The Non-Immigrant Student

The Non-Immigrant Student podcast is finally here!!I am happy to be finally bringing this to the world today, February 10th, 2021, exactly 1 year after I got admitted into Cornell University!It’s so nice to have you here and I can’t wait to go on this journey with you!Please listen, share and subscribe!Also, kindly rate and leave your honest review of each episode.Thank you very much!Much Love x Respect,ToluSupport the showPlease rate the podcast wherever you listen, and leave a review where you can. It helps me reach more people. Thank you! Also, follow here for more :)

In this episode, I share my fears, hopes, and dreams for this podcast but most importantly, describe who the non-immigrant student is.Please listen, share, subscribe, and also leave a rating and review for the podcast.Thank you very much!Much Love x Respect,Tolu Support the showPlease rate the podcast wherever you listen, and leave a review where you can. It helps me reach more people. Thank you! Also, follow here for more :)

Helllo everyone! Thank you so much for stopping by.In this episode, I share my reasons for why I started this podcast and also introduce myself to you and how I’m still becoming!I hope you enjoy it!Please listen, share and subscribe and also feel free to leave your honest ratings and reviews of the podcast so far!I look forward to all your responses.Much Love x Respect,Tolu Support the showPlease rate the podcast wherever you listen, and leave a review where you can. It helps me reach more people. Thank you! Also, follow here for more :)

My journey to the hills of Ithaca in a nutshell!(Not me starting out to record for only 30minutes but ending after 60minutes!)In this episode, I share how I overcame the struggles of US Graduate Admissions and reminisce on the period when I found out I got admitted into Cornell!It’s been exactly 1 year since I got mail that I was accepted into the Engineering Management program and I’m so happy to relive the moment while being a current student at Cornell campus!Cheers to the awesomeness that is Cornell and the greatness that are Cornellians all over the world!Please listen, share,subscribe and leave the podcast a rating and review :)Thank you very much!All my Love,Tolu  Support the showPlease rate the podcast wherever you listen, and leave a review where you can. It helps me reach more people. Thank you! Also, follow here for more :)

Hi people!!!!It’s been a hot minute!I hope you did miss me ;)The long awaited episode is here!We have our first guest- Pearl Abue - with us today and she decided to share her PhD experience at University of Texas, Austin and how she’s been navigating it so far!She also plays the “This or That” game at the end :)I hope you enjoy listening to the episode as much as we enjoyed recording it!If you’re a struggling PhD student, we hope that this encourages you to keep the faith and keep pushing till you get to the end of the finish line!Pearl,I and all other non-immigrant students across the globe are completely rooting for you!If we can do it, you can do it too!Enjoy!Love,Your favorite Podcast Host,ToluSupport the showPlease rate the podcast wherever you listen, and leave a review where you can. It helps me reach more people. Thank you! Also, follow here for more :)

Hey guys!New week, New episode!Yassss, I’m finally sharing my experience with COVID-19!I try to recount the moment I found out I tested positive to the day I eventually tested negative;sadly,I also share some of my current struggles with grad school and my current coping mechanisms.In this episode, I am joined by another COVID survivor - Rotachi, an MSc. Student at Creighton University-  who shares her experience as an  asymptomatic COVID patient.We hope you’re able to learn a thing or two from our experiences that inspire you to stay the path of physical and social distancing ,improving your health and immunity and staying “double” masked (if you can), till we reach the finish line of this global pandemic!Enjoy and see you in the next episode :)6ft. distanced hugs,ToluP.S: Kindly rate and subscribe to my podcast and  leave me a review as well! Thank you so much! Support the showPlease rate the podcast wherever you listen, and leave a review where you can. It helps me reach more people. Thank you! Also, follow here for more :)

Heyyyyyyyy fellow NISs!Welcome back to another special episode!In this episode, I voice blog [vlog] about my two birthday parties and why I was really pumped to celebrate my birthday this year!I was so grateful that I got to share the moments with you and all of my friends back at home because it was such a happy weekend!All the pictures and videos can be found on the Instagram page (and in the Story Highlights) for this podcast so please check them out if you’re really interested!So, I might not sound as excited as I do right now in this episode because I also share my testimony of getting an F-1 visa and how I made it to the US just in time to avoid deferring till Spring 2021 but I want you to know that I’m happy and just really grateful to God for how far He has brought me.Feel free to shed a few tears on my behalf too and shoot me an email to tell me how many tissues you used to dry them up so we can see who “cried pass” (naughty smile).As always, I hope you enjoy listening and hope that your FAITH is strengthened more than ever before to believe the impossible and trust in God for your miracle because HE WILL COME THROUGH! He does answer prayers and All Glory be ascribed unto Him forever and ever,Amen!Thank you all again for celebrating with me!All My Love,Tolu Support the showPlease rate the podcast wherever you listen, and leave a review where you can. It helps me reach more people. Thank you! Also, follow here for more :)

Heyyyyyy guys!!!!!!!!Is it just me or this week was presumably better than the last???!!!How was your week and how are you doing?In today’s episode,I leave everything on the table guys!!!.... everything because why not?! The gist is just KPK,OPP, OPG! (insert Google definition)I share how I’ve been able to build solid friendships and meaningful relationships since I moved to the US in November 2020 and I hope it inspires you to do same and build your own community!If you decide to take notes while listening (I’m  actually serious, I left everything on the table for you guys!),please take a picture of your note and post on Twitter or Instagram telling me your best 5 tips and how you would definitely be implementing them!Kindly tag me @toluolukanmi or @thenonimmigrantstudent respectively and I look forward to seeing your thoughts and comments about this episode! Thank You! As always, I hope you enjoy listening to it as much as I enjoyed recording it!Have a great weekend!Your Fav Podcast Host,Like duh,Tolu :)Support the showPlease rate the podcast wherever you listen, and leave a review where you can. It helps me reach more people. Thank you! Also, follow here for more :)

Heyyyy guys!It’s been a minute!Today’s episode is a “short drive n chill”, “wash plates n chill” kinda episode!I answered some of the questions you asked me via social media and I hope the answers prove helpful to you.If you need any more details, kindly shoot me an email at thenonimmigrantstudent@gmail.com, I’d be happy to assist you!Enjoy!Many thanks,Tolu Support the showPlease rate the podcast wherever you listen, and leave a review where you can. It helps me reach more people. Thank you! Also, follow here for more :)

Heyyyy guys!Welcome back to another week of me answering all of your questions- with a little TMI here and there - for the last time this season!However, if you need any more details, you know where to find me; kindly shoot me an email at thenonimmigrantstudent@gmail.com and I’d be happy to assist you!Have a great week ahead NISs!Many thanks,Tolu Support the showPlease rate the podcast wherever you listen, and leave a review where you can. It helps me reach more people. Thank you! Also, follow here for more :)

Yayyyy!!!... the Bonus Episode is finally here!How have you been? As for me, school is rounding up around here and summer vibes are already kicking in!Well, I'm back now so welcome back from your 2-week listening hiatus!As promised, this is the bonus episode to finally wrap up Season 1.In this episode, I talk about my experience with filing taxes for the first time in America and give a special shout-out to a childhood friend!Also, I  dropped the whole gist about the Jollof Wars event organized by the Cornell Johnson African Business Graduate Students' community and you can check out pictures and videos from the event on my Instagram ''Spring'21  Part 4 '' story highlights!Lastly, I  made mention of a referral link for those of you who might be interested in starting your own podcast. A friend of mine, Alexandra Zion, who hosts the Poem O'Clock podcast, shared her referral link on her blog which I then used to start mine. I'm paying it forward and sharing my link with you as well so here you go: https://www.buzzsprout.com/?referrer_id=1474882You're welcome!Most importantly, I  hope I have earned the privilege of your time this season.With Nigerian Jollof Love & Respect,Bye for now and see you in Season 2!!!!Tolu Support the showPlease rate the podcast wherever you listen, and leave a review where you can. It helps me reach more people. Thank you! Also, follow here for more :)

Yasssssssssssssss!We back!In Season 1, we had almost 2000 downloads from 180 cities in 25 countries across the world, with over 500 followers on Instagram and still counting!I couldn’t have done it without you so Thank you!In this new season, other non-immigrant students from the US, Europe, and Canada will be sharing their stories with us and how they set out to fulfill their respective study-abroad dreams.I am so excited for Season 2 as our podcast guests will be here each week, dishing inspiration and motivation to lead better non-immigrant lives, back to back to back!!!!!Also, enjoy the uncut recording mishap at the end of this trailer (insert sad laughter), I was just trying to tell you to please re-share or retweet the episode posters when you see them on social media (Thank you!) Anyway, in the spirit of ''we move'', I AM SO READY FOR SEASON 2 but are you????Are you sure you’re ready?!!!!!Okay then, let’s go!Happy Hugs,Tolu  Support the showPlease rate the podcast wherever you listen, and leave a review where you can. It helps me reach more people. Thank you! Also, follow here for more :)

Nnamdi is a recent Cornell MBA graduate from Lagos, Nigeria, focusing on Corporate Finance and Strategy. He has worked with PwC as an auditor in its financial services unit and subsequently as head of Financial Planning and Analysis at Babban Gona, an agricultural social enterprise in Africa.He graduated from the Federal University of Technology Owerri (FUTO), Nigeria where he majored in Industrial Chemistry. He is a UK-certified chartered accountant and a member of the prestigious Cornell University Venture Capital fund manager group - Big Red Ventures. In his spare time, he loves to watch and play soccer, listen to podcasts, and watch documentaries. His favorite podcast to date is “Business Wars” by David Brown and his favorite documentaries center around finance and money management.In June 2021, Nnamdi ''secured the bag'' as he joined Microsoft as a Finance Manager in its Central Financial Planning and Analysis Unit.[To secure the bag is to get what you want, achieve a goal, and/or make money! (StayyHipp)]Join Nnamdi Iwuji & I as we uncover his non-immigrant story and his journey to fulfilling the American Dream!We hope you enjoy listening as much as we enjoyed recording it!Naija Love,Nnamdi  & ToluP.S:  I cannot tell my Cornell story without Nnamdi which is why I am really happy to have him share his story with us. Kindly share this episode with your network/friends looking to Study Abroad and/or pursue an MBA degree. Also, please let me know on social media, which part of his story has motivated you to now live your best NIS life. Thank you! Support the showPlease rate the podcast wherever you listen, and leave a review where you can. It helps me reach more people. Thank you! Also, follow here for more :)

Kutlwano is a recent Cornell MBA graduate from Gaborone, Botswana interested in  Digital Technology, Fintech, and Data Analytics. Prior to Business school, he was a Technology Consultant where he helped clients across Africa and the Middle East launch digital products targeted towards alleviating financial exclusionary practices.He graduated from Rhodes University with a Bachelor of Business Science in Information Systems and Economics and from the University of Pretoria, South Africa with a Master’s in Information Technology.During his time at Cornell Johnson Business School, he was a member of the Clearstone Venture Fellowship Fund, a Board Member of the Johnson Christian Fellowship (JCF) club, and a course assistant for select Fall and Spring electives. Upon graduation, he was awarded the A. Donald Kelso award for making numerous, significant contributions to the advancement of the Johnson Business School.In his spare time, he loves to watch soccer, play tennis, and recently learned to play golf. In June 2021, he joined Google Cloud as a Technical Account Manager on the Financial Services team.Please make welcome, Mr. (and Mrs.) Kutlwano Mzwinila!!!!! (insert standing ovation)We hope you enjoy listening to this episode as much as we enjoyed recording it!With Botswanan, South-African & Nigerian Love,Kutlwano, Kimberly & Tolu :)P.S:  Kutlwano and I became friends through his wife, Kimberly Mzwinila, who I love so very much! They were one of my first friends here at Cornell and getting to know them has been such a blessing. I absolutely cannot tell my Cornell story without them which is why I am so honored to have met them and now do life with them from here onward! P.P.S: Kindly share this episode with students moving to a new country with their spouses and with those interested in landing a job at Google (so much to learn!), Thank you! Support the showPlease rate the podcast wherever you listen, and leave a review where you can. It helps me reach more people. Thank you! Also, follow here for more :)

Olufisayo Babalola holds a BSc. in Electrical and Electronics Engineering from the University of Ibadan and recently completed a Master's degree in Engineering Management from Dartmouth College.Before her masters, she worked at Softcom Limited as a Product Analyst and Product Manager and has now joined Google as a full-time Associate Product Manager.In her spare time, she loves to sew and create Digital Art.++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++I have invited Fisayo, in particular, because I consider her a very successful non-immigrant student, living and fulfilling the ‘’American Dream’’ I set out to achieve when I left my home country over six months ago.I am deeply inspired by how she lives purposefully and pursues her dreams so courageously which is why I have invited her to share her imminent story with me and other non-immigrant students across the globe.Olufisayo remains a motivation to many and I am so proud to know her :)As always, I hope you enjoy listening as much as we enjoyed recording!Sister Love,Fisayo & Tolu Support the showPlease rate the podcast wherever you listen, and leave a review where you can. It helps me reach more people. Thank you! Also, follow here for more :)

Imelda Godswill is a recent Master's graduate (Hons.)  from Teesside University, Middlesborough, UK, and majored in Visual Effects and Animation. She is originally from Akwa-Ibom State, Nigeria, and has been to 8 countries-Ghana, Rwanda, UAE, Amsterdam, UK, Morocco, Italy, and Germany- since she moved to the UK to pursue her graduate studies.She is passionate about Fashion and Photography and in her spare time, loves to travel, skate, read and create content for her YouTube page.++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++Chiagoro Ahaotu is a graduate student at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology studying Offshore Renewable Energy under the Erasmus Mundus Scholarship and is also the co-founder of Masters Prep - a not-for-profit educational group.He has traveled to the UK, Spain, France, and Norway since he started his graduate studies and is passionate about energy transition and cleantech. Join us as we uncover the tips and tricks of traveling to your bucket-list destinations even on a student's budget.I hope you enjoy listening as much as we enjoyed recording!Ajala Love,Imelda, Chiggy &  ToluN/B: This episode was originally recorded during an Instagram Live Event on Friday 30th July 2021 and the video recording can be found here! Support the showPlease rate the podcast wherever you listen, and leave a review where you can. It helps me reach more people. Thank you! Also, follow here for more :)

Hey friends!I just thought it well to welcome you all to the new 2021/2022 school year and the Fall Semester of 2021!!!For me, it’s been surreal seeing students in their thousands back on campus. It feels so good and I hope that wherever you are, you are happy to be resuming school in person too!Thank you for being friends and followers of my journey so far and I hope that we all finish the semester/year ahead, victorious and accomplished!Have a wonderful and testimony-filled semester ahead!Much Wavy Love x Respect,Tolu Support the showPlease rate the podcast wherever you listen, and leave a review where you can. It helps me reach more people. Thank you! Also, follow here for more :)

Based on popular demand, I decided to host a Q & A session with my friends Pearl, Ladi, and Daniel who’ve been abroad now for about 1-6 semesters, to ask them how life has been for them since they moved from their home country Nigeria to study in the US and Canada respectively.Pearl Abue is a 3rd year Ph.D. student of the Chemical Engineering department at UT Austin working on research on Chlorine initiated chemistry in indoor and outdoor environments. She received her Masters in Chemical Engineering from UT Austin in May 2021 and her B. Eng. in Chemical Engineering from Covenant University in 2018. Also, she previously volunteered with the MastersPrep group helping students through their admissions process, and in her spare time, enjoys reading young adult fantasy novels, viewing unconventional art spaces, and exploring the state of Texas (with hopes to explore the rest of the world soon).Ladi Adeoluwa is currently pursuing a Ph.D. degree in Electrical Engineering at the University of Alabama, USA. His research interests include Radar/Lidar Signal processing, Deep learning, and Embedded Systems.Daniel (DI) Ojinaka is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Technology Innovation Management Program at Carleton University, Ottawa, Canada and works as the Program Ambassador at the University's Business Accelerator, helping technology startups from the university to develop and grow their businesses. Also, Daniel is a member of the Sprott Student Consulting Group where he is leading a project with the Impact Management Academy and his interests revolve around technology, research, sustainability, and impact projects that address climate change.  In his spare time, he is either ideating on a side project he's managing, watching a TV series on Netflix, or staring at an exotic plant.Join Pearl, Ladi, DI, and I as we discuss ways you can adjust to your new life as an international student!I hope you enjoy listening and learning, as much as we enjoyed recording and sharing!North American Love,Pearl, Ladi, DI & ToluN/B: This episode was originally recorded during an Instagram Live Event on Saturday 21st August 2021 and the video recording can be found here! Support the showPlease rate the podcast wherever you listen, and leave a review where you can. It helps me reach more people. Thank you! Also, follow here for more :)

Happy Labor Weekend guys!This one's for my prospective undergraduate friends/audience planning to study at a College or University in USA!Fath' Ma Marcelah is a sophomore from Goma, Democratic Republic of Congo majoring in Landscape Architecture at Cornell University. In her spare time, she loves to design and enjoys dancing.Daniel Idakwoji is a sophomore from Abuja,Nigeria majoring in Chemical Engineering at Cornell University. Kato David Adam is a freshman from Rwanda, intending to major in Political Science at the College of Arts and Sciences at UPenn.  Also, he is interested in other forms of academia - Medicine, International Relations, Philosophy, Ethics- and loves engaging in or listening to conversations centered around these knowledge domains. In his spare time, David enjoys volunteering, staying engaged in the community, spending time with friends and listening to music.Join Fath’Ma, Daniel, David and I as we discuss the requisites to applying and obtaining admission in an Ivy League University!I hope you enjoy listening and learning, as much as we enjoyed recording and sharing!Ivy League Love,Fath'Ma, Daniel, David & ToluN/B: This episode was originally recorded during an Instagram Live Event on Monday 6th September, 2021 and the video recording can be found here! Support the showPlease rate the podcast wherever you listen, and leave a review where you can. It helps me reach more people. Thank you! Also, follow here for more :)

...It’s one thing to admit it and admit it openly but a whole ‘nother thing to put a label on it. I have now put a label on it. My time at Cornell has been tough. I have struggled and I’m almost coming out on top, still alive and gasping for breath but I made it. Graduation is around the corner; I still have a lot of questions but now I know that I would rather be at Hollywood than at..... I would rather be on TV than in front of it. Also, it took me so long but now I know that Jesus still loves me. He never left my side. I was lonely but never alone. I was always cared for even when I didn’t ask for it.'Oh you’d be fine’, ‘This too shall pass’,  ‘It’d soon be over’, words that felt like non-existent hugs and fake smiles. You don’t tell that to a girl who wants to sleep all day so she doesn’t have to get out of bed to once again to sit in front of a laptop all day wishing that giving up was an option.  You don’t tell that to the girl who spends her daily bath time wondering what she’s going to make of her life after grad school. You don’t tell that to anyone, anyone at all, for whom their whole semester feels like a blur because they are on the verge of failing a graduation requirement class or dropping out of school.One thing this season proved to me anyways, is that God is the only thing that fills my void, what a friend I have in Him. Needless to say, I got lucky with my addiction. Some people never have the chance to break away nor come to admit that they need help or a way out. I look back and the only thing I see is the constant of who God was in all of it. I learned to truly kiss the (silent) waves that threw me against the Rock of Ages .On Christ, my solid rock, I stand because all other ground is sinking sand. I’m grateful for my faith and the opportunity to have built my foundation in Him. In Him, I live and move and have my being. Let all strivings cease because I have the mind of Christ. Anyway, the music stops now because I am no longer dancing with the one who seeks my downfall or destruction. I am no longer dancing with the devil.... An excerpt from Dancing with the Devil , written by Tolulope Esther OlukanmiThere is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you.-Maya AngelouSupport the showPlease rate the podcast wherever you listen, and leave a review where you can. It helps me reach more people. Thank you! Also, follow here for more :)