Leap Journey in Tech - A USC Computer Science Grad’s Experience

_descript_studio_sound_Mobalaji Interview_ U1 0:00 Okay. Good afternoon. So, what's a full name? Mobolaji U2 0:04 Yes. Mobolaji . Oh, U1 0:07 yeah. Just, you know, um, thank you for doing this. I know that to catch you at a very, very. It's a Sunday, so I know you're very busy and you probably have midterms, but I wanted to start out with, um, tell us a bit about yourself. And, you know, essentially what inspired you to study abroad. U2 0:27 Okay. Uh. All right. Um, again, I'm a mobolaji. Uh, I like to see myself as a lifelong learner. Yeah, pretty much so on that, as always, I found. I found that I'm Arkansan, as always. Very curious. So in the process of doing that, that actually kind of led me to at least my undergrad led me to pick up computer science because I was like, how is it that I'm pressing this? And then how does that affect the system? And I got to know that, okay, through computer science, I could actually do this and this. But then initially I was skeptical because I was thinking, oh, computer science, I end up becoming like an ICT teacher. U1 1:09 Yeah. I mean, funny that you say that because I remember when I was doing computer science, they they thought they were going to they're going to open a computer shop for me. I'll be selling computer parts. Oh, U2 1:19 that was the that was the ultimate dream of some of my family members. Ah. We just opened up shop for him where he can sell computers like the other guys didn't. They didn't get this programming thing. Okay, U1 1:32 so U2 1:34 then, um, uh, during my, like, third year in school, and I was a first time that actually got to, like, work at a company. And I realized also, this is actually what is happening. So then, like, I had a really big mindsets change in the way I saw computer science and the way we use, um, computer programs, like solving problems and then being a problem seeker. And. Take your own particular course that I did. Look, the major reporters in terms of like efficiency and optimization. Seeing that loss could really help in that angle. Since then, that's just been like my motto, like, okay, what's this program? This is a problem that has not been solved. Is there a problem that can be solved? There's no problem. The idea has a solution, and there's no way that I can make this more optimal. So those are like some of the things that were like in my head. So for a while I was just like picking up, learning different things, learning different languages. Okay. Then even coming out of school worked with Flutterwave. Okay. So U1 2:43 before Flutterwave, you said you worked your third U2 2:46 year. Oh, yes. Well, U1 2:48 where was that? What did you do? I was at blue Chip technologies. Okay. I worked as a software engineering in San Diego. Thankfully, I was able to join those projects that were trying to help clients with salsa. So to join. And that was really where I got my experience because I was, oh, no, that was where I go. That was the second time, actually, that I got an experience working with a client and like trying to build a software solution. What kind of U2 3:17 web hardware? What kind U1 3:19 of what kind of was U2 3:20 this? Yeah. So it was a web solution. It was more or less replacing, um, the like we had a stop solution at the time. Okay. It was longer. And then being that they were trying basically they were trying to expand the desktop wasn't going to cut it. So they. 2s So that was on then being on that thing, like trying to build a solution. We did an expose my my thinking on the perspective towards like software engineering as a whole. Okay. And then even working at Flutterwave quite like an engineer. Then the shift changed again because I'm like, okay now. So it's one thing to make a solution, but then it's another thing to make a solution for thousands, millions of people. And 1s everybody's getting similar experience, right. I that's that's good. And then also like but then in school there's like this manner that you follow okay. In your first year you do this in your second year, you do this in 32 days and then you enter the real world. There's no manual like this. Yours is open. Choose your paths. How do you keep going? So I was like, huh? Okay, so now there are two things. Am I going to get it deep understanding as to how like a more advanced understanding. Ah, so how the computers were modern where I got an undergrad. And the other question was, how am I ever going to get this business knowledge, like business understanding, so that I know that what I'm doing isn't just like a normal software, but then it's actually affecting a particular business operation, a particular business in terms of like how that can help them gain more revenue or get more potential customers. Okay. Well, while I was in that, I was like, okay, for that kind of thing. I was able to like network. And then that was when the idea of like, oh, I should probably go and start my masters, because that's in the sense of why I'm currently doing masters in computer science. Right? Uh, I would be able to expand be so I knew formula undergrad and then use that in tangent. So it's what I'm currently learning for like business lingo. So that I can build on more more solutions U1 5:46 and solutions okay. Okay. So that's what inspired. So how did you how did you pick the US. How you know I'm sure there are lots of schools. You know the like 4500 schools in the US. So two questions why the US and then why your school and then why not other places now I'm not. This is not a pounding down all the places. But there must have been a reason why you chose the US. So why the US? U2 6:12 Well for me. Why? Because, um, one of them was down to quality of education and a fields. So, um, based on, like, the research that I found or, or based on the research that I did. So most of the schools. Right, you could get not discounting or not saying that you can get quality education elsewhere. Right. But then in the US you could get that. And then the experience that you could get mingling with different people. That also helps because although you could go to school and then learn, you could also meet with different people that even broaden your understanding of what you're actually learning. So that's a different types of collaborations that you're going to have, right. Or for me, particularly when I was looking at the US, though, I don't I don't look at the US. I also looked at different places like UK. Okay, one, but then I was more like, okay, based on the schools that I have where I can actually get a quality education and old school particularly fits with like my core values, like in terms of like diversity, learning impact and reaching different people as well. With which school exactly and where exactly does that fit right? Um, that was one of the reasons why I ended up going to us. On why I chose USC are not only being the fact that they are one of the top schools, right? Based on this school's ranking, I that like really attest to the quality of their education. Okay. Fair enough. I was like, okay, if I'm going to any school, I don't want to go to any schools. Go to one of the best, right? That's where I can actually learn. And then based on what I learned, I can also come back home and then build on actually meaningful solutions that can turn the economy around and create more impact. So also I chose USC and um, yes, another part of it. Well, this one doesn't really count. But then as like, if I'm going to do this, I don't want to go to anywhere cold. U1 8:25 Okay. Yeah. Fair enough. U2 8:29 It's warm, at least for the most part of it is warm. I was like, okay, everyone, that's just like the cherry on the cherry on the icing. So like, yeah. U1 8:37 So there was a point in time where we where we ended up crossing paths before you U2 8:42 came? Yes. How how did you U1 8:44 first of all, how did you find out about me and how exactly did that help you? How exactly did I help you in this first transition to coming to, uh, USC? What's the. Just give some U2 8:57 insights. 1s Okay, so, uh, there's this program in, and I employ a lot to, but also join if they want to actually, uh, study abroad and get good education. There's this program called education USA. Right. I want to know about that program. I would say like a few months plus after I finished on the ground. Right. Because I saw that like, right from finishing undergrad. And while working, I did notice that, okay, I needed to gain this knowledge. And now doing the research, that was actually what led me to education USA. Right? And while we're at education will say, I remember miss you speaking that okay. This I like to get into to getting your scope, this pathway, this how you go about them. Right? Then in one of the interviews or one of the meetings that we had with Mrs.. You. Right. She remembers very clearly it is this one of our candidates that was there that's currently using the US and is doing really well. And she said like if not 3 to 4 times, right. Just kept asking like, who is this person that Mrs.. 1s She can't give me a name. So I was like this mystery person, so I need to find this person because for me, she's used to, like, really vouch for him. Then he must be a really good person so that. Okay, how am I going to find that person? Then I started searching on a search and started searching every blog post, every person that came out of education USA. Oh really? 1s I check check check. I went to the website, then I even noticed the okay on this website. There was this section for personal loss, right? And and also because she said the university and with could it be this person that makes use of friends. 2s Check them go and check on LinkedIn. And I was like, oh, is the one. Because when she went finished he walked out. Until then, as this person finished, he walked out himself. So okay, let me, which is most likely the one I only was. You are that okay? Nice. That was that was good. Okay. Always spoke. Um, I remember then I was really happy. I think the problem I was even having was at first I was thinking, okay, what school did on school? Initially I didn't initially I didn't have a plan. But then you asked me. It's like several questions that's really helped me ask myself multiple questions like, okay, what exactly? Because singing, that's who I want to get a more advanced, um, understanding 1s of the science is not just enough. Like, what exactly do you want to get? Where exactly do you want what you U1 12:01 want to achieve with it? Or U2 12:03 what do you want to achieve with it? And if you are, most people won't say, oh, I'm going to do my masters. They're like, okay, Masters in what masters way? 1s In what specific field? Right. Initially, those questions didn't come up to me. But then when you started asking me those questions, then I now realize, okay, so now I need to actually sit back, take like some moments intellectually go or exactly I want to get out of the Masters. Right. And you even asking me that question, I don't even know it. I don't I don't think, okay, I didn't tell you, but it helped me when I was writing my SOP because, right, initially I didn't have any plan for the SOP or cause like, okay, how does one write an essay? But after asking this question, I could initially imagine that, okay, this is what I want to do. My masters right where I want to get and then after once I get this knowledge, this is where I want to use those knowledge to achieve like this are my course, this are the milestones are ready sets for. So U1 13:08 I gave you some form of clarity. U2 13:10 Yes. U1 13:12 Okay. Good. That's good. So what were the what were the steps. So aside from coming up with a sop any was there any what would you did you take the jor. Did you take TOEFL. Did you what were those steps that what were the initial steps that U2 13:28 you. Yes. So, uh, the first one was the Jerry. Um, initially I was thinking, and this was just my own thoughts, because when I came out, I didn't. I wasn't like I had not done enough research to know that you being me being in Nigeria and then most people in Nigeria speak English, it doesn't really mean you can just go into another country without showing that you have like it will understand it in English. So I did the journey in the first year I did degree or I did degree. Um, then I also did those like that first year I did it well, I'll say that first year was like a year of clarity for me, because even though I was already preparing to apply and not applying because like coming out of school, I ended up not playing because I was like, I use the entire year to try and figure out or answer that question that you asked because, okay, I'm getting close to the admission, the same as I know I can't play now because I can't specifically say this is exactly why. Why? Okay, again, do I still do? I did I ended up doing injury after degree. I started while I was still working. I was like, okay, researching different, um, fields. Right? Researching different aspects. Is the masters right for me? Is a master's no rights for me? Um, what knowledge can I gain? Understanding can again? 2s Okay. An initial navigator. Okay. There are two areas I want to go in depth into. Okay. So going so north there were three that I want to go into just normal software engineering or I want to go into AI. Okay I'll go into blockchain. Right. And I was like okay is it possible that one can do all U1 15:32 this? Yeah. U2 15:34 I mean, I wonder if you remember I asked the question that is impossible. Like, nah, all of them seem really interesting. Those are like my core interest. But then then at that time, it does show that I still, although I was able to like really narrow down, but I had not fully narrowed down where exactly I wanted to do. Okay. Well, I then, um, still took some time back, did more research as a okay, almost. I'll go with AI. Okay. Through artificial intelligence. Okay. Which was at the beginning. It was different from what I initially thought about. Right. It's been that I did on my undergrad research in AI. Okay. In the possibilities of how I could change the game, I noticed when when I started looking into schools, I was and I noticed that yes, you're doing AI does not necessarily mean you're not going to get the other knowledge that you are. Exactly. Yeah. So when I knew that, I was like, ah, right moment, I was like, oh, no problem, I'm going for that. Which is probably why you're doing the traditional masters in computer science. Yes, because then you can take AI classes, you can take, you know, Web3 classes, you can take crypto classes, whatever classes you want to do. And then you can decide after the program. You know what? This is really what I want to do. And then when anything changes and, you know, I put this in one of the episodes that says, hey, don't U1 17:03 constrict yourself. And do I want to do a masters in Machine learning? Well, what happens if machine learning is longer in vogue? The recruiters will see the recruiters that are reading your resume are not computer people. U2 17:15 Sure, they see masters in machine learning. They're going to skip over your your your resume. Someone that has a master's in computer science. And it goes, oh, but I did some classes in AI. I got a B in my class. I did this project, and then he's going to talk about the project, and it's going to seem like he's a knowledgeable person. I know passing to the interview. And that's one thing with the interview process, you need to pass the gatekeepers, the initial gatekeepers. You need to be the first person that will jump the queue. And you know, it's good that you decided to say, okay, I want to do AI, but you did not concentrate on saying, I must do a master's in AI. Yeah, we U1 17:51 have restricted you, U2 17:52 you know, particular field, you want particular field and then you lose out because now you can switch. Now your dynamic. Um, U1 17:59 okay. So that's good. So that's, um, how many schools did you apply U2 18:03 to? I applied to about four schools. Okay. Four in the US. Okay. Um, a few of them in in Ireland. Okay. And a few of them in, in, um, Canada. U1 18:19 Okay. Did you spread out your applications in the US? Was in a particular region or was it in a particular region that was not cold? U2 18:25 Do you? It's the funny thing is, even even, um, while I was even while I was applying, I ended up not even using that as a criteria. Okay. I was like, so I can't I can't use that as an excuse. I mean, it would be nice, but then right as an excuse. So the way I spread on my application was like, uh, fewer top schools 1s and lower schools. U1 18:52 So as aspirational schools, schools that you'd aspire to be in, schools that, you know, you can get as schools that you totally know that you can get into? Yes. I suppose to just, you know, looking at and that's one thing most people have problems with. They they look for the only apply to the aspirational schools, and then they ignore the schools that they can actually get into, the schools that, you know, no brainer. I would get into this. Okay. So what was your first impression? You know, there's always this notion, there's this picture that you have in your mind. You've watched action movies, you've watched tech movies, and then you get here. What were your first impressions upon arriving and how did you cope with the adjustment? U2 19:33 On first impressions when I go here, right? I know this is very local, but I was like, it's right there. So I was like, there's no kids to help me. And. U1 19:46 My route from U2 19:47 from the bus stop to my apartment. Right. But in terms of like the environments was very I was like, this is very, very different from what I'm used to, 1s which is U1 20:03 where were you? What were you expecting? What are you saying? This is different from what you're used to. What did you. What do you mean? Can you explain that? U2 20:10 The first of all, everywhere. Just look beautiful. Yeah. 1s Just look stunning. Um, there was everything just worked, right when I first learned, I was like, okay, I'll be expecting the bus in two minutes. And in two minutes, the bus was actually there. I was like, that's not something that happens back home. You see. U1 20:32 So so this is Southern California. So maybe you need to explain where exactly you are because, you know, this is the University of Southern California, you know, so it's a converted school. I know, um, one of the Obama daughters finished from there, you know, so it's you you have the high players. I know Doctor Dre's daughter went there as well. You know, something to do. The music has something to do with the musical school. So describe the setting where you are so that people will understand when you say it's better. Because I know Southern California is beautiful. I don't like LA, but you're in LA area. I'm a San Diego man. I live up north, so. But just describe what you mean when you say. It's it's a beautiful architecture. So. So people understand what you mean. U2 21:18 So there's the thing about USC in particular is we have a thing for red bricks. So U1 21:27 that's the first U2 21:28 movie. No. Yes. Every single building but a red brick. It's interesting. U1 21:36 I didn't know that U2 21:37 color is cardinal and gold. So it kind of also ties in U1 21:41 the cardinal. I don't know what that is. It's U2 21:44 it kind of like wine, red wine, red 2s cross U1 21:50 for me. Okay. U2 21:52 When I, when I first got there, that was actually that I said when I first, when I first learned that that was the first thing that struck me initially I was like, there is a lot of material in it. You could choose any other material. Why is it every building having the same color? Right. So it's everywhere. It's cardinal and gold red bricks. Um, the architecture doesn't particularly look so modern, like the way they still preserve the antiquities in those architecture whilst introducing like, different modern aspects into it. But it doesn't overshadow the way the actual school came up to be. So, and one thing I know is almost in every place I go to, there's a water fountain, which is really nice because it's actually always called the water fountain. So there's a lot of water fountains, a lot of statues, right? And all statues and all of green leaves, a lot of open places that people can connect right now. I remember when I first came, after I came, um, that seemed like, okay, I probably need to try and get I need to get something. And I walked in. So there's this thing that we have we call the US village. Okay. So basically that's where most of the undergrads stay, and that's a place where most at least when they are non campus, that's where most students all come together to like interact mix. Um okay Harvard show if you want to buy anything. Most of all the stores are right 1s there okay okay. And they're in. Andrea I hated kitchens, but then they are. 3s Their names. So there's and there's this, there's this football fans in there which like the dead center of the entire village because villages, I think it's like a triangle kind of shape ish, because when there's this fountain, there's a fountain there. They have a lot of seating areas there if you want, if you want to get like a sunbath, 2s you get pass on. Okay. Okay. Okay. So, um, so that's that's how you kind of coped with your initial. So any, any surprises, any cultural surprises or experiences and how has it impacted your, um, your perspective? Yeah. So, um, the other thing is when I was coming here, I was thinking because it a lot of, um, the people Athens one area that I was like, oh, the little people that are in the US are really open. And then when I came here, I mean, for the first few weeks here, people were open. And after a while I noticed they were not at least the expectation as to how they were open was not what was happening. Right? Maybe. Or if you needed help or yeah, sure, they're going to help you, right? But then they said you can't use I mean, normally you can't just walk up to a stranger. I want to make friends with them. But then, like, doing classes, I was like, okay, uh, once in class will most likely see each other every single day. So I was like, okay, this this, um, it's different. So I think, yeah, that was for me. That was the cultural shock being that people were actually more closed off than out. Maybe, maybe because while owning you and we don't really know each other and maybe other people or not. But then initially I was thinking, oh, everybody's going to be open, right? Those make up three new friends. Well, that didn't happen. No. Okay, okay. The other thing that I wouldn't say is a cultural shock was, um, I was also like during my research, I was also I was housing so keen on diversity. Um, like. Open to anyone, open to any place. So I know that you are coming in seeing us, although us is a really diverse school. You see, I've met a lot different people here, right? But when I did my research, I didn't know that this school, they have a lot of black people. So when I came here, I wasn't really expecting, I wasn't really expecting to see that many. But then it turns out I was wrong. U1 26:18 Older 2s people of color. And it's the city. It's the worst. Rather U2 26:25 okay. It's worse. It's why nobody else like now I know. I just feel like every day I'm watching myself like, oh, when I look back in the like in the future, when I look back to this particular moment, I was like, wow. Different calibers of people, different people from different eras, you see. So I was just like mesmerized because I'm like, there are some other universes that are not necessarily like that, and you really have it. Like it takes a toll on some people because they feel like, oh, they can't be friendly, they can't be friendly. Some people don't put them in your village centers because they are not coming from the same background that you're coming from. But then here at first I was thinking, oh, bipolar, I probably feel that way, but then not as long, because even in the first week when I was coming from my department, I feel like 3 or 4 gentlemen, they were all just near one of our department buildings, all discussing, and I just walked up to them. I was like, hey, how are you guys doing? Like, I just go here. Um, 1s to be honest, I just thought maybe I could reach out because I just needed some help and, like, a manager. And I was like, yeah, I think you're Nigerian. And we all just clicked and then. Right. Okay. It's just been going really well. Okay. U1 27:44 So how are they? What about the academic experience? How is it different from, um, how is it different from Niger? I know, so I know you went to U2 27:53 um U1 27:54 where did you attend Babcock? U2 27:57 University. Sorry. Yes, one of them, um, I so how is it different? How is the teaching style? Um, so I don't know how, uh, Babcock or Carolina University teach at the school that I went to a public, U1 28:12 um, Nigeria university, so. But but you would have a very good you already had a very good exposure to this kind of. So how is it different for you? How has it been different for you? One is worse. It is not well done. It's not well in in Sweden there's U2 28:28 this phase called Le cram, le Paul. U1 28:31 Oh yeah. I've got no rhythm for I was I knew you. 2s Did you have that in comment. But U2 28:37 for some, for the, for me there were difficult courses that U1 28:42 it was just you had to do that. It's U2 28:43 easier for me to just crumble. 1s One less than you have put in. That was one of the reasons why I actually wanted to come to your school, because that is a different thing. When you understand why things are working in a certain way, then it's easier for you to build on that. So when I came here, that was that one thing that I found out the difference, which I was expecting. It is less common but more practical in there on something in this particular format. The other reason why they explained in this particular format, they understand it and they like tied to, um, your experiences. So, um, one of them was the and the adjustment is analysis of algorithms. Yeah. Very, U1 29:34 very interesting graph. But you've U2 29:37 been in for that course initially when you started. And I want you to curriculum as well. It feels a little bit too theoretical. U1 29:45 Yeah it is. It's actually a theoretical class. It's not a practical. It's a it's actually a math U2 29:49 class. Yes. So U1 29:51 for some interesting reason, analysis of algorithm is actually more math than computer science. Sure. But you'd be surprised as to how in like what we're trying to solve some assignments and some different projects, right? Sometimes I just look at the particular topic and I would try to I actually would understand some like how some practical things actually come to play. Okay. Well, not to be too technical. One of them was um NP completeness, NP hardness, right. Yeah. U2 30:24 When initially I was like. This is okay. Now I understand this, but then this too technical. Like, how does that affect into the road? Yeah. And I met one of my professors and he explained it and I was like, oh yeah, no, that makes sense. U1 30:40 Yes, 1s I mean that that's actually one of the reasons why, um, Tesla able to build a car with full self-driving and that's like one of those problems. No, one of those problems that I have them if theoretical, if you have that theoretical understanding, you can come up with a practical solution or. Yeah. So it was from there does and and I really understood that okay. So probably I should only look at it from theoretical aspect. I should also look at it as well. How can I apply this in a more practical aspect. And one grateful for one of the courses that I took. Um, database systems. Yeah. Where it wasn't the classes. Very practical. Yes, well, most people just think of a database or you have data points into this bucket. Right? But right when he was explaining to me when I was in, not only to me, but when I was explaining to like a course like our students, my colleagues and other students, what is actually going on on that hood? Yeah. Like stats on us that doesn't accept. And then also this is why they do this. This is why the dots that was what led this round for me. I really liked it because I'm like Sorna is always very curious. Trying to understand what goes on under the U2 32:03 hood was not about the hood. It's really helpful because when I'm making those well, in couple of years and I'm making those decisions, basically say we should not go down this route because they we have a limitation at this particular aspect. Yeah, yeah. That was one thing that I really liked, not just because I know anybody can just go online on LinkedIn, right? Yeah. So but you have to meet on a higher level, right on a lower level. So I'm able to understand the entire stack. Yes, I'll have more on this and like more intuition and be able to make the right judgments. So that was one thing I really liked being that I could take those theoretical aspects and then I can transform 1s it back to go. Solution. Yeah. So things like the cap theorem and how to scale databases or things like that, you can handle the computationally bound workloads, memory bound workloads or things like that kind of gives you an insight into okay, so this is how I should be looking at this kind of things and things like that. Oh yeah. U1 33:11 The other thing that is very important for we've talked about all the technical jargons most people will have, U2 33:17 you know, board. What about the social life or networking. You talked about meeting three Nigerians. What is. No, I'm not going to ask about personal life, but what is social life like? You know what is what is that thing that. What what what, what takes you offline. You know, all this all technical stuff is all fun. U1 33:37 But what about offline? How do you deal with the social connect? You know, connectedness. What? What has that been like for you? U2 33:44 Are you okay? One of them is naturally all right. Naturally. I've always been an introvert. Okay, great. Even before I came out or before I finished undergrad, I was like, nah, don't become an introvert. I want to be an extrovert. So, okay, when I came in, when I was coming up, I don't know how introverts changed extroverts. Very difficult, but I want to hear this one. It's difficult. It's kind of like actually, I know that as an introvert, there are some things, you know, want to do. If you want to be an extrovert, you do the opposite of what what U1 34:24 people would do. Yeah. U2 34:25 So most of the time I would do the opposite of what I actually want to what what my mind is telling me is just do this and you will find out the opposite of that. U1 34:37 Right. Just to see what happens. Yeah. So when I came here, I was like, when I first came here, I was like, man, it's going to be okay. Either man. It's going to be difficult for me to really connect with people, being that I used to be an introvert, but then, I mean, it was easier because everybody understand each other here. Yeah, it is, it is on a different level, right? For me, when I went that first day, when I came, then I went to the village, I was walking back and then someone just stopped me and they were like it was stop. It stopped me. Was like asking, oh, if I'm interested in this answer, oh yeah, yes I am. And then from there we just continue talking. And now I like really good friends. Oh, nice. The one in class, the two people that sat down beside me, I will say, like, now I like my closest friends. Okay, okay. That's good. U2 35:32 When I came out, just like anything, I was like, I love different part because let me put into perspective, okay? The thing is, most master's classes that I usually hear from like different people that like or master's class, you don't see up to 100 students in the class, but U1 35:50 that hundred is a lot, U2 35:51 actually. Yeah. Shall I tell you how many were in my class? Oh, we are 800. 800? Yes. Wait wait wait wait. U1 36:01 When you say 800. Are you talking about 800? Across U2 36:05 all U1 36:06 the. All the master's U2 36:08 program? No, across all the master's program. I would say in the thousands. Wait a minute. Wait, wait, wait. Hold on. This is when you say 880, 800. In computer science, you know, so U1 36:21 800 in engineering or 800 in the ground? U2 36:24 No, in the course, in the particular course I'm taking. Right. Which U1 36:28 is your example. Which one is it. U2 36:31 Analysis of algorithm U1 36:32 analysis of the algorithm. The computer science class. So what's in computer science okay. U2 36:37 Well it's hundred students 800 U1 36:40 students. So wait. So wait a minute. The grad program can have students. Is it is this undergrad taking grad classes that are 800 or is this just all grad U2 36:50 students, mostly all grad students? Okay, that's a 1s that's a huge class I have. I don't think we're more than 40 in my class 800. That's something that's a huge enrollment. Yep. Yep U1 37:03 a USC is is a it's U2 37:05 not a public school, right? No, it's a private school. U1 37:09 It's it's funny because I thought because USC so this so so it's not part of the UC system. No it's not incredible 800 800. Yeah okay okay fine. That's not okay. Continue what you're trying to say. Now that's a lot of people. Yeah. So, um, during when I first got into class, when I had done about like, what time is it? Because even back home, the there's, there's a general class. I used to have a general course like everybody that's saying everybody in town level, everybody in town level. And I knew in that course there were around 800 students. So I'm like, that's like the whole U2 37:49 school was like full. U1 37:52 What is it, department level. U2 37:53 But this is just for one particular course. At this point, I'm not even considering students that are ahead. Yeah. Let's go. So people that just came in I mean 1s I was like 800 before I did that. I was like, no, in terms of like replacement people, I was like, nah, it looks like I'll end up becoming an introvert because I'm like, I don't know how I'm going to relate with. And I was and I ended up doing the opposite thing. So like now when when I get to class, I'm like, I'm just me. So now I was like, hey, listen, why didn't they all just from the others connect? And then we'll just connect. And then now when I go into class. I'm like, he was abiding. I would have spoken to almost like 30 to 40 people. Wow. You're fat. Good. Sit down. I know one of my friends would be, like, symbology. He just knows something. I'm like, what is it I gotta know to make? 3s What? I will U1 38:52 usually, naturally what I've done. U2 38:54 Okay, okay. That that's a that's a good one. That kind of helps you out of your comfort zone so that you can. So, so this this kind of jumps into the next question of personal growth. So how is it how is that so I know you got here in September last year. Sorry. Not U1 39:11 September this year. U2 39:12 No August. U1 39:14 Oh sorry. August. U2 39:16 Well it's been a while. I don't forget it was first week in September. So far, so U1 39:22 good. So do you use a semester system or a quarter system? U2 39:25 We use a semester system, the master system. So it's okay. So you're you're currently finishing up your your fall semester. Yes. U1 39:34 Okay. So what has um what has been the. Well we've explained the biggest challenges. How do you feel? You've grown, you know, you you've kind of touched on some of that, you know, doing the opposite of what you want to do. But how do you feel you've grown? What is what is your current outlook? U2 39:52 Uh, I would say, um, outside of academics, but yeah, I've grown quite a lot because I know in confidence, in adversity. The one thing that they really, really thought that I was grateful enough to like, pick up was the concept of time. Like getting to places on time. But then here, now, I don't know. It's just like part and parcel of me that I'm like, because if I'm not 30 minutes early, I'm late. U1 40:24 Yeah, it's the traditional you have to make sure you you hammer that into yourself so, you know, carries on with you. So. Yeah. U2 40:31 Okay. So aside from that, um, learning time, time management now has become like one thing that I know I've improved on because given that we have just, um, initially I was thinking, oh, just two courses. I'll have a lot of free time on my hand. Yeah. No, that was wrong. Yeah. The dead don't let it trick you. Those two classes. Uh, yeah, U1 40:59 because it was, like, almost. If not every week. Every two weeks, we have a new quiz. We had a science arts riddle. I also had, like, other different things to to do. So then, uh, then my calendar almost became like my best friend. Yes. U2 41:17 So I'll be, like, U1 41:19 booking your calendars U2 41:21 and just ensure that I don't forget, because I know there are some things that I'm like, well, doing this particular at this particular day and I end up forgetting about it. And I'll say it, my time management became a lot better than when I started off. Um, in terms of like connecting with different people, say, no, I'm no longer hours outside of my shares. I used to say no. So school was. 2s Awesome. Different people are. 1s And the other thing I would say is technical ways of understanding. Now, when all the other they taught me in like my undergrad, everything that they taught me, that one I got, now it's beginning to 1s make sense. Okay. Makes sense. And then all else again. Yeah. For now, I think those are like, okay. I can't really think of. Okay. Okay. So, um, I know we're kind of on a pathway of, uh, planning to the next phase would be to, um, to do the to the to do the nesby. Yes. U1 42:30 So what what has have you connected to local Nesby chapters at USC? And, you know, what is the plan like for Nesby Atlanta 2024 U2 42:40 now? Yes. So, uh, when I got here, uh, I joined the. I joined the docket initially beginning of semester. Let me go back to the beginning of semester because I was able to plan my time. I won't say too well, but I was able to do it efficiently. Okay. So I attend a lot of events that were occurring on on campus and then more room to like, connect to different people. Okay. When there was this particular events that the Nesby at the USC chapter, they were there. So there on I joined the USB Nesby chapter. Okay. I'll be joining the I'll be not only their meetings I think is every Monday around 7 p.m.. Okay. Yeah, I've been joining that, you know, and then because all of these events that be like attending, I met six different people. I ended up speaking with. So I ended up working with one of the senior director of the center for Engineering Diversity. Okay. That's good. 1s I didn't know that he was like the senior director. Okay. Until after the entire event. And we go, our contact pictures are like, okay, I'll connect to him after. And then another checked him up. Another? He's the senior director. Wow. That's interesting. So it was from those relationships that I then, um, I was able to like. Good. So do I do. Or is the partner was the one that I was able to fund to go to some different conferences. Okay. But in terms of the plan, now that I'm part of the US in this big chapter, right at all the schoolhouse funds, um, send a few students to get to Nesby, the 50th one that's coming up next year. So I sent in my application for that one. Just waiting for response. Hopefully I get it 1s was always going to be a plan B, was going to be U1 44:52 a plan to make sure, you know. U2 44:54 Yeah. U1 44:55 Okay. And um, so, so like I mentioned earlier to you, uh, prior to starting this, we're going to be following, you know, how things are. So to just try and see where you are. What's the update? But in, in, uh, in conclusion, what you know, so this is, uh, it's called Nepa. Jackpot. So a lot of people typically, you know, they leave Nigeria and everybody just disappears off the radar. So everyone's just, you know, huddled down. The aim of the podcast is to just ensure that we can share these stories so that people would actually understand, hey, there's a there's there's a plan that works. There's something that you have to do. You know, you have been proactive. I mean, you met a senior director that you didn't know he was a senior director. And if you had just said, uh, well, let me just trace my studies. Which is good. You should. But, you know, there's this other half of the U2 45:44 plan. And, you U1 45:46 know, essentially what I wanted to say is that what has what has the, you know, your jackpot story, you know, their journey. You know, what has it meant to you now so far? I mean, so far. The good thing is I'm catching it very early so that people would not think it's, oh, you know, it was also lucky. So you know, you know, so, so far. I said right now in December 2023, what has your journey been like so far in this? First, let's say first quarter of, you know, you know, your jackpot story so far? Well, uh, one thing is I always tell a lot. I remember I told a lot of my friends and I still tell them, like I particularly told. I told them that since it's a I call it on my LinkedIn, I called it the journey from moving from a good so a Trojan. And it's why I say that it's because being an eagle like COVID-19 was the day. Because most events are referred to as eagles. Okay, it's called a Trojan, right? When I tell students it's less so a journey of just living the country, but it's more so actually finding my calling, right? Only finding my calling. Also, um, learning. More importantly, learning and seeing how I can impact other people's lives, how they can learn from like, my footsteps 1s and learn from my mistakes. Or they can learn from, because that's how we all end up going to grow along. The journey is such that I'm always looking for trying to get me the best that can be 2s the best, right? And when I grew to love other people, so that's those that don't have the opportunity. Would have the opportunity in some particular way. Whereas when I told them that when I'm when I live, when I'm leaving Nigeria open to come back a bit, I'll come back, put some necessary things in place, right? Like, uh, there was okay, there's this one. I don't know if I didn't tell you there was. There's this, um, I found a few of my other friends. Right. But that is, um, uh, kind of like a small company or voice when students enter undergrad. Um, we're trying to teach them what they are going to be expecting when they are finishing school. Oh, absolutely. A whole four years. Um, I got that knowledge when I was about to finish school. Right. And I was initially I was thinking, is it too late for me already? Because when I came into the US, those years now doesn't shock that and doesn't mean that's a shock I did. Because students, when students were coming into like when undergrads, freshmen are coming here three years, they are exposed to a lot of opportunities, right. What's that? By the time they're finished school, they have an idea of what they want to do and how they're going to get there. Right? They have like 3 to 4 years to decide the path that they're going to take. 1s But then back home, it's different in the sense that you don't know about that. You only get to know about that when you are leaving school. The timing is is too short to really say, okay, this is exactly what I want to do. So if you've not thought about it from 1s the beginning here, it's going to be difficult for you as you end up saying, okay, this is what I want to do, but then why do you want to do that? You don't really be able to answer that, right? That was what we're trying to solve. Like can we bring the education further backwards so that when people are coming in, when people are joining, we'll be able to teach them, let them like, this is what you need to do, right? This aspect that I want to this, this aspect that I want to learn. Right. I know going through this journey. Right. Thinking about how when I get back, I'll be able to like give back to other people so that when they are and not only about when they are entering entry right U2 50:08 is opportunities to learn and learn from how they can move from there so that when they are coming out of school, that will set up for, for. So U1 50:20 that's good. That's that's probably quite aligned with what I'm trying to do with the podcast as well, so that people can get an idea like, okay, I'm about to study in the US, what am I what is that? What am I going to see? Yeah, well, what is that expectation? You know, what is the pathway? Uh, you hear so many horror stories about everybody is just they're enjoying. Oh, everybody's they're suffering. But you don't you never hear from people because either people are so busy, which is expected. Um, but yeah, that, that has, that has been very, very good. Yeah. Well, thank you very much. I don't want to take so much of a time. Thank you for, um, spending an hour of your day. U2 50:59 All right. Thank you. You very much. Have a good one. You.