Introduction
My name is Tolu Wright. I am an international student from Lagos, Nigeria. I will be going into my 4A term of the Mechanical Engineering program in spring of 2022. I'm passionate about renewable energy and sustainability as well as having particularly keen interests in soccer and politics. Above all, I'm just an individual who wants to help make the world a better place, in the best way possible.
What does it mean to you to be a Black engineer?
To be a Black engineer is to be an individual that continually seeks solutions to challenges faced by the Black population, especially in less developed countries and to be a proper champion for the Black race. While I am aware that the solutions to our challenges will require a massive collective effort, being a Black engineer helps me to take those initial individual steps that will surely put me on the road to doing my bit to leave an impact on the world around me.
What is your favourite UWaterloo Engineering memory?
Definitely my first day at the University! As a young man stepping onto the campus and fully envisioning the opportunities that lie ahead of me both academically and professionally, it was then that I realized that the sky is just the starting point.
What changes would you like to see within engineering (either in school or professional spaces) in the next 5-10 years?
Within the next 5-10 years, it would be incredible if universities are able to sponsor a student from any African country each academic year. There is so much talent within the continent, but a lack of resources unfortunately separates such students from the world of opportunities. Providing opportunities for people that lack access to these resources will help to level the playing fields one student at a time. For instance, it could be providing a smaller company with resources to help black students enhance their craft, or even bringing someone from a less developed country for a shadowing program at the university for some time, with that individual returning with life changing experiences and an improved skill set.