“American Planted, Nigerian Grown”

My Full Name is “Adebayo” which means “born in a joyful time.” I was born in Tulsa, Oklahoma (U.S.A) to Nigerian parents. I later moved to Nigeria when I was 5 yrs old, where I inherited a lot of interpersonal skills from my Grandmother. I learned about the little things that make a big difference in life such as how to treat people with respect, being honest and an appreciation for the little things.

Living in Nigeria was an experience I will cherish forever. I learned a lot about the culture and how to speak the Yoruba language (one of the many Nigerian languages). I grew up without a lot of things that people take for granted and that has helped me to be able to adapt to different situations, It has also helped mold me to being who I am today. Having the ability to see things from a different perspective has allowed me to “Think outside the box” which has enhanced my ability to make wise decisions. When asked what I am, I always tell them I am “American Planted Nigerian Grown”.

I was 15 when I returned to the U.S, and it was an absolute culture shock for me. Although I was born in the U.S. I felt like a foreigner .My English wasn’t fluent, I had a very thick accent, and I didn’t know much about the American culture. I came across so many challenges, but as time went on I adapted very well. I graduated high school at the age of 16 at Oakland Technical High school in California. I was a good student and took many credits in Nigeria that allowed me to move on to college early.

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