AFRICA | A determined Lady finally wins scholarship at US university 2 years after suffering rejections, celebrates success as first African student of her supervisor.
A determined Nigerian lady, Olayemi Ojeokun, has finally secured a fully funded Graduate Research Assistantship at Kansas University, United States, after two years of multiple rejections.
She also made history as the first African student in her research group. Olayemi took to LinkedIn to celebrate her achievement, stating that she went from actively searching for M.Sc./Ph.D. positions to earning a Graduate Research Assistantship.
She shared that before completing her bachelor’s degree at Osun State University (UNIOSUN), she had two key goals, to complete her National Youth Service (NYSC) and secure a fully funded scholarship before the end of the program.
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Although Olayemi had always dreamed of studying abroad and initially applied to schools in Ghana after high school, she eventually pursued her undergraduate studies at UNIOSUN. Even though she did not graduate with a first class, she still topped her class.
Determined to continue her dream of studying abroad, she undertook several internships at the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), which fueled her passion for gaining international exposure and acquiring cutting-edge skills.
Despite applying to numerous schools and scholarships, she was met with rejection after rejection. However, instead of giving up, she prepared harder and trusted God for a breakthrough.
In 2023, her efforts finally paid off—she earned a graduate assistantship to study for her master’s degree in Horticultural Science at Kansas University.
Since arriving at the university, she has had amazing experiences, from being the first African student under her advisor to making friends from different parts of the world. She has explored diverse cultures and is amazed at how much she has learned in just a few weeks.
Now, one year later in 2024, Olayemi has earned her Master of Science degree in Horticultural Science, achieving a perfect 4.00 GPA.
Reflecting on this milestone, she shared on LinkedIn that she is overwhelmed with gratitude for the experiences, challenges, and incredible people who shaped this chapter of her life. She credited her success to the unwavering support of her family, friends, mentors, and peers.
Olayemi expressed deep appreciation to her advisor, Jack Fry, and her committee members, thanking them for guiding and challenging her to grow.
She also extended gratitude to her friends and loved ones, acknowledging their constant encouragement throughout her journey. For Olayemi, this achievement is not the end but a new beginning.
She is excited about the future and eager to embrace whatever comes next. ”Here’s to growth, resilience, and the adventure ahead,” she said.
To those still chasing their dreams, Olayemi urge them to keep going no matter what happens. ” Do it afraid, do it proudly, do it step by step. The hard work, late nights, coffees, and perseverance will be worth it surely!” she said.
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