WASHINGTON 鈥� Princeton, Harvard, Cornell 鈥� those are just some of the 14 schools that accepted 18-year-old Olawunmi Akinlemibola, a DuVal High School student from Prince George鈥檚 County.
So which did she choose?
鈥沦迟补苍蹿辞谤诲.鈥�
The graduating senior explained that its quarter system gives her the opportunity to test herself and indulge her curiosity.
鈥淚f you鈥檙e somebody like me, who can鈥檛 make up their mind on what they want to do or finds everything interesting, you can take classes that are, like, outside of your major,鈥� Akinlemibola said.
She was also drawn by the activism of students on the Northern California campus. During a visit, she noticed demonstrations going on, and she said she found them inspiring.
鈥淪tudents there care about the current climate and the current issues of the United States and they鈥檙e not sitting down and doing nothing,鈥� she explained. 鈥淭hey鈥檙e actively participating.鈥�
Will being so far from home give her any concern?
In a tone that clearly indicated she didn鈥檛 mean to brag, the teenager said: 鈥淭hey actually gave me a travel grant, so I don鈥檛 have to pay. 鈥� I have money for plane tickets.鈥�
Though being far from home will be hard, she鈥檚 used to the ache that distance creates: Her dad is here in Maryland, but her mom, who stays in constant touch, is in Nigeria with her two little sisters. While Akinlemibola said she might become more independent by necessity, she added, 鈥淚鈥檒l still probably be calling 鈥� like, every second.鈥�
Wunmi, as her friends and teachers call her, isn鈥檛 just bright, she鈥檚 bubbly, friendly and kind, said her guidance counselor, Stacy Kline.
Asked what it will be like to see such a stellar student leave the DuVal hallways, Kline said there may be the kind of emotion that requires tissues, but it will be mixed with excitement for whatever the future holds for a truly stellar student.
鈥淚t鈥檚 definitely going to be a proud moment for me, seeing her walk across the stage,鈥� Kline said.
