told that what made me stand out as a candidate for this award was my love and dedication to creating a community in the midst of whatever challenges I faced. If you would like to read the piece, you can access it via this link: https://www.uah.edu/business/orgs/the-top-20/stories/18516-ore-isola. Thank you!

Hello, my name is Ore and I am an international student from Nigeria. I am majoring in Economics and Data Analytics, with a minor in Finance. I love to crochet, read, and play the violin. I enjoy spending time with my friends and making conscious efforts to create a community for international students around me. My goal in life is to be the first female Central Bank Governor of Nigeria. I come from a low-income family of 5. My family has poured all of their resources into ensuring that I succeed in life. I am so grateful for all their efforts but it is, unfortunately, not enough. I am still in debt to my school and doing all I can to ensure I don't get asked to withdraw. I have applied to over a 100 scholarships with little to no success. Any form of scholarship will help me immensely, and also put my parents' minds at ease. I work a lot and last semester, I had to reduce the hours I dedicated to the clubs and extra-curriculars I love, to work more. Winning this scholarship will take me one step closer to having the college experience I desire. My decision to pursue a career in Economics is fueled by my dedication to understanding the complexities of global and local economic systems I grew up in a country, run by men who are experts in the game of politics but appear to know very little about the economic world. For the longest time, I tried to understand why women are deemed the inferior subspecies. The few women in my country who have held positions of power, such as Okonjo Iweala and Kemi Adeosun, have done exceptionally well despite having their positions sometimes undermined by men in power. I have come to realize that governmental authority may be the only real superpower that humans have. My whole life, I have seen people who have this power, abuse it in so many ways. Every academic and professional decision I have made since I was 12 has been geared toward molding me into someone who can wield such a superpower and harness it to better my economy. I will gather as much knowledge and understanding as possible about the economic, financial, and social structures of the world. I will develop skills and expertise that can address pressing social and environmental issues facing my community, through research, policy advocacy, and community outreach initiatives. I have a personal project where I analyze the effect of global policies on small-scale economies, because small-scale economies make up large-scale economies, so, the true effect of large-scale policies depends on how it affects small-scale economies. In a nutshell, I want my life to inspire positive economic change and inspire people to take the steps to implement those changes on small AND large scales. My journey through education has been marked by the challenges posed by my financial situation. However, these obstacles have only fueled my determination to succeed and make a meaningful impact on society. Receiving this scholarship would alleviate the financial burden that has impeded my academic pursuits and serve as a catalyst for achieving my dream of becoming a leader in my field. Thank you!

Hello, my name is Ore and I am an international student from Nigeria. I am majoring in Economics and Data Analytics with a minor in Finance. I love to crochet, read, and play the violin. I enjoy spending time with my friends and making conscious efforts to create a community for international students around me. My goal in life is to be the first female Central Bank Governor in Nigeria. My decision to pursue a career in Economics is fueled by my dedication to understanding the complexities of global and local economic systems I grew up in a country, run by men who are experts in the game of politics but appear to know very little about the economic world. For the longest time, I tried to understand why women are deemed the inferior subspecies. The few women in my country who have held positions of power, such as Okonjo Iweala and Kemi Adeosun, have done exceptionally well despite having their positions sometimes undermined by men in power. I have come to realize that governmental authority may be the only real superpower that humans have. My whole life, I have seen people who have this power, abuse it in so many ways. Every academic and professional decision I have made since I was 12 has been geared toward molding me into someone who can wield such a superpower and harness it to better my economy. I will gather as much knowledge and understanding as possible about the economic, financial, and social structures of the world. I will develop skills and expertise that can address pressing social and environmental issues facing my community, through research, policy advocacy, and community outreach initiatives. I have a personal project where I analyze the effect of global policies on small-scale economies, because small-scale economies make up large-scale economies, so, the true effect of large-scale policies depends on how it affects small-scale economies. In a nutshell, I want my life to inspire positive economic change and inspire people to take the steps to implement those changes. My father used to say to me, “Train a girl child, train a nation.” I am fortunate that I grew up with a father who would sacrifice himself to ensure his only daughter was educated. Unfortunately, not every girl grew up with that. Just this week, the speaker of a State House of Assembly in Nigeria disclosed that 100 female orphans who lost their parents in banditry attacks will “have dowries provided for them and be given out in marriage this month.” In 2024, this is how some people in power still regard women as property to be bought and sold. There was no effort to educate or grant these young girls some form of autonomy over their lives, but there was money for their dowries. I know that most parties in a developing or underdeveloped economy suffer to some degree but I believe that the women in these countries are put through some of the most dehumanizing trials ever. I will continue to use my voice on whatever scale I can, to advocate for the rights and education of the girl child because I believe that they are the agents of change that we need in the future.

We are a product of our environment. I don't know if I believe that people are born with an innate purpose to be doctors, lawyers, or engineers. I believe that the things we see, hear, and experience shape what we think our purpose is. I don't have much, but I count myself lucky in one way: I know what I want to do with my life. When I was 9, my mum brought a loaf of bread home. My family always ate 2 loaves of bread, so she always bought 2 loaves of bread, but this day, she bought 1. I remember being so confused when she gave her reason to be that "the economy is bad." I asked her how she knew that, and she said, "Don't you watch the news? That's what they are saying!" My little head asked a million questions that day, "who are 'they', how did 'they' decide the economy was bad, why are we taking their word for it?" I knew that day that I wanted to be 'they' - only that I would deliver news that the economy was getting better and everyone would believe me. As years passed, 'they' delivered more bad news, and the economy got worse. This started to affect so many other things in my country, such as education. By the time I decided to leave Nigeria, I had been in the university for 16 months but was only able to complete 1 semester. There had been an 8-month-long strike by the academic staff union, and then another strike by the non-academic staff. The flow of education was being disrupted every year and students were losing interest in school. I had to leave. When I was 18, I moved to America by myself to start university all over again, majoring in the same course, Economics. This was not an easy move, but I am grateful that my parents believed in me; My mother basically depleted her pension fund to pay for my first semester. I grew up in a country, run by people who are experts in the game of politics but appear to know very little about the economic world. I have come to realize that governmental authority may be the only real superpower that humans have. My whole life, I have seen people who have this power, abuse it in so many ways. Every academic and professional decision I have made since I was 12 has been geared toward molding me into someone who can wield such a superpower and harness it to better my economy. I will gather as much knowledge and understanding as possible about the economic, financial, and social structures of the world. I want to develop skills and expertise that can address pressing social and environmental issues facing my community, whether through research, policy advocacy, or community outreach initiatives. I have a personal project where I analyze the effect of global policies on small-scale economies, because small-scale economies make up large-scale economies, so, the true effect of large-scale policies depends on how it affects small-scale economies. In a nutshell, I want my life to inspire positive economic change and inspire people to take the steps to implement those changes.

When I was much younger, my siblings and I would ask each other this question, "If you could choose any job or career to do for the rest of your life, and money was not a determining factor, what would you pick?" And every time I had the same answer, I would be a tourist. I didn't even have to think about it twice. If money were not a problem, I would explore 24 countries each year going to 2 countries every month. I would immerse myself in different cultures, music, foods, and folklore; I'd be a citizen of the world! I'd start from Africa because it's home, and then make my way across all the other continents. I wanted to see how each trip would change and modify my perception and understanding of my own home and the rest of the world. It fascinates me how several cultures have different versions of the same story. Travel has a remarkable capacity to shape and transform individuals in profound ways. It transcends mere sightseeing or vacationing; it is an immersive journey that opens doors to new cultures, perspectives, and environments, fostering personal growth and development. My first experience with travel that I can remember was when I was 12. My secondary school organized an excursion to the Whispering Palms in Badagry, Lagos, Nigeria, for me and my peers. To provide context, Badagry is the ancient town where the transatlantic slave trade commenced. In 1473, a Portuguese merchant named Ferman Gomez initiated the slave trade by selling slaves to Europe through the port of Badagry. Our teachers took us to see the Badagry Heritage Museum, and it was on that day that I truly grasped the profound impact of slavery and colonization on African civilization. I distinctly remember seeing chains from the 15th century and struggling to accept that they were designed for human necks. A 20-minute ride across the sea took us to Benin Republic, a neighboring country. Here, we went to the Bronze Arc in Ouidah, Benin. This was the place that the slaves at that time referred to as the "point of no return." If the slave traders were able to get you past this Arc, you could as well kiss your freedom goodbye. Ever since that day, I have wanted to see the depiction of slavery in the museums of other countries. Destinations like The International Slavery Museum in Liverpool, UK, and the National Museum of African American History and Culture, among others, have long been on my list of places to visit at least once in my life. I recently got accepted into a competitive program at my school called IMMERSE. This program includes a visit to the National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington DC. I guess I can finally check off one of the destinations on my very long list. In the summer, I want to go to Olympus, Greece; the home of Greek Mythology. I have read about it my whole life and it would be so fulfilling to see. Going to Olympus might just heal my inner child. Traveling is so significant because it is not merely about the places we visit but the profound impact they have on our hearts and minds.

"And I bought all the clothes that they told me to buy, I chased some dumb ideal my entire life And none of it matters and none of it ends, you just feel like shit over and over again." - Pretty isn't Pretty by Olivia Rodrigo. Yes, women have always been held to ridiculous standards by society but what even were those standards? You could ask multiple young women what they perceived as the societal requirements of a woman, and while their answers may be similar in some ways, they will also differ in some. The most annoying thing about the standards that we are held to as women is the elusiveness of it all. In a world saturated with societal expectations and constructed ideals, many women find themselves entangled in the pursuit of an elusive standard of perfection. All my life, I have been told, "That's not ladylike." But who set the ideal for what lady-like should be? Once again, you could ask different people to describe a lady to you or give an example of someone who is perfectly ladylike, and they would have different answers. I love how "pretty isn't pretty" captures the futility of conforming to externally imposed standards. The standards themselves have no basis. They were formed to satisfy some other person's inner expectations of the world, so why not yours? Why can't I make my own standards for 'pretty' or 'ladylike' and live by them? You really could buy all the clothes that you're told to buy and it wouldn't matter if you're not happy. The journey toward empowerment begins with dismantling these molds, rejecting prescribed ideals, and embracing individuality. Societal pressures can take such a toll on a person's well-being, from conforming to beauty standards to pursuing materialistic goals, the relentless pursuit of external validation can result in a perpetual cycle of dissatisfaction. Recognizing and questioning these pressures is the first step towards reclaiming one's power and fostering a sense of self-worth. You need to have the GUTS to ask why. Every great discovery that was made began with the question 'why.' I see Olivia's lyrics in this song as a straightforward reminder of the pitfalls of chasing societal ideals and the toll it can take on my well-being. Not to shame anyone, but even the most 'perfect' people get cheated out of the pleasures of life, so, I'd rather be happy than be perfect.