Class of 2015
Major — Neuroscience
Hometown — Ijebu-Ode, Nigeria. (But I've lived in Lagos, Nigeria all my life.)
The correct pronunciation of my name sounds like an exclamation; "Busola!" -- but don't sound like you're surprised.
"Oluwabusiolawa" God has given us wealth; say it with meaning. Re-mi-mi-do-mi-do-mi-mi, like a song.
The correct pronunciation of my name requires confidence and familiarity. You have to sound like you know what you're saying.
And it helps to practice by throwing the sounds up a flight of stairs that lead up to someplace you don't know.
That's where I am right now, going somewhere new, with a song perpetually on my lips, finding meanings in the most disconnected occurrences and trying to look like I know exactly what I'm doing.
It is Fall Season in Gambier and people are falling in love with the campus all over again. As I despise cold weather, I’m not feeling the effects of the love as strongly as others. Instead, I’m counting down to November 9th, the SKAP 2013 reunion, when I will be reunited with my lovely students. The Summer Kenyon Academic Partnership (SKAP) Program is a three-week intensive program for rising juniors and seniors from public high schools in the Columbus, Cleveland, Chicago, Newark and Philadelphia areas. They come to the hill to take classes in English, Writing, History and Neuroscience in preparation for life in a competitive college such as Kenyon. I started helping out with the program as a Teaching assistant in Neuroscience and as a Residential Advisor two summers ago. And, it surprises me each time as I always start out wishing to teach the students so much about Neuroscience, college-life and decision-making and I always end up realizing that I’ve learned so much from my ‘students.’
As a SKAP I 2013 student, Andy (aka Asianboyswagg), put it when I mentioned that I had never gone bowling, “You need to get out of your comfort zone and try new things.” I’m going to tell you all the things I learned about the SKAP program, and about some very talented high school students with the aid of some slogans from SKAP 2013.
I know, I know, I’ve been MIA for the past couple of months. Life got really crazy over the summer and I just didn’t have any time to blog. However, now that I’m settled in – I hope – to my new triple room in Hanna hall, to the Library and to the Science Quad (I LIVE in these three places, in no particular order), I figured that now is as good a time as any to update you on the “summer that was too short to accomplish anything.”
While growing up in Nigeria, I never cared much about my hair. It was always an object to which something must be done. Looking back now, I can’t believe how oblivious I was to the ways in which my hair contributes to my awareness and understanding of myself. And, all this would not have happened if I hadn’t chosen to come to Kenyon.
Before Kenyon, I never had to worry about what to do with my hair. In Nigeria, you just have to walk to anyone living on any street and ask where the hair-dressers are. And, with the hair-dressers keeping stock of hairstyles and fashion trends, one’s hair becomes something that someone else can attend to. So, it is no surprise to see young girls and old women alike wearing their hair in so many different styles back home. Such was not the case I observed here.
A word of advice from a Kenyon Alum returning to campus for her 5th reunion: "Cherish your time at Kenyon because you'll never realize how much you love it until you leave."
Words of Wisdom from a Kenyon Alum returning for his 20th reunion: "Kenyon has Wireless?? That's amazing!"
One of my all-time favorite jobs on campus is helping out with the Reunion Weekend for Kenyon Alums. Last year, I was the class liaison for the all-male class of 1967, and, this past weekend, I was the class liaison for the Kenyon class of 1978.
It is Fall Season in Gambier and people are falling in love with the campus all over again. As I despise cold weather, I’m not feeling the effects of the love as strongly as others. Instead, I’m counting down to November 9th, the SKAP 2013 reunion, when I will be reunited with my lovely students. The Summer Kenyon Academic Partnership (SKAP) Program is a three-week intensive program for rising juniors and seniors from public high schools in the Columbus, Cleveland, Chicago, Newark and Philadelphia areas. They come to the hill to take classes in English, Writing, History and Neuroscience in preparation for life in a competitive college such as Kenyon. I started helping out with the program as a Teaching assistant in Neuroscience and as a Residential Advisor two summers ago. And, it surprises me each time as I always start out wishing to teach the students so much about Neuroscience, college-life and decision-making and I always end up realizing that I’ve learned so much from my ‘students.’
One of my all-time favorite jobs on campus is helping out with the Reunion Weekend for Kenyon Alums. Last year, I was the class liaison for the all-male class of 1967, and, this past weekend, I was the class liaison for the Kenyon class of 1978.
