Building the Foundations of Tomorrow by Toluwani

Building the Foundations of Tomorrow by Toluwani - August 2025 Scholarship Essay

In the Foundation series, Hari Seldon reflects, “By saving the knowledge of the race… if we now prepare a giant summary of all knowledge, it will never be lost. Coming generations will build on it, and will not have to rediscover it for themselves.” As I begin my freshman year of computer science, I aspire to embody these goals through the support of the development of technologies being worked on and systems that help our community, but also lay the groundwork for future students to create, innovate, and improve on.

My main goal for the upcoming school year is to form a close-knit community of students, teachers, and professionals who will inspire me intellectually, creatively, and interpersonally. For me, collaborative growth is most effective when I hear and work together with people with different perspectives and experiences than mine. Some of the most impactful programs in computer science are the result of merging multiple ideas, and I hope to adopt that style into my campus life. Therefore, I plan to network through student organisations and research teams, as well as participate in events where ideas are discussed to help further give me access to a range of perspectives. Networking isn't about having a long list of contacts, but rather developing relationships and having people who I can count on, and they can on me. It will also make this year feel less challenging as I would have also built a good support system.

I also want to crystallize my learning by starting with projects that I can use in my daily life, even a project as simple as a program that makes my life in the dorm easier. But then, I want to expand to projects that may help my classmates, clubs, campus initiatives, and eventually to projects that could reach a larger audience/possibilities. Whether it's a straightforward tool to make things easier, a project that better communicates information visually, or an innovative way to improve my study habits, I want to build upon any new idea I learnt in computer science, try it out, adjust it as necessary, and produce something valuable. This year, I want to finish two tangible capstone projects to add to my portfolio that show my growth and offer something practical. I also want to participate in competitions that allow me to practise my talents. I hope that ultimately those projects lead to opportunities to become an intern, to continue to learn, and contribute.

I will still value academic success because it shows that I'm learning the material I need to tackle challenging situations in the future. I want to keep my GPA over 3.9 since it would confirm my level of comprehension that I hope to apply in work and research spaces, in addition to keeping opportunities like internships, scholarships, and advanced coursework within my reach. Long after college, I will be able to mindfully innovate and impact in a significant way thanks to that kind of mastery.

I am also aware that without balance, the quality of success cannot last. I intend to take time every week for myself, picking up activities outside of school, like playing soccer, volunteering, and just exploring the new town around me, all helping me feel more connected to where I'm at, making it feel more like home. These outlets will also help me stay resilient when the workload increases, hopefully foster my creativity, and improve my problem-solving skills as I take inspiration from these different things.

Making a contributions to the community on campus is especially important to me as it will be a measure of the impact I leave behind. With the clubs and organizations I get involved with I would love to create and support projects and innitiatives that improve student life and bring us together, especially if I can do this whilst engaging over activities I like. I also want to have helped build a culture of that is continued and bettered, having ripple effects on the wider ann arbor community.

I know this year will be a demanding one, and it will take focus and diligence, but I am more motivated by what I am working toward than the next exam or deadline. I am working toward a life when my skillset is used to open doors for other people; that what I design, build, and give will continue to provide a service for people after I am no longer here. If I mix strong relationships, applied learning, academic excellence, balance, and a tangible contribution, I know I will be laying the groundwork to create that legacy. This scholarship would not help facilitate my education. Rather, this scholarship would be an investment in the communities in which I hope to work, locally and far.