Grad talk: students from five different countries share their Xavier experiences

How did you end up at Xavier?

I was halfway through my engineering degree at a small college back home when COVID happened. I didn't like my college and was planning to transfer to a better school, but COVID made that transfer harder. I was finishing my sophomore year when someone urged me to apply to Xavier University. I didn't think much of it, but it was kind of a saving grace. I got my admission letter and was offered a scholarship.

What clubs or programs have you've been involved in on campus?

I've been a part of three programs during my three years here. I first started getting involved with the Center for International Education. My sophomore year, I became a part of the Interlink Peer Mentors, which is a mentor group for international students. I also became club president for Citizens of the World, which is an intercultural club that brings cultural awareness to Xavier students.

This past year, I joined the Williams College of Business student advisory board, which is a board of students addressing and supporting the college’s mission. International students go through a lot of different things, so I wanted to help people out and leave my own Xavier legacy. It's a great feeling to know my actions have made a positive impact on younger students.

What has surprised you most about your Xavier experience? 

My first impression was this is so "American." The downtown life, Over-the-Rhine and the college campus reminded me of scenes from a movie. The college sports or sports in general were such a big thing. Back home, college sports were also big, and you could typically come in to watch without charge. I guess they also don't charge students for tickets here but it's on a first-come first-serve basis.

Is there anyone you'd like to thank with graduation around the corner?

I would like to thank my mom. My mom has always been incredibly supportive, and I'm truly grateful for the trust she places in me, especially when others might not. It's not easy sending your kid halfway across the globe, but she has always trusted I can thrive anywhere I want to—and I want to make sure the things I do are things she can brag about.

What's next for you after Xavier?

I will be looking for a job. I would also like to take some time off to relax and look at Xavier in retrospect. I'm on the job hunt and hopefully I get to stay in Cincinnati for a bit. I spent so much time on campus that I want to explore the city on my own.

How did you end up at Xavier?

When I was looking at colleges my senior year of high school, I narrowed it down to University of Cincinnati and Xavier. I chose Xavier because I like how small the campus is and how small the classes are. I feel like with the smaller class sizes you can connect with the professors better and they hold you responsible. Also, I just love the campus. It's beautiful. I also like the basketball program. I’ve been living in Cincinnati for a while and people recognize Xavier and that is cool.

What has surprised you about living in Cincinnati?

I think Cincinnati is a cool city. It’s smaller than Boston, New York and LA – but at the same time you have the feeling of a big city. Xavier is 10 minutes away from downtown, so it’s easy to go downtown and hang out with your friends. I feel like there’s a lot of stuff to do in Cincinnati - there are parks, the zoo and the Newport Aquarium and I’m always doing stuff with my friends. The thing that surprised me most about Xavier is the tight-knit community. Everybody kind of knows each other and takes care of each other. The professors are so knowledgeable, and the staff is so friendly.

Is there anyone you'd like to thank with graduation around the corner?

I would like to say thank you to Dr. Sam Kwapong. I think he is awesome. He takes care of his students. He's such a nice guy and I love him. Also, I want to shout out the entire Center for International Education office, because they make international students feel at home on campus.

I also want to thank Professor Holly Johnson in the School of Education. I'm becoming a Social Studies teacher, and a lot of people think Social Studies is boring and not fun. Professor Johnson showed us how we can make something boring as fun as possible to kids. She has shown me how to be a responsible and committed educator. 

What's been your favorite thing about your Xavier experience?

I think my favorite thing has been going to all the sporting events with my friends, especially the basketball games. It’s nice to see everybody cheering for our team. I also just love to go out on the weekends and do stuff with my friends.

What's next for you after Xavier?

I want to teach full time at a high school – so I’m looking for a job.

How did you end up at Xavier?

I went to a Jesuit high school called Loyola Jesuit College and we had university fairs. I don't remember if Xavier came or if I saw a flyer, but I put my information down on the school's website, and someone reached out to me. I feel like out of all the school's I communicated with Xavier was the most forthcoming.

What clubs or programs have you've been involved in on campus?

The two major organizations I've been involved in are the African Students Association (ASA) and the Alternative Breaks organization, that’s one of the first things I jumped into once I came to Xavier. I was already involved in service at Loyola, and this is the same kind of thing and I wanted to keep it going. I’ve served in Cincinnati, Chicago and Michigan. In regards to ASA, a couple of friends and I had the honor of getting the club up and running after COVID. ASA has been very important to me and my sense of identity as a Nigerian. I’ve also made good friends through ASA, and I’ve been able to be more involved in diversity and inclusion efforts on campus.

Is there anyone you'd like to thank with graduation around the corner?

My advisor Dr. Mack Mariani from the Political Science department is so amazing. He’s written me a lot of recommendation letters for scholarships and anything you can think of. He helped me with my goal of graduating earlier. Overall, he’s a great person. Dr. Sam Kwapong has also been an amazing mentor, and of course my ASA people.

Is there a class that had a big impact on your time at Xavier?

I took a class called “Spirituality and Solidarity” by Dr. Marcus Mescher. It was a very intellectually challenging class. It made me think a lot about my background of growing up in the church. We didn't just learn about Christianity, we learned about Buddhism and things I never really thought about before.

What's next for you after Xavier?

I will be taking a gap year before law school, and I will be working in a tuition free middle school in Philadelphia. I'll be more involved in their graduate support services, helping their middle school students transition to high school and later to college. They also have a pro-bono legal aid clinic that runs every week and I'll be involved in that.

How did you end up at Xavier?

I came to Xavier almost five years ago to finish my undergraduate degree. I was studying in Colombia at a Jesuit university, and I was able to transfer to Xavier when I was a junior. I finished my bachelor’s in Political Science, and I kept working towards my master's in the business school while also working in the university.

What clubs or programs have you've been involved in on campus?

For the past three years, I've been working in the Smith Center in the Williams College of Business and that's been amazing. We’ve done research with them on things like the fentanyl crisis and school of choice. We've done research about what is going on in the world. Also, I've been able to travel with them to several countries and that's been amazing. I'm very grateful for my time in the Smith Center.

What has surprised you most about your Xavier experience? 

I like the community. I think people here are very nice. I also like how it's connected to the Jesuit values. I highly appreciate the focus on Magis and trying to do things better. You are learning and getting a lot of knowledge, but that is not just used for yourself, it’s for others. We’re always learning how we can better serve our country, the United States and other communities. I also appreciate the professors. They are so nice, and they’ve helped me a lot.

Is there anyone you'd like to thank with graduation around the corner?

All the professors in the Smith Center: Professor Steven Frankel, Professor R. Stafford Johnson, Professor Mack Mariani, Professor Kathleen Hidy, Professor Kim Renners and Professor Tim White. All of them have provided great opportunities as well as, their friendship, time and advice.

What's next for you after Xavier?

I was able to learn about politics and then about business, finance and economics. I would like to keep studying and mix all of that with law. Hopefully, in the next year or so I’ll be going to law school.

How did you end up at Xavier?

My aunt lives in Cincinnati and when I was looking at universities in America, she recommended Xavier and here I am.

What clubs or programs have you've been involved in on campus?

I have been the most involved with the Asian and American Students in Action (ASIA) club on campus. I started out as a treasurer for the club in my sophomore year and became the co-president in my junior year. As a club we strive to bridge the difference between Asian and other cultures on campus and provide a safe space, food and enjoyment for people of all cultures while educating them on Asian cultures. I love the community that ASIA club establishes for the people taking part and I most enjoy our extravagant events full of people, delicious food and fun activities. 

What's been your favorite thing about your Xavier experience? 

One of my favorite things about Xavier was the people that I was able to meet here. These are some of the people I will have in my life forever and I am grateful for Xavier to have provided me with that platform. 

Is there anyone you'd like to thank with graduation around the corner?

I would like to thank Dr. Sam Kwapong and Dr. Edward Kosack. Both of them are wonderful people that have supported me so much through my three years at Xavier and have been very inspirational. They helped get through some tough times and I cannot thank them enough. 

What's next for you after Xavier?

I intend to work at a start-up company for a year before heading on to graduate school.