Congratulations are in order for 2016 Cornell University graduate, Iyore Olaye, who is the Ivy League school’s ONLY black female in the Ch...
Congratulations are in order for 2016 Cornell University graduate, Iyore Olaye, who is the Ivy League school’s ONLY black female in the Chemical Engineer graduating class. Iyore took to her Facebook to pour out her heart in an essay detailing her experiences.
Below is what she wrote;
“The last few months / year I haven’t felt inclined to post about the changes I was experiencing in my life. I made a promise to myself that I would embrace every moment, which meant disconnecting from social media and connecting more to life.
Three months ago I graduated from one of the best schools in the world, the greatest engineering program in the Ivy League, in one of the most rigorous majors at Cornell. There were moments of defeat and moments of victory through it all. I am thankful that I had continuous love and encouragement from friends and family who went out of their way to see me through to my success. Surrounded by my mother, father, sister, and various loved ones and friends, I graduated as the only black woman chemical engineer in the chemE class of 2016 and 1 of 6 black women in the entire engineering school. This situation reminiscent of 4 years ago when I graduated as the first black valedictorian of Winslow Township High School. It is God that allows me to continue to break barriers and smash through glass ceilings, not just to stand alone but to ensure that others may rise with me.
Now it is August and I officially reside in San Francisco working as a product engineer at Walker & Company Brands, a company that feeds my soul and challenges me to be better engineer and person each day. Needless to say that God has answered my prayers and continues to push me past my own expectations. I am unsure what he has planned for me, but if he did it before he will do it again. I guess that is the point of my post, by connecting to God and connecting to life I experience happiness and success. I wish that for all of you as well.”
from ICE
