What is your next adventure?

I’m job hunting. I’m hoping to stay in Atlanta, Georgia. I come from Asheville, North Carolina, but I am Nigerian. I enjoy getting my hands dirty and figuring things out. I’m also very interested in propulsion. I'm also looking to enter into the manufacturing space. So, I hope to start with manufacturing and process engineering and then pivot into the engine space. Otherwise, I'll be looking to go to Europe and see if I can work for an aircraft manufacturing company there.

What about your next adventure are you most looking forward to?

Honestly, I'm not sure. I get a little anxious not knowing. I'm hoping to find a job, so I can apply myself in the workspace because I like working and creating stuff. I can’t wait to see what the future holds.  Did you have any previous co-op, internship, or research experience in this area?

In my sophomore year, I worked in model-based systems engineering with Selcuk Cimtalay. I learned how to use Magic Draw and did a couple of projects under him, making sure we knew how to utilize the tool.

After that, I got a seven-month co-op position at Cummings. I worked with their 45 and 60-liter diesel engines, and my job was customer tailoring. If the customer had any issues with their engines, my job was to figure out how to fix them and validate the changes I would propose. I also did design reviews for them earlier this year.

I was a part of the team that entered the Vertical Flight Society student design competition. We designed a helicopter, pretty much from scratch, for disaster relief. Defcon Army Research Laboratory sponsored the competition. We came in second.

This semester, I’ve been working at the Ben T. Zinn Combustion lab on the visualization of weak vortices. 

How did your educational experience at Georgia Tech help you to achieve your goals?

I came in as a timid student and I was lucky to join a living learning community. I was a member of Impact. I learned how to come out of my shell and not be afraid to speak up. It was also during COVID, so, if I didn't make an effort to get to know people, I wouldn't know anybody. Being here, especially during COVID, forced me to stop being shy. Also, with the way Georgia Tech is structured with classes, you’re forced to interact with your classmates if you want to succeed, which I also had to learn. When I finally started interacting with people and working in a team, I began to see my grades improve because sometimes, people had questions I hadn't even thought of. 

What advice would you give to an underclassman who would like to follow the same path?

Follow your passion. When I first chose aerospace, especially being international, a lot of people told me to drop it as a major. My parents said don't worry and do whatever you want. It is great advice. Whilst I don't have a job yet, I know I did the right thing. It's easier to learn something when you're passionate about it. Tap into all of the resources here at Georgia Tech. There is so much here to explore.

Collaborate with other people because I struggled a lot less when I did, which was nice. Get involved in extracurricular activities because it can get pretty stressful, and having a space to relax after a long day is nice. I was quite involved with extracurriculars. I also made sure to involve myself in sports.