From Port Harcourt To a Wider World.

A friend of mine was already studying in Russia, and as a curious teenager, I wanted to see more of the world. I arrived in Russia in late 2015, and one of my first challenges was learning Russian before I could begin my bachelor’s degree.

As time went on, volunteering became an important part of finding my place in Russia, as it gave me opportunities to practice the language, make friends, and immerse myself in the culture around me.

Gradually, a place that once felt unfamiliar became somewhere I could study, contribute, and build meaningful relationships.

My final year coincided with the COVID-19 pandemic, which made finishing university more difficult than expected. Graduating brought that chapter to a close, but the experience of adapting to a different culture, language, and way of life stayed with me and shaped what came next.

After graduating with my bachelor’s degree, I was admitted to the University of Toronto, but a Canadian visa refusal meant I could not take up the opportunity.

I was later admitted to Tufts University, but 2 consecutive U.S. visa refusals delayed the start of my graduate studies by a year. Fortunately, my education at Tufts was fully funded through a combination of the Tufts Graduate School of Arts and Sciences Tuition Scholarship and the 2022 QS World Merit Social Responsibility Scholarship.

Few months after graduating from Tufts, layoffs and the loss of housing brought another period of uncertainty and rebuilding.

These experiences also became part of my story. They showed me how much opportunity can depend on access, timing, support, and immigration status, and how much of life happens between the milestones that eventually make it onto a resume.