We Are Wake Forest

Meet Fatu

A home close to home

I was born in Freetown, Sierra Leone, but grew up in Greensboro, North Carolina. I’m the youngest of four children. When I started my college search, I knew I wanted to go to a school close to home. I also wanted a school with a stellar academic reputation, so Wake Forest was high on my list of college choices to explore. During my first campus visit, however, I realized that Wake Forest is more than its academic excellence; it’s a community. My interactions with faculty, staff, and students during that visit (and the beautiful campus) reinforced my desire to be a student here.

Resources and opportunities

I had always planned to major in biology and taking my first biology class freshman year solidified that desire. I love working with children and hope to attend medical school and become a pediatrician. Wake Forest offers resources and opportunities to help me achieve my goals that I doubt I could have found elsewhere. This year I’m assisting Professor of Biology Kathy Kron, researching different plants of the blueberry family native to North Carolina and tracing their evolutionary lineage through DNA analysis. It’s experiences like this that will help me stand out from the other students applying for medical school and bring me closer to fulfilling my dreams.

Mentoring and maturing

Mentoring at Paisley Magnet School has been a way to share what I’ve learned with others. During the academic year, I work with five young girls. Together, we discuss topics that are relevant to seventh-graders. I’ve been able to have a positive impact on the lives of these children and to see them grow and change as a result. When I started with the program, I thought I would be giving most of the advice, but the truth is, I’ve learned as much from these girls as they have from me.

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Favorite class:

Philosophy of Human Nature. I dreaded having to take philosophy, but after a few classes, I enjoyed it. The course was largely based on student-led discussions and analysis. It helped me to develop my critical thinking skills and encouraged me to think deeply about why humans do some of the things we do.

The best…

Study location….Z. Smith Reynolds Library, Panera Bread
Campus dining…Benson Center Food Court
Books I’ve read…My Sister’s Keeper, The Other Boleyn Girl, Kite Runner
Movie I’ve seen…”Pride and Prejudice “(1995 version)

Favorite Wake Forest tradition:

Rolling the Quad

Tips about…

Studying…Don’t fall behind.
Making friends…Just be yourself
Living on campus…Explore and be open to trying new things
Choosing a major…Go with what interests you the most and use your divisional courses to explore possible majors
How to be a successful student…Don't be afraid to seek help if you need it. It makes learning more manageable and fun.