Enny Olaleye

Dear Malcolm,

I am not going to lie to you, I hate talking about myself. So, the fact that you are making us write

a paper doing exactly that is my worst nightmare.

Although I go by Enny, my full name is actually

Toluwanimi Eniola Lydia Olaleye. A mouthful, I know. Both

of my parents, David and Fola Olaleye (both in red) are

originally from Lagos, Nigeria and moved to the United States

about 20 years ago, settling in Collegeville, Pennsylvania.

Upon arrival, my mother gave birth to my oldest sister,

Deborah (furthest left). Deborah graduated from Duke University for both her undergraduate and

graduate years and has now transitioned into a full-time lawyer in San Francisco, California.

Two years later, my parents gave birth to my second eldest sister, Abby (in between my mom

and Deborah). She graduated from UNC Charlotte in 2013 and currently works at a software

analytics company in downtown Charlotte. The four of them lived their lives for about six years,

until 1999, and that’s when I come in *cue hype music*.

I currently attend UNC Charlotte and I am a Pre-Nursing

Major (but I’ll tell you more about that later on.) I am

very proud of my heritage, it is one of the biggest

characteristics that I describe myself as. However,

sometimes individuals use my ethnicity to make

assumptions about me.

 Enny Olaleye

As a first-generation Nigerian-American, as an African American, and as a woman, the

situations I have overcome in high school and college have prepared me for the reality of life that

is to follow. During these past years, I have dealt with discrimination, misconceptions,

favoritism, and other ordeals that could have prevented me from so many opportunities if I had

allowed them to defeat me. Teachers would take one look at the name "Toluwanimi Eniola

Olaleye," and prematurely visualize the stress and confusion my "ethnicity and nationality"

would cause them. Teachers would take one look at the color of my skin, and immediately see a

student who would put forth no effort. Students, faculty, or whoever immediately knew

everything about me before I opened my mouth. However, as they impulsively voiced their

disapproval, I imagined what their future reactions would be when I finally did open my mouth

I aim to follow the behavior of my parents who explained how they sought success in fields

where people discriminate against the color of skin and foreign accents. By exemplifying respect

and communication, I changed the misconceptions of the students and teachers. The ignorance

and hatred of others will not limit or hinder my own progress, but instead will fuel my passion

for change.

One of the things I promised myself before entering college is to step outside my comfort zone. I

was going to a school, rooming with people I already

knew, majoring in a subject I am familiar with—I

needed to spice things up a bit. So, what better way to

do it than joining a sorority! Out of all things, this was

something that was completely outlandish of me. I

found myself at the center of attention of all my high

 Enny Olaleye

school friends who believed that I could never do such a thing because I did not fit the

stereotypical “blond hair, blue eye sorority girl” stereotype. I joined the organization anyway, but

I would be lying to you if I didn’t say that my friend’s opinions didn’t stick with me and I began

to even question myself. “Was I doing something wrong?” “Would I ever feel comfortable with

these individuals?” A whole semester later and I still believe that joining Kappa Alpha Theta was

one of the best decisions I have made. Being surrounded by women who support and encourage

you at your toughest times is such a wonderful feeling. They accept me for me and even laugh at

my jokes that I know are terrible. Most importantly, we all have this sisterly bond (I know its

cliché) that allows us to view each other as each other’s closest friends.

One of the last things I want to talk to you about is why I decided to be a nursing major. Now, I

have always known that I wanted to be a part of the medical field ever since I snuck into my

parent’s room and binged watched three episodes of Greys Anatomy when I was 12 years old. I

just wasn’t sure about what area I belonged to. From pharmacy to cardiology, I surveyed about

every possible medical profession (I even considered medical school but the idea of being in

school for the next 12 years of my life makes me want to jump out of window, no matter the

potential salary) until I stumbled upon nursing, which is actually ironic since my own mother has

been a registered nurse and nurse educator for the past 13 years. Medical professionals dedicate

their lives to treating others and making them as healthy as possible. My mother studied to

become a registered nurse in the United States and she explained to me that her passion for

nursing comes from the desire to care for people.

 Enny Olaleye

Nursing gave her the opportunity to educate

the nurses in Nigeria on the best practices for

positive health outcomes for patients suffering

from HIV/AIDS and other diseases. I have now

traveled to multiple places from downtown

Chicago to Puebla, Mexico to (recently) Lagos,

Nigeria and have grasped that HIV/AIDS is

global pandemic that is taking the lives of

millions more and more each year. Not only have I decided to go into the medical field as a

Nurse Anesthetist, I want to work with the Center of Disease Control and Prevention to work on

a cure for HIV/AIDS or at least increase prevention methods to decrease the amount of lives

being taken annually. I also am curious as to why those who are in need the most or those who

are receiving the least—facing problems like homelessness and living below the poverty-lines in

developing and third world countries.

Somehow, I was able to tell you about myself without sounding like a complete idiot (hopefully

anyway.) I still do not know how I feel about this class, granted it has only been two days, but I

do know that it will for sure be an interesting semester. I hope this letter gave you some insight

about myself and I look forward to getting to know you more throughout the year!

See you soon,

Enny Olaleye