Meet Olaoluwa James-Owolabi, a NextGen Intern of Class 2024

Meet Olaoluwa James-Owolabi, a Software Engineer on an academic journey at Philander Smith University. Hailing from Nigeria, Olaoluwa is determined to make a positive impact on the world through his software engineering skills.

Currently pursuing his Bachelor’s degree in the United States, Olaoluwa is developing a strong foundation in programming languages like Python, C++, HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and SQL, alongside proficiency in data structures, algorithms, and database management.

Notably, he was part of NASA's MITTIC Research Program, focusing on luminescence-based mapping systems for food and beverage quality enhancement. Additionally, he participated in the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau's Top Uni sprint program, developing a digital product called "Credit Boost" to improve the credit card market for college students. His work with the Arkansas Economic Development Commission (AEDC) has further enriched his skills in Software Engineering and Data Science in Python.

Through these experiences, Olaoluwa has not only enhanced his technical abilities but has also learned the importance of effective teamwork in driving large-scale projects.

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Bio: Tell us about yourself 🎒

I am a passionate computer science student at Philander Smith University with a strong desire to make a positive impact on the world through technology. I am always looking for ways to learn and grow, and I love helping others do the same. In my free time, I volunteer my time to tutor subjects like math and teach programming languages like python to people around me willing to learn.

Describe yourself in three words 🔮

Innovative, Collaborative, Resilient

What's your major and university? 🎓

Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Computer and Information Sciences - Philander Smith University

A day in the life: Tell us about a typical day as an intern in your field, or if you haven't started, share a bit about your life as a college student. 🌞

As my internship with Dell has yet to start, my days as a university student are filled with classes, studying, and working on personal projects. I typically start my day with attending morning lectures, followed by studying and working on assignments. In the afternoons, I might be playing video games, working on a side project to improve my coding skills, or attending club meetings mostly related to computer science. I also enjoy playing soccer and hanging out with my friends.

Internships: What excites you the most about your internship at Dell? 🎉

I am excited to be joining Dell's Infrastructure Solutions Group (ISG) as a Software Engineering Intern! The opportunity to contribute to the development and implementation of critical infrastructure solutions is incredibly exciting. I am particularly interested in learning more about cloud computing and data solutions. Being part of a team that designs and builds solutions that power businesses and organizations worldwide is truly motivating. I am also eager to collaborate with experienced engineers at Dell and gain valuable insights into the real-world applications of software engineering within the infrastructure domain.

Shoutouts: Who has been an advocate and supporter of you? 📣

I would like to give a big shoutout to my mentors, Immanuela Umorem and Otito Udedibor. They have both been incredibly supportive of my academic journey and have provided me with valuable guidance and advice. I am so grateful for their mentorship!

What's one piece of advice or tip you'd give to yourself or other students? 💼

The most important advice I would give to myself and other students is to keep pushing and working hard, especially when things get tough during the internship search. Don't be afraid to ask for help when you need it, and never stop learning and growing.

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