AFRICA | A brilliant Nigerian Lady emerges US university best graduating student, bags 3.98/4.00 first class degree in Engineering and Mathematics.
A brilliant Nigerian Lady named Grace Paul-Okpara has emerged as the best-graduating student from San Jose State University in California, United States, earning her bachelor’s degree with first-class honors in Industrial Engineering and Mathematics.
Grace graduated with an outstanding cumulative grade point average (CGPA) of 3.98 out of 4.00. In an interview with Tribune Nigeria, Grace shared how her journey toward studying Industrial Engineering began in secondary school.
She was determined to pursue a field of engineering that was unique and practical, choosing Industrial Engineering because it focused on optimizing systems, a concept that fascinated her.
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She also preferred the course because it relied more on mathematics than physics, a subject she felt more comfortable with. Grace highlighted that her biggest challenge was adapting to the United States education system, which was different from what she experienced in Nigeria.
“In Nigeria, I relied on memorization. But here in the U.S., exams were focused on understanding concepts, and note-taking was optional,” she explained. To overcome this, she created a strict study schedule and practiced extensively to develop muscle memory for each course.
Another challenge came when she started working as a Peer Educator. Although the job helped improve her academic performance, it also made her schedule more hectic. Learning to balance work, academics, and taking breaks was crucial to her success.
Grace said her academic excellence was not by chance; she had envisioned her success from the very beginning. Despite facing challenges in two physics courses, where she earned a B and B+, she maintained A grades in all her other subjects.
Talking about how she achieved success, Grace emphasized the importance of diligent studying and using all available resources. Unlike many Nigerian universities, some of her professors allowed the use of note sheets during exams, which helped her study more efficiently.
Grace said she also made it a priority to perform well in projects, which contributed significantly to her grades.
She credited her parents, both of whom hold doctoral degrees, for being a major influence on her academic journey. She said watching them successfully apply their knowledge to their careers and communities inspired her to strive for academic excellence.
Despite her success, Grace’s journey was not without its struggles. She said the intense academic workload took a toll on her, both physically and mentally. “I lost weight, became stressed, and sometimes broke down in tears,” she shared, admitting that there were moments when she would call her mother for support.
Yet, through prayer and encouragement from her family and friends, she pushed through, knowing that her challenges were necessary to achieve her goals. Seeing other students face similar difficulties also reassured her that she was not alone in her struggles.
Looking to the future, Grace plans to continue her academic journey by pursuing a master’s degree in Business Administration and an MSc in Industrial and Operations Engineering. Her ultimate goal is to earn a doctorate.
Offering her valuable advice to other students, Grace said,” Find what you’re good at, work hard until you can work smart, stay focused, and be determined. Take advantage of resources available to you, whether it’s tutoring, online videos, or even classmates willing to help”.
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