Alioune shared his experience growing up in Dakar before receiving a BA in New York & Tennessee, a MA in Paris and he is now excitedly living in Dakar, Senegal as an Associate Coordinator for the West African Research Center (WARC). Together, we shared many laughs as we discussed the meaning of “home” in unfamiliar spaces and the power of cultural exchange in relation to self-growth.

I very much look up to Alioune and his ability to be mentally agile in the face of adversity and uncertainty— I remain in awe of his seemingly instinctual urge to embrace “the unexpected” in life as I continue my own personal journey navigating the highs and lows of living abroad. 

Favorite Quote: “….Everything I experienced made me more of who I am today… I evolved.”