Ayomipo Kayode Popoola
Future grad credits the University of Idaho with preparing her for Harvard Law.
For as long as she can remember, Ayomipo Kayode Popoola has dreamt of becoming a lawyer.
She has recently met a major milestone toward this aspiration by being admitted into Harvard Law’s program. Popoola and her mentors credit her diverse history of student involvement and resilient work ethic as reasons for this prestigious achievement.
从大一开始, Popoola has been a student ambassador for the College of Letters, 艺术 and Social Sciences; director of 多样性 Affairs; lead coordinator for summer, 服务, and social action through the Center for Volunteerism and Social Action; TEDx assistant; president for the African 学生 Association; Alternative Service Break leader in Ecuador; and a representative for the UNITY Multicultural Council.
In addition to holding leadership positions across campus, Popoola is heavily involved in undergraduate research through the international studies-focused Martin Institute and is working on research relating to the mental health 服务s provided to refugees in Idaho.
Popoola也是一个专注的学生. 她一直保持着累积的3.9 GPA while working toward a Bachelor of 艺术 in international studies, 社会学文学学士学位, 辅修西班牙语和非洲研究, 以及多样性和分层的证书.
“Seeing what she’s achieved over the years, it’s unbelievable to me,” said Romuald K. Afatchao, Popoola’s mentor and advisor in international studies. “能参与其中，我感到非常荣幸.”
通过波波拉的所有成就, one of the key qualities those around her identify is her incredible humility.
娜塔莉·马格努斯, the past coordinator for at U of I’s Center for Volunteerism and Social Action, holds a deep respect for Popoola through the years of being her supervisor.
“The level of her involvement, drive, and tenacity is unmatched by her peers,” Magnus said. “It would not be uncommon for me to come back into my office later in the evening after teaching late or to pick something up, 就会有阿约, studying for the LSAT (Law School Admission Test) or writing a research paper.”
Popoola’s vision to one day attend law school was what brought her to the U of I 服务, 她在哪里相遇 职业顾问埃里克·安德森和妮可·坎贝尔.
Her compassion made Popoola one of the most respected and beloved students on campus, Anderson said.
“I just feel Ayo for me represents the Vandal Spirit,” he said. 这是一个值得未来汪达尔人学习的好故事.”
通过个别预约, her 职业顾问 helped her prepare for Harvard Law School’s junior deferral program application during the second semester of her junior year.
This program allows undergraduate students two years of personal time to explore other professional, 教育, or 服务 opportunities prior to their legal studies at Harvard. Popoola认为这个机会既雄心勃勃又安全, because she still had time to re-take the LSAT and apply to other law programs if she wasn’t accepted.
去年春天, 在波波拉生日的前一天, she was notified she was a finalist for the program and would be interviewed the following week. 在准备中，波波拉安排 模拟面试 with 职业服务 in order to sharpen her skills and worked with various mentors throughout her college and programs.
波波拉的所有准备都得到了回报. It was less than two weeks after the interviews that Popoola received the call that she was admitted to Harvard’s Law program. While the feeling of excitement was overwhelming, the emotion she recalls feeling most is relief.
“还没有完全理解，”她说. “But every time I tell someone new, it sinks in a bit more.”
Popoola now has to finish her last year at the U of I and determine what she wants to do during her two gap years prior to starting at Harvard Law School. 她可能会工作，攻读另一个学位，或者旅行. As exciting as the future is, Popoola said she will still miss the U of I and what it has given her.
“我不后悔，”她说. “我无法想象自己会去别的地方. I can’t put into words how impactful the International Studies Department has been on not just my college experience, 但是我的生活.”
作者附言:
It has been an absolute humbling experience to have had the opportunity to write about Ayo and her incredible dedication to everything she has been a part of at the U of I. 正如埃里克在采访中所说, 我相信阿约确实展现了汪达尔精神, and she will forever be known as one of the most influential students within her field. I am looking forward to seeing what else she achieves in the years to follow, because she is one of the most brilliant individuals I know.
林赛Heflin
就业服务新闻实习生
