As the eldest child in a Nigerian household and a first-generation African immigrant, leadership, resilience, unselfishness, focus, and a strong work ethic are integral to my daily life. I lead by example, knowing that my actions influence my siblings and those I mentor through my role in the National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE), and in my community. Resilience is demonstrated by my ability to bounce back from challenges like cultural adjustment and financial pressures. I practice unselfishness through my commitment to helping others, whether it’s through volunteering or supporting my peers. Focus is preeminent for me to excel at my academics and work towards my goals. A strong work ethic is imbibed in my culture. My focus and determination have yielded fruits in my academic and career goals, pushing through obstacles to maintain a strong GPA while managing multiple responsibilities. After my bachelor’s degree, I plan to get a master's education degree in Space Systems Engineering from Johns Hopkins University and participate in research at the Applied Physics Laboratory on the campus. After that, I plan to get a doctorate degree. I am currently considering Space Physics, Systems Engineering, and Aerospace Engineering for my doctorate degree. I am pursuing a degree because I want to become an astronaut and contribute to interplanetary travel. However, this upcoming semester, I want to invest a larger portion of my time with a research team, and I plan to attend more professional events. In my previous semesters of college, I attended mainly conferences from the National Society of Black Engineers, specifically their Aerospace SIG workshops. I plan to add events from the Society of Women in Engineering and glean knowledge from the professional networking and workshops in my calendar for the upcoming semester. The purpose of attending these events is to surround myself with like-minded individuals, who not only dare to dream but have achieved their dreams at least to a fraction. Events like these not only motivate me for conferences but also encourage me to strive for more, to remain innovative, think about what next, I can do. Leadership, to me, is about servanthood—being humble, leading by example, and serving others to achieve collective goals. I walk in the consciousness of this reality in my dealings with classmates, and my fellow regional board members, where I strive to inspire and guide others toward success. Leadership is also about firmness, and having a strong security in my identity. Because when I am secure, I can then go out into the world to guide others toward the achievement of a common goal. A leader leads by serving and bringing out the best in others. Leadership is also about compassion, choosing words wisely, and knowing when to let people have a second to breathe. Personally, leadership is about submitting to the Holy Spirit in our hearts, minds, and souls. It's about restraining, even when an outburst is justified. It's about staying even when you should have left. It's about trying severally, even when the chances are slim. True leadership is selfless, far from pride. Pursuing a degree in Aerospace Engineering is a step toward my goal of becoming an astronaut. This scholarship would provide the financial support needed to focus on my studies and professional development, ultimately helping me to contribute positively to the aerospace industry and my community.

Why I Am a Non-Traditional Student and How This Scholarship Will Help Me Pursue My Education Goals I consider myself a non-traditional student for several reasons. At just 16 years old, I left my home country of Nigeria to pursue a degree in Aerospace Engineering at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in the United States. As a first-generation immigrant and the eldest child in my family, I took on significant responsibilities early in life, which shaped me into a highly motivated and self-reliant individual. Starting college at such a young age, in a foreign country, with no immediate family, was a unique and challenging experience. I had to quickly adapt to a new educational system, cultural differences, and the pressures of being one of the youngest students in my program. Despite these challenges, I thrived academically, consistently making the Dean's List and Honor Roll, while also taking on leadership roles, such as serving as a Housing and Residence Life Senator and a Regional Leader for the National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE). In addition to my academic pursuits, I have actively engaged in community service and professional development opportunities. From volunteering at homeless shelters to winning the Google Social Justice Engineer Award in 2024, I have always sought to make a meaningful impact both within and beyond the classroom. These experiences have shaped my belief in the importance of resilience, hard work, and giving back to the community. This scholarship would significantly ease the financial burden of my education, especially as the currency in my home country has weakened over time, making it increasingly difficult to manage tuition and living expenses. In the past, I have worked multiple jobs to support myself while maintaining a strong academic record. Receiving this scholarship would allow me to focus more on my studies, engage more deeply with my professors, and seize additional opportunities for professional growth. Moreover, this scholarship would help me continue my journey toward becoming a culturally responsible Black engineer. It would not only support my immediate educational goals but also empower me to contribute to the broader mission of increasing diversity and inclusion in STEM fields. In summary, as a non-traditional student who has navigated the challenges of being a young, first-generation immigrant in a rigorous academic program, this scholarship would provide the financial stability I need to fully pursue my educational and professional aspirations. It would enable me to continue excelling in my studies and furthering my commitment to making a positive impact in my community and the field of aerospace engineering.

My Journey as a First-Generation African Immigrant As a first-generation African immigrant, my journey has been defined by the unique challenges and opportunities that come with navigating life in a new country. Arriving in the United States at the age of 16, with no relatives or established support system, I quickly learned the importance of resilience, adaptability, and self-reliance. From an early age, growing up in Nigeria, I was instilled with a strong sense of responsibility. As the eldest child in my family, I often found myself taking on leadership roles, whether it was ensuring my siblings were cared for or organizing family activities. These early experiences cultivated a deep sense of duty and perseverance, qualities that have been invaluable in my academic and personal life. Transitioning to life in the U.S. was not without its challenges. The cultural differences, the new educational system, and the absence of a familiar support network were all hurdles I had to overcome. However, these challenges also shaped my beliefs about life. I came to understand the importance of hard work, not just as a means to an end, but as a way to continuously improve and push the boundaries of what I could achieve. My experiences as an immigrant have also reinforced my belief in the power of community and giving back. I’ve been fortunate to find communities that have supported me, such as the National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE), where I’ve been able to connect with others who share similar backgrounds and aspirations. This sense of community has been a source of strength, and it’s also driven me to give back through various initiatives, such as volunteering with programs that support the homeless and mentoring younger students. My cultural background has deeply influenced my values and goals. Growing up in a Christian household in Lagos, I was taught the importance of integrity, ambition, and service to others. These values have guided me throughout my journey, helping me to stay focused on my goals and to approach every challenge with a mindset of growth and learning. In summary, my experience as a first-generation African immigrant has profoundly shaped my beliefs about life. It has taught me the value of hard work, the importance of community, and the power of resilience. These beliefs continue to guide me as I pursue my education and career, and they inspire me to contribute positively to the communities I am part of.

Community Contributions and Initiatives This past summer, I developed a toolkit specifically designed for Nigerian students aiming to pursue higher education in the U.S. I had the privilege of presenting this toolkit at a workshop held at my alma mater, Jesuit College of Lagos, where I distributed the materials free of charge to both students and parents who could benefit from these resources. This initiative has provided invaluable guidance to students navigating the complex process of applying to universities abroad, potentially shaping their academic futures. While attending college, I’ve actively engaged in various volunteer initiatives. I’ve participated in the Calvary FL VIP program, which supports the homeless by providing them with a hot shower, clean clothes, a hot meal, and a place for encouragement and Bible study. My role primarily involved assisting with clothing distribution and leading women’s Bible study sessions. I’ve also been involved with the Good News Ministry, where I volunteer alongside a missionary, Ms. Rebeka, every Saturday at a homeless shelter. Together, we conduct Bible games and study sessions for the children, offering them spiritual support and a sense of community. On campus, I’ve volunteered with the National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE), where my peers and I have organized tours of our engineering lab for elementary school students. These tours are designed to inspire young students to pursue careers in STEM and to see themselves as future engineers. Cultural Heritage and Its Impact As a first-generation African immigrant with no relatives in the U.S. at the start of my education, I’ve navigated my academic journey largely on my own. As the eldest child in my family, I’ve always carried a sense of responsibility, from managing household tasks like cooking for my siblings to organizing family trips to our village. These experiences have shaped me into a highly responsible individual, a quality that has been instrumental in my success as a 16-year-old freshman engineering student. Growing up in a Christian home, I’ve been instilled with strong values that emphasize integrity, hard work, and service to others. My parents are ambitious individuals who have always pursued excellence in their education and careers, and I’ve inherited this drive from them. Growing up in the bustling city of Lagos, where ambition and hard work are highly valued, I’ve learned not only to work diligently but also to set and achieve ambitious goals. These goals extend beyond personal success; I am deeply committed to making a positive impact on my community through my work and service. Impact of the Dr. Soronnadi Nnaji Legacy Scholarship Receiving the Dr. Soronnadi Nnaji Legacy Scholarship would significantly support my academic and career aspirations. The financial burden of studying abroad has been exacerbated by the weakening of my home country’s currency since I began my university journey. At one point, I was working three jobs on campus while maintaining a 3.0 GPA. This scholarship would alleviate some of that financial pressure, allowing me to dedicate more time to my studies, attend professors’ office hours, and engage in professional development opportunities. By reducing my need to work multiple jobs, this scholarship would enable me to focus more on my academic performance and career advancement. Ultimately, this support would not only help me achieve my goals but also contribute to increasing the number of culturally responsible Black engineers in corporate America by investing in my future as a culturally responsible Black engineering student.

I moved to the United States was for better education, but it brought about hardships that I never knew existed. I lived alone for the very first time in my life, and I discovered a lot of things about myself, The move was overwhelming, and gradually I began to feel suffocated. I remember being unable to operate the drink dispenser at my college, and when someone helped me out, I felt so out of place. There was a class where we were given paper cards to fold and write our names. Everyone else had theirs folded vertically while I folded mine horizontally, I felt so out of place, colossal imposter syndrome. Not to mention being the only colored person and my distinct African accent. I tried joining clubs and student engagements but it wasn't just working for me. I felt too different and that thinking affected me in many areas like my academics and grades, my mental health, and my social life. I wasn't able to go out just because I was having fear over writing some of my tests. I was exhausted and in all these, I don't think I was being nice to myself, I constantly thought of "why didn't I?" or "I should have?" instead of "Daebak!" or "WOW I'm so freaking cool" or "OMG I really started college at 16" or "I really graduated high school at 15" or "I did really well on that homework". I wasn't my biggest enemy but I was the biggest catalyst to that feeling, and it wasn't long before I started doubting my ability to live and my purpose for breathing. Don't get me wrong, some people might say "It's okay to not fit in" but actually not fitting in was making me feel crazy. Towards the end of the semester, I literally begged my parents to get me a return ticket back home. Don't get me wrong I didn't really miss them and at times, I find it hard to love them but I felt like if I stayed that way I would only get worse. How wrong I was, I only got worse so I had to sign up for therapy, and then I joined a bible study group on campus so that I had to show up somewhere and not you know... When I got home, I thought I had escaped that feeling but I was so wrong. To help myself, I started going on 30 minutes drives with the windows down, cooking up new recipes, volunteering at my local elementary school, and also watching Kdramas and sitcoms from the 2000s. College is so important to me that's why I haven't quit and giving it my best shot. That's why i pursued my degree in the United States. My college is located near Kennedy Space Centre, and I'm studying Aerospace Engineering. International students in my field find it hard to pursue their dreams like going to Space, and making ground-breaking discoveries because of the delicate nature of these fields and anti-terrorism measures in place. But what happens to students like me from underdeveloped countries that don't have an established space program, and not even a single college teaching these courses? I hope to use my degree to make a way for students-to-be and students like me. I don't know all the steps to make this possible, but I know step 1. So even though it gets hard, I don't try to stay strong, I try not to quit. I hope you don't quit too.

I went to a Jesuit high school, and our patron Saint, Saint Ignatius of Loyola, always had a saying. “Ingratitude is the greatest of all sins”. While growing up, I have tried to draw the line between gratitude and living my life “debt-free”. I used to find it hard to receive and ask for help because it meant showing gratitude and feeling in debt to the person or whatever. But I didn’t really realize it then until recently when I started college. There was a day I wanted something from the vending machine, and I had a $5 bill and I needed something for $1 and the vending machine wasn’t accepting my bill. I would have walked away without asking anyone for help. Luckily, someone saw me and put in the bill and refused my money. I felt grateful and not in debt. Recently, I moved to the US for college, and I wasn’t even half excited like a normal person. I moved in towards the end of winter and it was cold. I started picking up habits like checking weather forecasts before dressing up, snapping more pictures of when it was sunny, or noticing the flower growth as if I was the gardener. Then one day, I adopted the act of thanks while walking to class. Meaning while walking to class I would try to mention the things I was thankful for. I would go in my mind, I’m thankful that I woke up this morning, I have clothes to wear, eyes to see, a sight worth seeing, legs to walk, a place worth walking to, a college accepted into, and finances taken care of, and I would go with my little prayer of thanks. Ofc I missed some days, but on the days I didn’t miss? 😊

“Stay committed? That’s broad, do you mean committed as in clothing advice or unsolicited opinion? Committed? If I had an opinion on your lifestyle choices, would we be friends? LMAO you’re being for real? I should tell a racist about racism? Do you know what’s at stake? What it’ll cost me? This is you being serious? I’d like to see your commitment away from your screen. Wait you can’t even show up to a meeting, and you want to rally? Ulterior motives? Is speaking up the new “trend”? Hashtag BLM in an African country? How about hashtag End Police Brutality? Are you what you fight?” Korty : Anyways, would you like to say something now that your poem draft was leaked? What made you this outspoken person that the world always wants to hear? Me: Yes, thank you. In my first secondary school, they were always having protests for the wrong reasons, like letting a bully stay in the hostel, or a molester stays as a teacher. So, when I changed school, that subconscious part of me was formed and in my new school, I headed the first protest, and it was for the right reason. I’m not perfect. I remember being bullied back in junior school, and when I was a senior, I became a bully. I was no greater than what I was fighting. That was a realization. I blocked all levels, be it financial or appearance-wise, I began to treat people equally and the process involved blatant honesty because I’d rather not be lied to. And sometimes people are in positions where they need your voice, such as #MeToo. And sometimes, putting your shoes in the losing situation is more than enough motivation, and sometimes you need to be that voice when people are drifting too far.

I’m hooked on a Netflix show called “Tomorrow”. It’s about a group in charge of reducing the suicide rate. The series walks us through several suicide cases, what pushes people to the decision, and different points of view; those who see suicide as a selfish and unjustified act, those who suicide was a final cry of help for life, and many other approaches to the meaning of life, and ending it. College started, with the help of God I’m the one planning my feeding, getting up, going to classes, falling sick, and taking care of myself, and I was so lonely, my bad days were so frequent, good days felt like holidays. And one night I was full of it, and I was steps away from a highway. The thing is I have a family, just miles away physically and mentally. Physically too far to see what’s really going on, and mentally well, that relationship was never established. Cons and cons of hiding your emotions to protect those you love. The thing is, I had to go through a very dark time to find the meaning of life, and even though I’m not perfect and no one is I’ve realized that life is life. There’s no synonym like bittersweet, or whatever. Life is full of everything and nothing. No one can explain what life is like because we all have it distinctively no matter how similar we may think, and the minute we embrace it and listen to that thing in our heart (not our head) the more we live it. The mistakes and curves and checkmate moves, all of it, and I’m embracing it soaking in the day not absorbing the past, not saving anybit for a tomorrow because the truth is, today is a tomorrow.

While growing up on Sunday mornings, my mom would always wake me up by tricking me into that everyone in the house was dressed for church, and I would be left at home. And when I was finally ready, she would be hassling someone else. On too frequent occasions, we got ready before, and hassling her was fun, she was impatient when she was ready and we weren't but was less impatient when it was the other way. This was probably my first realization of the patience concept as a child. Over the years, Patience has taken different forms. Unfortunately for me, to learn all these different forms had to be from experience. From my hot tempered replies, or unending arguments, or frustration for a site to load i learnt that patiencee isn't something you can buy, but its something you can learn. Patience for me is important because it helps me make the best choices, which don't neccessarily have to be the smartest choices. Patience is very important to me becauase it has taught me two major things. 1. You don't know what the other person is going through, be it coworker or paid staff or maybe your boss at work, that is why people have the saying "Put yourself in the shoes of others" when it really should be "Be patient with others, you're not in their mind". But excercise patience with wisdom. 2. Excercising patience means that you don't get to act immediately on your emotions, which is also very key, it gives you the opportunity to rethink your decisions before making them, their consequences and possibly sacrifices. Being patient with people, myself and situations in general has helped me to grow to a better individual, that is why patience is important to me.

Why? why not. Well, for a long time in humanity, STEM has been present, from gardening tools to space crafts, technology has evolved over the years, breaking boundaries and crossing lines that were once unseen. In layman's terms, back then if someone said they wanted to fly, they would seem crazy, but now, you could go as far as space, and maybe beyond. STEM truly has and is breaking boundaries. Let me butt in here, I haven't always been confident that this was what I wanted to do with my life, even right now, I still have occasional cold feet like the type people get before getting married (making the best decision of their lives). Back in my sixth form, I almost swapped to be a journalist just right after I spent my entire high school preparing for an engineering major, I just got accepted to college and not just any college, Embry Riddle Aeronautical University to study Aerospace/Aeronautical and Astronautical/Space Engineering and I wanted to change courses to journalism. It felt too good to be true, that was one of my reasons then, and it was post-COVID, journalists seemed to be the people who kept their jobs, compared to other occupations, that could have been a subconscious reason. Whatever it really was, I am definitely glad I didn't take action. I love mathematics, I haven't always loved it, but someone told me the key to a great relationship is friendship, you have to be friends before you can take it to the next level so that even when you fall out of love, the friendship holds the relationship together, This has been my relationship with mathematics and physics, I haven't always loved them, and at a point in my life I could say disliked physics, but over time they became my things, like the one thing people know you for, like Pinocchio, we all know him for lying and a long nose, with all my friends I've made from school they all knew me for being into STEM subjects. I literally breathe differentiation, differential equations, integrations irrespective of the orders, name it all I've done them. The first time I knew the meaning of euphoria, I knew I wanted to do something in STEM, what makes you happy? some may say family, wealth, good grades, yeah sure, we all want those, I want it too. But what costs me nothing, but gives me many things, so many things that I can't buy? I have experienced euphoria many times before, but when it was at its peak, wasn't in the middle of a party, or when I feel high, or when I get a form of jackpot, it’s when I’m learning, learning something new, and I know I’m not referring to English or some other thing (my grades can testify to that), it comes when I’m racking my brain, solving actual math problems, most recently, in my F-Maths-9709 exams, in the exam hall, while solving, like an adrenaline rush, So, sure, STEM solves world problems, personal problems, discoveries, but I am passionate about it because I've found something people spend their entire lives looking for, I found something that I need no reason to care about, to love doing, the best thing I can do to explain this, is to let you imagine, imagine the best person you love, or thing that you put work in, or a precious item you own, do you need a justifiable reason to continue to love them more? That's how I feel about STEM. I hope that explains why I am passionate about STEM.

There are two things that I have developed an interest in over the years, not inspired by a crush because I wanted to have something in common or a parent because of family legacy and stuff like that, or celebrity I'd probably wanted to be like because come to think of it, these may be the only hobbies I picked up, without influence from whatever, or whoever. These are the two things that are true to me. That I purely love. Math and Piano. Every time I get asked why, I'd like to say I have always loved math and the piano, but then that would be a blatant lie. Younger, I'd tell my dad I hated math, he got my tutors and when I went to middle school, I was indifferent, the hate wasn't there, neither was the love. I remember when I came in fourth highest in class and every one taught, I had cheated, I felt bad then. Short story I left the school, at my new high school, my math teacher also noticed how quickly I solved, how I lost interest midway toward the subject, this time I was the highest in class, as the newbie because I got the highest in math, they automatically thought I was smart. Pfft, crashed their dreams faster than life did to Oliver twist. Anyways, that was when I started loving math, I liked the feeling of being the best. I never won best in mathematics, but I was always a must-have on the team for representing the school in a maths quiz, and I never came back as anything not first, quizzes, competitions, name it all I was there, and I won. I still have my certificate and medal. High school graduation came, my college applications were sent in, I began sixth form (a transition school after high school and college). I had more advanced math to do, like first and second-order differential equations compared to the normal differentiation from high school, matrices, complex numbers, mathematical induction, probability generating functions, complex algebra, non-parametric tests, momentum that had stuff like oblique collision. While learning, I discovered that I had found something people spend their entire lives chasing. I truly loved thinking, writing, solving, and being the smartest one in the class, sometimes while solving Cambridge A-level questions in class I was the one who told our teacher the best way to go about a problem and believe me he was good, one of the best math teachers I have ever met. I found what I wanted to do, which genuinely made me happy. I want a bachelor's degree in Aerospace Engineering, a master's in engineering mathematics, and a Ph.D. in Mathematics. I do want to go to space, in a spacecraft I would have built, and mathematics is the very basis of my course and specialized field, maybe physics would come by to say hello and visit but not stay for long. Mathematics is the one thing you have the permission to wake me up from sleep.

My parents are always fond of telling us how things were hard during their time, I think most parents are. About a year ago, we travelled to Edo state, Nigeria (where my dad grew up). We saw his home and we trekked from there to his middle high school. He wanted us to know how he felt when he was younger. It was horrible, the distance seemed to double by the hour I can’t even explain how horrible it was and to think that he did it every school day, going and coming is sickening. We couldn’t even trek back, my mom had to pick us up in her car. I know for sure my dad wanted us to pick something up, something that would drive us in the right path and I sure did. From where I come from, there is a popular saying that goes by the adage, ‘It is easier to climb a ladder on an empty stomach, than on a full one’. This simply means that people who are uncomfortable in their present situation in life, will strive for a better position more than those who are comfortable, if you know what I mean. My father was born into a polygamous home, not poor but not average either. He didn’t have a lot of the luxuries of his time, and he decided to change that, through his attitude to education. He is the reason why I strive, I don’t want to be uncomfortable before I decide to make myself a somebody, I do not want to fall to rock bottom before I decide to climb up the ladder, and most importantly I do not want my family to have less than the best, I do not want a life I would need a break from. This is what drives me to become the best in me, to unleash my potentials. And whether he knows it or not, my father is who brings out the best in me, my greatest inspiration and drive.

To love me by me, is to choose me before anyone else, is to put my interest in high esteem. That is, to value nothing else in the way that I value myself. Discovering to love myself, has been not only the best thing but the most important thing in my life. It has changed my beliefs, from acceptance by society, grounded every relationship I personally have, and it has motivated my aspirations. I have no business being accepted by society, the society that body shames, that discriminates…that is guided by its own belief. But then, I am accepted by myself, my opinion is all that matters, and whether I see it or not these are the little things that build or break my everyday relationships, that contribute greatly to my aspirations. Desiring the best for myself, not just materially, but in growth. Growth in the sense of all matters cut across life, This I say, makes me strive to go the extra mile, this is what drives my aspirations. So you see, this is my journey in self-love. And it’s not just a journey to me, it’s a lifestyle, my lifestyle.