Why did you choose to attend Tufts?
Tufts provided me with the opportunity to receive a high level education and compete athletically while being close to home. I am the oldest of four boys and my youngest sibling was only two when applying to college. As a result, I wanted to be close enough to spend time with him and the rest of my siblings as they grew up. Besides distance, I was attracted to the liberal arts education because I had many interests coming in and was unsure about what I would study. The medium sized student body also appealed to me coming from a smaller student body and wanting a more diverse group of friends.
What is something you enjoy doing that you never get tired of?
During the summer I love to bike around the city of Boston. Whether it is mountain biking or road biking I usually find a loop on Strava or on Google Maps and just get out whenever I can.
What has been your favorite class?
The fall of my freshman year I took a class called Parent Child Relations with professor Mary Casey. The course examined the influence that parent interactions had on children's psychosocial development. Building trust, intimacy, and communication amongst one another. It was interesting to learn about the crosscultural and socioeconomic class differences of parenting and the effect that those factors had on child development.
My favorite part of the course was the final paper where we were tasked with interviewing a parent that was not in our immediate family. I took that opportunity to interview a close friend's dad and it was fun to apply the theoretical frameworks we had learned in class to a real world example. Overall the course propelled me to pursue a minor in child studies and human development.
Who is your favorite professor?
During the spring semester of my junior year I took both microbiology lecture and lab with professor Benjamin Wolfe. The course was just meant to fulfill the biology of cells and advanced lab requirements for my major but it was made fun with Professor Wolfe. He was incredibly passionate about microbiology and that energy radiated to the way he lectured. Every class he would start by asking us to look at a specific image and guess what was going on in the picture. Professor Wolfe studies microbial evolution through fermented products such as sourdough, kimchi, and cheese; things that I never really took interest in prior to the class but found interesting whenever he mentioned it in class. He was incredibly flexible for office hours and genuinely wanted his students to do well not just for the course grade but to be able to understand the content as well.
What internships/research projects have you participated in?
During my summers I have been blessed with the opportunity to intern at Alnylam Pharmaceuticals and Prime Medicine. Both internships gave me a taste of the biotechnology sector through different perspectives. My first internship at Alnylam I worked on ligand-protein binding through a variety of techniques. The experience was eye opening and taught me to just put myself out there and to not discount myself as being underqualified. I was not expecting to get an internship my freshman year but God works in mysterious ways and I was able to learn a lot from the experience
My internship at Prime Medicine was so nice I had to do it twice. Both times I was on their mRNA process development team where I learned about the very upstream manufacturing of mRNA and purification methods. The experience taught me that your coworkers really are the best part of the job. I loved going in everyday and many of the full time workers I interacted with were willing to explain their work and invite me to events outside of work.
What is the greatest lesson you have learned from being a student-athlete?
I have learned that some things are better unplanned and to be present in the moment. I think many student athletes run on a rigid schedule and are always looking forward to the next practice or game. However, being in this mindset makes things move faster and I have learned the benefits of being more spontaneous.
What is your favorite place on your campus?
The top floor of the Cabot Center. It has the best on campus view of Boston. Especially during the sunset, it is a calm space to do homework and hangout with friends. Freshman year my friends and I lived in the dorm closest to Cabot and we spent almost every night there doing work, yapping, and watching basketball during the playoffs.
Who has been the most influential person to you during your time in college?
My mother. I’ve always been able to count on her for advice and support during the hard parts of being at Tufts. Whether it is academics, track, or social life she is always checking in on me with our daily phone calls. Her advice may not always be solicited but certainly helpful. Last but not least is the food that she cooks and brings from time to time. It’s not just me that enjoys them but I have had many dinners with friends eating her cooking.
What is something interesting about you that others might not know?
I was born in Freetown, Sierra Leone, a small country in West Africa. I immigrated to the United States with my mother when I was six years old so essentially all of my education and childhood. However, it is a huge point of pride that I carry with me in all aspects of my life and especially on the track.
What is something you enjoy doing when not in class or competing in your sport?
Playing sports video games like Madden, 2K, and FIFA with my friends. FIFA in particular is my personal favorite. During the spring semester of my sophomore year, my suitemates and I had a playstation in our common room and we really only played FIFA. Almost every night we would play round robin style tournaments.
