Kosisochukwu Irene Ugorji: How I Overcame Academic Struggles to Achieve a 4.06 GPA at Columbia University
Remember the butterflies of showing your report card to your parents? Well, I have been there. Growing up in Nigeria, these moments were filled with anxiety. Fast forward to today, I graduated from Columbia University—an Ivy League school in the United States—with a stellar 4.06 GPA. Here’s how I moved from feeling defeated in elementary school to excelling beyond the regular GPA scale. I hope my journey will inspire you.
I was born and raised in Nigeria, I attended Lagoon Secondary School and Bridge House College before heading to the U.S. to pursue a degree in Biomedical Engineering with a minor in Entrepreneurship and Innovation at Columbia University. Contrary to what some might think, I was not born a genius. I was just a regular student who found effective methods through trial and error. My life has been filled with ups and downs, underpinned by unpredictable events that have shaped who I am today. One significant event occurred two years before my primary school graduation from Emerald Primary School after a viewing of the movie “Gifted Hands.” The story follows Ben Carson who transforms his life through perseverance and determination. He eventually became a neurosurgeon performing impossible surgeries, such as removing the entire right hemisphere of an epileptic patient’s brain with no complications and successfully separating Siamese twins.
Ben Carson’s story inspired me to embark on my journey to discover my academic passions. It all started with a library card membership and a program instituted by Emerald School that same year to reward the person who read the highest number of books. I got the prize at the end of the year for reading the most books, and my grades also improved tremendously, earning me 5th place when I was comfortably last or second to last.
My story continued through secondary school at Lagoon Schools, where I graduated as valedictorian with the best WAEC results in 2019 in Lagos State (the second-best WAEC result in Lagos State also came from my school). There, I continued my habit of reading widely.
I eventually got into Columbia University after attending Bridge House College, with the additional help of mentorship received at EducationUSA and my family’s support, especially my mother, who read all my essays. At Columbia, I met some of the most intelligent people I have encountered from around the world. There were real geniuses and prodigies who I enjoyed working with and learning from. They were also kind and willing to help. On the flip side, I also encountered people who tried to demean my intellect and some who ignored my presence. I had already been raised with good values and a strong self-esteem, so I consciously didn’t allow these people to get to me.
Other things affected me during this time. One, the educational system was quite different; there was no standard note-taking structure, textbook to follow, or standard exam periods. Most of my assignments could not be finished in one day. You needed critical thinking for every aspect of your education. You had to showcase an understanding of the assumptions behind theories, not just the theories themselves. Processes were taught in exceptional detail, yet you needed to keep the big picture in mind as well. Furthermore, living in a city like New York provided distractions, with many activities to engage in, things to try, and events to attend. I was also juggling many extracurricular activities, applications, and internships alongside academics.
I ended up winning several awards along with my degree, including:
– Columbia Engineering Student Activities Award: Recognizing my significant contributions to student activities and campus life.
– Senior Marshall: An accolade given to graduating students who have demonstrated outstanding leadership and service.
– Inclusion and Advocacy Leadership and Excellence Award: For my dedicated service to the international student population at Columbia.
– Multicultural Affairs Leadership Award: For my contributions to enhancing multicultural life on campus.
I feel obligated to share my story because someone else’s story helped me direct mine. I have also started an initiative called KIBS (Knowledge is Better Shared). Below, I provide nine controllable factors that I believe contributed to my academic success.
Achieving a perfect CGPA isn’t the ultimate goal. There are many things to take out of a university program, including research, starting initiatives, or even learning new skills like playing the violin. I share my story not to set a benchmark but to encourage you to pursue your own dreams.