Intern Spotlight: Onize Oniwon

This is the seventh and final spotlight on our summer 2018 student interns.  Learning Life’s students this summer are assisting with planning, fundraising, curriculum development, and international family-to-family projects focused on community photography and food culture as part of our Citizen Diplomacy Initiative (CDI).  Onize Oniwon, interviewed below, is assisting with organizational planning.  

Where were you born and raised?

I was born and raised in Nigeria, which is in West Africa.  I left Nigeria after high school at age 18 to further my education here in the United States.

What school do you attend, and what is your year and major there?

Currently, I am entering my last year at Marymount University, located in Arlington, VA.  I am completing a dual-degree graduate program in Health Care Management and Business Administration.

What do you like to do in your free time?

In my free time, I like to relax and watch movies, including dramas, comedies and action films. I also enjoy good times with friends, drinking wine, chatting and watching movies.

Is there a life experience you have had that has particularly shaped you thus far?  If so, what is it, and how has it shaped you?

I grew up in a developing country, so I am aware of the inequalities that exist in the world, including patriarchy (child marriages, men dominating business, media, politics,  etc.).  This has fueled my passion to help the disadvantaged through volunteering and public health work.

What are your career plans?

In the near future, my plan is to get a job in health care administration.  Ideally, it would be nice to have a job that engages my background in medical technology, public health and business.  Long term, I would like to establish a clinical laboratory and a public health nonprofit back home in Nigeria.

Why did you choose to intern with Learning Life?

I chose to intern with Learning Life because it offered me a chance to get hands-on experience in program planning in the nonprofit sector.  It gave me a chance to be involved in a collaborative effort to produce a program plan.

What is the most beautiful place you have seen on Earth, and why is it so beautiful?

I am not sure that I have seen the most beautiful place yet.  I will say I have a bucket list of places that I would like to see due to their scenic richness.  This includes Greece, the Maldives and southern France, to name a few.