Nigerian high school senior Harold Ekeh, 17, who came to the US with
his parents when he was just eight, has been accepted into not one, but 8
Ivy League universities. Now, he’s trying to decide which one to go. He
actually got into all 13 schools he applied to, including MIT and Johns
Hopkins.
“I am leaning toward Yale. I competed at Yale for Model UN, and I like the passion people at Yale had.” he told CNNMoney
Harold says he wants to major in neurobiology or chemistry in college
and later become doctor and, ultimately, a neurosurgeon. He was named a
2015 Intel Science Talent Search semifinalist earlier this year for his
research on how the acid DHA can slow Alzheimer’s.
Speaking about his early life in Nigeria, Harold said;
“We had a fairly comfortable life in
Nigeria, but they told me we moved to America for the opportunities like
the educational opportunities.
“I am very humbled by this,” Ekeh said. “It’s not just for me, but
for my school and community. We can accomplish great things here.”
Now comes the really hard part, deciding where to go. He actually got
into all 13 schools he applied to, including MIT and Johns Hopkins.
Ekeh founded a college mentoring program at his school. His goal is to
get more students into top universities. He was
born in Nigeria and move to the U.S with his family when he was 8.
He speaks Igbo very well and has a 100.5% GPA. He plans to be a
neurosurgeon. Outside school, Ekeh directs a youth choir at his church,
plays the drums, is part of Key Club and Model UN and was elected to the
Homecoming court. His advice to other high school students is simple:
“Like my parents always told us, the secret to success is unbridled
resolve.”…… he finished his advice by saying: “Nna ehn, 4get dt thing.
I’m d real whizkid, nt dt 26-year-old father of one 4rm Ojúelégba.” Only
God knows who he was referring to.
