The Non-Immigrant Student

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Based on popular demand, I decided to host a Q & A session with my friends Pearl, Ladi, and Daniel who’ve been abroad now for about 1-6 semesters, to ask them how life has been for them since they moved from their home country Nigeria to study in the US and Canada respectively.

Pearl Abue is a 3rd year Ph.D. student of the Chemical Engineering department at UT Austin working on research on Chlorine initiated chemistry in indoor and outdoor environments. She received her Masters in Chemical Engineering from UT Austin in May 2021 and her B. Eng. in Chemical Engineering from Covenant University in 2018. Also, she previously volunteered with the MastersPrep group helping students through their admissions process, and in her spare time, enjoys reading young adult fantasy novels, viewing unconventional art spaces, and exploring the state of Texas (with hopes to explore the rest of the world soon).

Ladi Adeoluwa is currently pursuing a Ph.D. degree in Electrical Engineering at the University of Alabama, USA. His research interests include Radar/Lidar Signal processing, Deep learning, and Embedded Systems.

Daniel (DI) Ojinaka is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Technology Innovation Management Program at Carleton University, Ottawa, Canada and works as the Program Ambassador at the University's Business Accelerator, helping technology startups from the university to develop and grow their businesses. Also, Daniel is a member of the Sprott Student Consulting Group where he is leading a project with the Impact Management Academy and his interests revolve around technology, research, sustainability, and impact projects that address climate change.  In his spare time, he is either ideating on a side project he's managing, watching a TV series on Netflix, or staring at an exotic plant.

Join Pearl, Ladi, DI, and I as we discuss ways you can adjust to your new life as an international student!

I hope you enjoy listening and learning, as much as we enjoyed recording and sharing!

North American Love,

Pearl, Ladi, DI & Tolu


N/B: This episode was originally recorded during an Instagram Live Event on Saturday 21st August 2021 and the video recording can be found here!

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Hey friends!

I just thought it well to welcome you all to the new 2021/2022 school year and the Fall Semester of 2021!!!

For me, it’s been surreal seeing students in their thousands back on campus. It feels so good and I hope that wherever you are, you are happy to be resuming school in person too!

Thank you for being friends and followers of my journey so far and I hope that we all finish the semester/year ahead, victorious and accomplished!

Have a wonderful and testimony-filled semester ahead!

Much Wavy Love x Respect,

Tolu

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Please rate the podcast and leave a review wherever you listen; it helps me reach other people like you. Also, follow here for more :) Thank you! 

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Imelda Godswill is a recent Master's graduate (Hons.)  from Teesside University, Middlesborough, UK, and majored in Visual Effects and Animation.

She is originally from Akwa-Ibom State, Nigeria, and has been to 8 countries-Ghana, Rwanda, UAE, Amsterdam, UK, Morocco, Italy, and Germany- since she moved to the UK to pursue her graduate studies.

She is passionate about Fashion and Photography and in her spare time, loves to travel, skate, read and create content for her YouTube page.

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Chiagoro Ahaotu is a graduate student at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology studying Offshore Renewable Energy under the Erasmus Mundus Scholarship and is also the co-founder of Masters Prep - a not-for-profit educational group.

He has traveled to the UK, Spain, France, and Norway since he started his graduate studies and is passionate about energy transition and cleantech.

Join us as we uncover the tips and tricks of traveling to your bucket-list destinations even on a student's budget.

I hope you enjoy listening as much as we enjoyed recording!

Ajala Love,

Imelda, Chiggy &  Tolu


N/B: This episode was originally recorded during an Instagram Live Event on Friday 30th July 2021 and the video recording can be found here!

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Please rate the podcast and leave a review wherever you listen; it helps me reach other people like you. Also, follow here for more :) Thank you! 

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Olufisayo Babalola holds a BSc. in Electrical and Electronics Engineering from the University of Ibadan and recently completed a Master's degree in Engineering Management from Dartmouth College.

Before her masters, she worked at Softcom Limited as a Product Analyst and Product Manager and has now joined Google as a full-time Associate Product Manager.

In her spare time, she loves to sew and create Digital Art.

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I have invited Fisayo, in particular, because I consider her a very successful non-immigrant student, living and fulfilling the ‘’American Dream’’ I set out to achieve when I left my home country over six months ago.

I am deeply inspired by how she lives purposefully and pursues her dreams so courageously which is why I have invited her to share her imminent story with me and other non-immigrant students across the globe.

Olufisayo remains a motivation to many and I am so proud to know her :)

As always, I hope you enjoy listening as much as we enjoyed recording!

Sister Love,

Fisayo & Tolu

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Oluwabusayo Omoleye is a recent Environmental Engineering graduate of Stevens Institute of Technology. Her focus was on Environmental Control Processes. She graduated from Covenant University with a Bachelor of Engineering in Chemical Engineering.

While at Stevens Institute of Technology, she was privileged to be a Graduate Research Assistant for the Center of Environmental Systems, and her research was focused on the treatment of the munition’s water gotten from the U.S Navy Base. Her role was to compare conventional denitrification and the Anammox process for the treatment of industrial wastewater.

In her spare time, she loves to watch Nollywood, gist with friends, and visit places. She is a fitness enthusiast with visible results and has helped encourage her friends to become fit.

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Omolade Ajayi is a recent Chemical Engineering graduate of Manhattan College, New York. All through the course of her program, she was a teaching assistant for the Chemical Engineering department and a research assistant in the cosmetic and bio-pharmaceutical engineering lab at the college. Her research is focused on the formulation design, optimization, and rheological control of cosmetic and personal care products using sustainable new ingredients. 

Her first project titled ‘Flow and Performance effects of talc alternatives on powder cosmetic formulations’ was recently submitted for publication in the International Journal of Cosmetic Science. The Second, titled ‘Impact of Processing Conditions on Rheology, Tribology and Wet Lubrication Performance of Novel Sustainable Amino-Acid based Hair Conditioner’ is currently under review for publication in the Cosmetics MDPI journal. 

Also, Omolade is the founder of Beautiful African Essentials (BAE), a Nigerian-based business focused on providing essentials for promoting African beauty through haircare, skincare, and nutrition. She is very passionate about beauty, health, and wellness and is certified in Diet for Health & Beauty. Omolade spends her free time either in the gym or cooking. 

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Feel free to share this episode with friends or family that you think might be struggling as students in a new country as I believe hearing their stories would help them look towards the brighter side.

Part 1 was cruise and chill but Part 2 is ''get me some tissue, I wanna cry!'' (Kindly check out Part 1 to follow the story!)

This particular episode has to be one of my most enjoyable podcasting sessions since I started recording six months ago and I'm really grateful to my dear friends for sharing their journey wholeheartedly!

I hope you enjoy listening as much as we enjoyed recording!

One Love,

Bussy, Lade & Tolu

Oluwabusayo Omoleye is a recent Environmental Engineering graduate of Stevens Institute of Technology. Her focus was on Environmental Control Processes. She graduated from Covenant University with a Bachelor of Engineering in Chemical Engineering.

While at Stevens Institute of Technology, she was privileged to be a Graduate Research Assistant for the Center of Environmental Systems, and her research was focused on the treatment of the munition’s water gotten from the U.S Navy Base. Her role was to compare conventional denitrification and the Anammox process for the treatment of industrial wastewater.

In her spare time, she loves to watch Nollywood, gist with friends, and visit places. She is a fitness enthusiast with visible results and has helped encourage her friends to become fit.

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Omolade Ajayi is a recent Chemical Engineering graduate of Manhattan College, New York. All through the course of her program, she was a teaching assistant for the Chemical Engineering department and a research assistant in the cosmetic and bio-pharmaceutical engineering lab at the college. Her research is focused on the formulation design, optimization, and rheological control of cosmetic and personal care products using sustainable new ingredients. 

Her first project titled ‘Flow and Performance effects of talc alternatives on powder cosmetic formulations’ was recently submitted for publication in the International Journal of Cosmetic Science. The Second, titled ‘Impact of Processing Conditions on Rheology, Tribology and Wet Lubrication Performance of Novel Sustainable Amino-Acid based Hair Conditioner’ is currently under review for publication in the Cosmetics MDPI journal. 

Also, Omolade is the founder of Beautiful African Essentials (BAE), a Nigerian-based business focused on providing essentials for promoting African beauty through haircare, skincare, and nutrition. She is very passionate about beauty, health, and wellness and is certified in Diet for Health & Beauty. Omolade spends her free time either in the gym or cooking. 

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Feel free to share this episode with friends or family that you think might be struggling as students in a new country as I believe hearing their stories would help them look towards the brighter side.

Part 1 is cruise and chill but Part 2 will be ''get me some tissue, I wanna cry!'' (Kindly watch out for Part 2 next week!)

I hope you enjoy listening as much as we enjoyed recording!

One Love,

Bussy, Lade & Tolu

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Kutlwano is a recent Cornell MBA graduate from Gaborone, Botswana interested in  Digital Technology, Fintech, and Data Analytics. 

Prior to Business school, he was a Technology Consultant where he helped clients across Africa and the Middle East launch digital products targeted towards alleviating financial exclusionary practices.

He graduated from Rhodes University with a Bachelor of Business Science in Information Systems and Economics and from the University of Pretoria, South Africa with a Master’s in Information Technology.

During his time at Cornell Johnson Business School, he was a member of the Clearstone Venture Fellowship Fund, a Board Member of the Johnson Christian Fellowship (JCF) club, and a course assistant for select Fall and Spring electives.

Upon graduation, he was awarded the A. Donald Kelso award for making numerous, significant contributions to the advancement of the Johnson Business School.

In his spare time, he loves to watch soccer, play tennis, and recently learned to play golf.

In June 2021, he joined Google Cloud as a Technical Account Manager on the Financial Services team.

Please make welcome, Mr. (and Mrs.) Kutlwano Mzwinila!!!!! (insert standing ovation)

We hope you enjoy listening to this episode as much as we enjoyed recording it!

With Botswanan, South-African & Nigerian Love,

Kutlwano, Kimberly & Tolu :)



P.S:  Kutlwano and I became friends through his wife, Kimberly Mzwinila, who I love so very much! They were one of my first friends here at Cornell and getting to know them has been such a blessing. I absolutely cannot tell my Cornell story without them which is why I am so honored to have met them and now do life with them from here onward! 

P.P.S: Kindly share this episode with students moving to a new country with their spouses and with those interested in landing a job at Google (so much to learn!), Thank you!

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Please rate the podcast and leave a review wherever you listen; it helps me reach other people like you. Also, follow here for more :) Thank you! 

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Nnamdi is a recent Cornell MBA graduate from Lagos, Nigeria, focusing on Corporate Finance and Strategy. He has worked with PwC as an auditor in its financial services unit and subsequently as head of Financial Planning and Analysis at Babban Gona, an agricultural social enterprise in Africa.

He graduated from the Federal University of Technology Owerri (FUTO), Nigeria where he majored in Industrial Chemistry. He is a UK-certified chartered accountant and a member of the prestigious Cornell University Venture Capital fund manager group - Big Red Ventures. 

In his spare time, he loves to watch and play soccer, listen to podcasts, and watch documentaries. His favorite podcast to date is “Business Wars” by David Brown and his favorite documentaries center around finance and money management.

In June 2021, Nnamdi ''secured the bag'' as he joined Microsoft as a Finance Manager in its Central Financial Planning and Analysis Unit.
[To secure the bag is to get what you want, achieve a goal, and/or make money! (StayyHipp)]

Join Nnamdi Iwuji & I as we uncover his non-immigrant story and his journey to fulfilling the American Dream!

We hope you enjoy listening as much as we enjoyed recording it!

Naija Love,

Nnamdi  & Tolu


P.S:  I cannot tell my Cornell story without Nnamdi which is why I am really happy to have him share his story with us. Kindly share this episode with your network/friends looking to Study Abroad and/or pursue an MBA degree. Also, please let me know on social media, which part of his story has motivated you to now live your best NIS life. Thank you!

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Please rate the podcast and leave a review wherever you listen; it helps me reach other people like you. Also, follow here for more :) Thank you! 

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Yasssssssssssssss!

We back!

In Season 1, we had almost 2000 downloads from 180 cities in 25 countries across the world, with over 500 followers on Instagram and still counting!

I couldn’t have done it without you so Thank you!

In this new season, other non-immigrant students from the US, Europe, and Canada will be sharing their stories with us and how they set out to fulfill their respective study-abroad dreams.

I am so excited for Season 2 as our podcast guests will be here each week, dishing inspiration and motivation to lead better non-immigrant lives, back to back to back!!!!!

Also, enjoy the uncut recording mishap at the end of this trailer (insert sad laughter), I was just trying to tell you to please re-share or retweet the episode posters when you see them on social media (Thank you!) 

Anyway, in the spirit of ''we move'', I AM SO READY FOR SEASON 2 but are you????

Are you sure you’re ready?!!!!!

Okay then, let’s go!

Happy Hugs,

Tolu 

Support the show

Please rate the podcast and leave a review wherever you listen; it helps me reach other people like you. Also, follow here for more :) Thank you! 

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Yayyyy!!!... the Bonus Episode is finally here!

How have you been?

As for me, school is rounding up around here and summer vibes are already kicking in!

Well, I'm back now so welcome back from your 2-week listening hiatus!

As promised, this is the bonus episode to finally wrap up Season 1.

In this episode, I talk about my experience with filing taxes for the first time in America and give a special shout-out to a childhood friend!

Also, I  dropped the whole gist about the Jollof Wars event organized by the Cornell Johnson African Business Graduate Students' community and you can check out pictures and videos from the event on my Instagram ''Spring'21  Part 4 '' story highlights!

Lastly, I  made mention of a referral link for those of you who might be interested in starting your own podcast. A friend of mine, Alexandra Zion, who hosts the Poem O'Clock podcast, shared her referral link on her blog which I then used to start mine. I'm paying it forward and sharing my link with you as well so here you go: https://www.buzzsprout.com/?referrer_id=1474882
You're welcome!

Most importantly, I  hope I have earned the privilege of your time this season.

With Nigerian Jollof Love & Respect,

Bye for now and see you in Season 2!!!!

Tolu

Support the show

Please rate the podcast and leave a review wherever you listen; it helps me reach other people like you. Also, follow here for more :) Thank you!