Every day brings us overwhelming amounts of moments, but it is only the important fragments of those moments that are stored in our minds and brought back up as memories. These memories fill up the chapters of our never-ending stories. Sometimes, we can dig through the pages in those chapters and remember certain days like we remember our last name. Sometimes, we find that only the words we heard or the faces we saw were important enough to put on the page. For me, many of those defining fragments return to my family’s decision to seek a new life in America in 2006. Fleeing the gun violence of our Nigerian village, my parents brought my sisters and me to Georgia in pursuit of safety and opportunity. While the idea of the American Dream fueled our journey, the reality was much harsher. My parents, despite their college degrees from Nigeria, discovered that their qualifications were not recognized in the American job market. They took on low-paying jobs to support our family of seven, working tirelessly to create opportunities for us that they themselves were denied. Growing up, I saw how economic instability shaped every aspect of my life. From a young age, I watched my parents make sacrifices to keep us afloat, all while supporting several relatives back home in Nigeria. Their resilience, determination, and ability to persist through adversity became a constant source of inspiration for me. Through them, I learned the value of hard work, the importance of education, and the need to seize every opportunity for growth—not just for myself, but for the people I could one day uplift. Now, as I complete my second year at Georgia Tech, I carry those lessons with me into my studies in Computer Science. My ultimate goal is to use technology as a tool for empowerment and change. I believe technology—the complex, ever-evolving field that directly impacts us all—has the power to transform lives by creating solutions to real-world challenges. Whether it’s through developing accessible apps, designing digital tools, or mentoring others from underrepresented backgrounds in tech, I am committed to making a meaningful impact on my community, which I can say is my greatest achievement to date. At Georgia Tech, I have immersed myself in opportunities that foster both technical expertise and leadership skills. Internships, student organizations, and community service projects have deepened my understanding of how technology can bridge gaps and create opportunities for underserved communities. I strive to carry forward the values my parents instilled in me—resilience, empathy, and a commitment to leaving the world better than I found it. Becoming a visible representation for Black women in Tech is an achievement beyond words. As a first-generation college student and Nigerian-American woman, simply being in this space—where only 3% of computer science professionals are African American women—holds incredible weight. This experience has taught me that my presence alone challenges expectations and creates space for others who don’t always see themselves represented. I learned that visibility is powerful, and It has inspired me to be intentional in mentoring younger black girls and encouraging conversations about inclusion in my career field. Every small step I take helps shift the narrative of who belongs in tech. Through mentorship and advocacy, I aim to be part of the movement that creates more opportunities for unrepresented backgrounds in tech. Receiving this scholarship would alleviate the financial burdens that come with pursuing higher education, allowing me to focus on academic excellence and meaningful contributions to the field. More importantly, it would represent recognition of my potential to succeed and give back, overcoming the challenges I have faced. Looking ahead, I see myself not just as a computer scientist, but as an innovator, an advocate, and an inspiration. Inspired by my family’s sacrifices and supported by the opportunities I’ve been fortunate to access, I aim to make a positive, lasting impact on my community and beyond. In the end, the fragments of our stories are what define us. Mine is a story of perseverance, opportunity, and hope. With the support of this scholarship, I am confident that I can continue writing chapters filled with growth, innovation, and service to other black women and underrepresented communities in tech.

Every day brings overwhelming moments, but only the important fragments become memories. For me, many of those fragments trace back to my family’s decision to seek a new life in America in 2006. Fleeing gun violence in our Nigerian village, my parents brought my sisters and me to Georgia in pursuit of safety and opportunity. However, the reality of the American Dream was much harsher. My parents’ college degrees were not recognized, forcing them into low-paying jobs to support our family of seven. Watching their sacrifices instilled in me the values of resilience, hard work, and education—not just for personal success, but to uplift others. Now, as I complete my second year at Georgia Tech, I carry those lessons into my studies in Computer Science. My ultimate goal is to use technology as a tool for empowerment and change. I believe technology—the ever-evolving field that directly impacts us all—has the power to transform lives. Whether through developing accessible apps, designing digital tools, or mentoring underrepresented students in tech, I am committed to making a meaningful impact. At Georgia Tech, I have immersed myself in opportunities that foster both technical expertise and leadership. Internships, student organizations, and community service projects have deepened my understanding of how technology can bridge gaps and create opportunities for underserved communities. I strive to carry forward the values my parents instilled in me—resilience, empathy, and a commitment to leaving the world better than I found it. However, pursuing this path has not been without challenges. As a first-generation college student, navigating higher education has been daunting. Financial pressures, academic demands, and the weight of representation often create obstacles that require persistence. Despite these challenges, I remain focused on my goals, knowing that every step forward is a testament to my family’s sacrifices. Diversity in tech is critical. Technology shapes the world, yet the voices contributing to its development remain limited. As the percentage of African American women in computer science is just 3%, I recognize the importance of representation every single day. Through mentorship and advocacy, I aim to be part of the movement that creates more equitable opportunities for all backgrounds in tech. Receiving this scholarship would alleviate financial burdens, allowing me to focus on academic excellence and meaningful contributions to the field. More importantly, it would represent recognition of my potential to succeed and give back to the community. Looking ahead, I see myself not just as a computer scientist, but as an innovator, advocate, and inspiration. Inspired by my family’s sacrifices and supported by the opportunities I’ve been fortunate to access, I aim to make a positive, lasting impact on my community and beyond. The fragments of our stories define who we are. Mine is a story of resilience, opportunity, and unwavering determination. It is a story shaped by the sacrifices of my parents, the challenges I have overcome, and the vision I have for the future. With the support of this scholarship, I am confident that I can continue writing chapters filled with growth, innovation, and service to others.

Every day brings overwhelming moments, but only the most significant fragments become lasting memories. For me, many of those defining fragments return to my family’s journey to America in 2006. Fleeing the gun violence of our Nigerian village, my parents brought my sisters and me to Georgia in pursuit of safety and opportunity. While the idea of the American Dream fueled our journey, the reality was much harsher. My parents, despite their college degrees, found that their qualifications were not recognized in the American job market. They took on low-paying jobs to support our family of seven, working tirelessly to create opportunities for us that they themselves were denied. Growing up in economic instability shaped every aspect of my life. I watched my parents sacrifice daily to keep us afloat while also supporting relatives in Nigeria. Their resilience inspired me, but the weight of their struggle took a toll on me mentally. As I navigated my own path, I felt the pressure to succeed—not just for myself but for my family. The unspoken expectation to ensure their sacrifices weren’t in vain often left me feeling overwhelmed, anxious, and exhausted. As a first-generation college student at Georgia Tech, the transition to higher education was difficult. I battled imposter syndrome, constantly questioning if I truly belonged in such a rigorous academic environment. The lack of representation in computer science, where African American women make up only 3% of the field, further intensified my self-doubt. The stress of excelling academically while carrying financial and emotional burdens sometimes felt unbearable. There were moments when my mental health suffered in silence. I had internalized the belief that struggling was a sign of weakness, that I had to push forward without acknowledging the toll it was taking on me. But over time, I learned that seeking help wasn’t a failure—it was an act of strength. Through therapy, mentorship, and a supportive community, I began to recognize that my worth was not solely defined by my achievements. This journey has reinforced my passion for technology as a tool for empowerment and change. I want to use my knowledge to build digital solutions that support mental health awareness and create resources for underrepresented communities. At Georgia Tech, I’ve immersed myself in opportunities that foster both technical expertise and leadership skills, ensuring that I contribute to making the tech industry a more inclusive space. Receiving this scholarship would alleviate financial pressures, allowing me to focus on both my academic and personal growth without the constant weight of financial strain. More importantly, it would affirm that my journey—one shaped by resilience, perseverance, and a commitment to making an impact—deserves recognition. Mental health struggles are often invisible, yet they shape us in profound ways. My story is one of perseverance, of learning to balance ambition with self-care, and of understanding that success isn’t just about what I achieve, but also about how I uplift others. With the support of this scholarship, I am confident that I can continue writing chapters filled with growth, innovation, and service to others.

Every day brings us overwhelming amounts of moments, but it is only the important fragments of those moments that are stored in our minds and brought back up as memories. These memories fill up the chapters of our never-ending stories. Sometimes, we can dig through the pages in those chapters and remember certain days like we remember our last name. Sometimes, we find that only the words we heard or the faces we saw were important enough to put on the page. For me, many of those defining fragments return to my family’s decision to seek a new life in America in 2006. Fleeing the gun violence of our Nigerian village, my parents brought my sisters and I to Georgia in pursuit of safety and opportunity. While the idea of the American Dream fueled our journey, the reality was much harsher. My parents, despite their college degrees from Nigeria, discovered that their qualifications were not recognized in the American job market. They took on low-paying jobs to support our family of seven, working tirelessly to create opportunities for us that they themselves were denied. Growing up, I saw how economic instability shaped every aspect of our lives. From a young age, I watched my parents make sacrifices to keep us afloat, all while supporting relatives back home in Nigeria. Their resilience, determination, and ability to persist through adversity became a constant source of inspiration for me. I learned the value of hard work, the importance of education, and the need to seize every opportunity to grow—not just for myself, but for the people I could one day uplift. Now, as I am completing my second year at Georgia Tech, I carry those lessons with me into my studies in Computer Science. My ultimate goal is to use technology as a tool for empowerment and change. I believe technology—the complex, mass evolving field that directly impacts us all on a daily basis—has the power to transform lives by creating solutions to real-world challenges. Whether it’s through developing accessible apps, designing helpful digital tools and resources, or mentoring others from underrepresented backgrounds in tech as I already do, I am committed to making a meaningful impact. At Georgia Tech, I have immersed myself in opportunities that foster both technical expertise and leadership skills. Internships, student organizations, and community service projects have deepened my understanding of how technology can bridge gaps and create opportunities for underserved communities. I strive to carry forward the values my parents instilled in me—resilience, empathy, and a commitment to leaving the world better than I found it. Receiving this scholarship would alleviate the financial pressures that come with pursuing higher education, enabling me to dedicate myself to achieving my goals without the constant weight of financial strain. More importantly, it would represent recognition of my potential to succeed and give back, overcoming the challenges I have faced. Looking ahead, I see myself not just as computer scientist, but as an innovator, an advocate, and an inspiration. As the percentage of African American women in the field of computer science is an alarming 3%, I hope to champion diversity in the tech industry. Inspired by my family’s sacrifices and supported by the opportunities I’ve been fortunate to access, I aim to make a positive, lasting impact on my community and beyond. In the end, the fragments of our stories are what define us. Mine is a story of perseverance, opportunity, and hope. With the support of this scholarship, I am confident that I can continue writing chapters filled with growth, innovation, and service to others.

Every day brings us overwhelming amounts of moments, but it is only the important fragments of those moments that are stored in our minds and brought back up as memories. These memories fill up the chapters of our never-ending stories. Sometimes, we can dig through the pages in those chapters and remember certain days like we remember our last name. Sometimes, we find that only the words we heard or the faces we saw were important enough to put on the page. For me, many of those defining fragments return to my family’s decision to seek a new life in America in 2006. Fleeing the gun violence of our Nigerian village, my parents brought my sisters and I to Georgia in pursuit of safety and opportunity. While the idea of the American Dream fueled our journey, the reality was much harsher. My parents, despite their college degrees from Nigeria, discovered that their qualifications were not recognized in the American job market. They took on low-paying jobs to support our family of seven, working tirelessly to create opportunities for us that they themselves were denied. Growing up, I saw how economic instability shaped every aspect of our lives. From a young age, I watched my parents make sacrifices to keep us afloat, all while supporting several relatives back home in Nigeria. Their resilience, determination, and ability to persist through adversity became a constant source of inspiration for me. Through them, I learned the value of hard work, the importance of education, and the need to seize every opportunity for growth—not just for myself, but for the people I could one day uplift. Now, as I complete my second year at Georgia Tech, I carry those lessons with me into my studies in Computer Science. My ultimate goal is to use technology as a tool for empowerment and change. I believe technology—the complex, ever-evolving field that directly impacts us all—has the power to transform lives by creating solutions to real-world challenges. Whether it’s through developing accessible apps, designing digital tools, or mentoring others from underrepresented backgrounds in tech, I am committed to making a meaningful impact. At Georgia Tech, I have immersed myself in opportunities that foster both technical expertise and leadership skills. Internships, student organizations, and community service projects have deepened my understanding of how technology can bridge gaps and create opportunities for underserved communities. I strive to carry forward the values my parents instilled in me—resilience, empathy, and a commitment to leaving the world better than I found it. However, pursuing this path has not been without challenges. As a first-generation college student, navigating higher education has been daunting. Financial pressures, academic demands, and the weight of representation often create obstacles that require persistence to overcome. Despite these challenges, I remain focused on my goals, knowing that every step forward is a testament to the sacrifices my family has made. Diversity and inclusion in the tech industry are critical. Technology shapes the world, yet the voices contributing to its development remain limited. As the percentage of African American women in computer science is an alarming 3%, I recognize the importance of representation every single day. Through mentorship and advocacy, I aim to be part of the movement that creates more equitable opportunities for all backgrounds in tech. Receiving this scholarship would alleviate the financial burdens that come with pursuing higher education, allowing me to focus on academic excellence and meaningful contributions to the field. More importantly, it would represent recognition of my potential to succeed and give back, overcoming the challenges I have faced. Looking ahead, I see myself not just as a computer scientist, but as an innovator, an advocate, and an inspiration. Inspired by my family’s sacrifices and supported by the opportunities I’ve been fortunate to access, I aim to make a positive, lasting impact on my community and beyond. In the end, the fragments of our stories are what define us. Mine is a story of perseverance, opportunity, and hope. With the support of this scholarship, I am confident that I can continue writing chapters filled with growth, innovation, and service to other black women and underrepresented communities.