WE SEE IT, TOO.

“I like sciences because it’s so fun, and we get to play with robots. I like Mrs. Montgomery because she’s so sweet. I like music because we always get to sing and dance. I like my friends because they let me pick all the games at recess. I like math because I like getting so smart.”

“Through one of the programs I volunteered for, I had to give a pretty big speech, and it was in front of a lot of people. That was something that was a little out my comfort zone, and I think I did pretty well. It was a proud moment.”

“Today, I was bored of going outside, so I stayed in the computer lab. This kid (I don’t know his grade) came in, and all the computers and iPads were taken. So I just gave him mine because I’ve been there a lot of times, and I just wanted to give the computer to him.”

“My biggest dream is to be an automotive engineer and LEGO Star Wars designer. I love art because I’m good at it, and it makes me feel good. I also like science experiments. My favorite teacher is Mrs. Greenwood because she has a pet turtle and is really funny.”

“I’d like to be a zoologist because the job sounds awesome, and you get to work with animals of all kinds, land or sea, everyday. My goal this year is to keep reading and keep making relationships in my class and continue to keep my grades up and just have a good school year altogether.”

“I was in band 7th and 8th grade. I loved that class because I love music, and it’s a passion for me. It made me a better person because it taught me to accomplish the work that I have to do to make others succeed with me. It really taught me self responsibility.”

When Ope Abimbola transferred to Fairmont Junior High School, he struggled with many of the same challenges any new kid in school faces. Though, moving from Nigeria added a bit more difficulty. People spoke differently. They acted differently. The climate was colder.

In many ways, Boise differs from Nigeria, Ope’s home country in West Africa, but one thing remained the same: he had a community that accepted him and his family and were willing to help them adjust to the new environment. Fairmont’s diverse student base also helped Ope realize there were students from multiple culturally-diverse backgrounds.

And the move to the U.S. for Ope’s family meant so much more than a geographic change.

“I didn’t really live with my dad for the first 10 years of my life. Due to his job, I would only see him once in a while in a year,” Ope said. The move to Idaho allowed the whole family to be together again.

Now, as a chemical engineering student at the University of Southern California, the 21-year-old can reflect warmly on this transition. His experience at Capital High School helped him love the home his family made and grow into the man he is now. Teachers encouraged him to ask questions and strengthen his character. Particularly, his physics teacher helped him learn patience.

“Physics was very challenging. I got my first B ever in that class,” Ope said. “But I was like, ‘You know what? It’s okay.’ And that has definitely prepared me for college, because in college you’ve got to know how to balance your life choices.”

In high school, Ope’s schedule was filled with extracurriculars, allowing him to hone in on his time management skills. He played soccer and tennis, and took part in science olympiad, national honor society, and mock trial.

Though college was never a doubt in his mind, the where and how was unknown.

The Boise School District helped connect him with scholarships that ultimately sealed the deal with USC. Specifically, George and Bev Harad’s AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination) scholarship was a big one, something Ope will be eternally grateful for.

“Ope has an enormous amount of positive energy and has learned how to balance it among his college studies, social activities, and seeking out new potential career opportunities, such as his summer internship at Micron,” said Bev Harad, one of Ope’s biggest fans. “These qualities, combined with his ever-present enthusiasm and love of life, make him an extraordinary young man who is destined to have a meaningful impact on society.”

The future is bright for this amazing young man. He intends to graduate with a degree in chemical engineering and has his eyes on a master’s degree in material science. He’s interested in working with sustainable energy. Though it’s unknown where he’ll end up, Ope wants to return to Boise to raise a family one day and give back to the community.

But he does say one thing with certainty: He’s come a long way since he was that shy junior high kid, and the Boise School District has been with him at every step.

“I want to be a mechanic or build houses, but at the same time, I want to go around the world and visit new places. I want to visit Africa and Europe . . . and then other places later. I want to help the people that don’t have as much as me,  and I want to learn the culture from those places.”

“My favorite subject is art because yesterday we got to make snowflakes, and we hung them up on our window. And now every time I go past my school, I see our snowflakes in the window.”

“I want to go into data science and computer information systems. There aren’t a lot of girls in that field, and I feel like I could be a leader and challenge myself in ways I wouldn’t normally be challenged.”