Growing up in Benin, a small country in West Africa between Nigeria and Togo, I used to watch my late grandmother serve food to visitors before serving herself or our family. It was one of my early lessons in putting others before self.

My parents reinforced that lesson. From the time we were little children, my mom and dad sacrificed for my five siblings and me so that we could achieve what they weren’t able to. Both my parents missed out on secondary education because their families couldn’t afford the expense, so they prioritized school for us above all else, ensuring we not only had access to knowledge but took advantage of it.

I’m profoundly grateful to my parents and my family for instilling in me a love of education and an attitude of service to others. Both have served me well as I immigrated to the United States in 2009 and established a life in Austin, Texas, where I work at Apple.

I am deeply committed to youth education advocacy. Bringing education to everyone, in every home and neighborhood, is at the core of who we are at One-to-Many. Education is the great equalizer, a powerful force for equity and opportunity. It empowers the next generation to discover the world around them, to innovate, and create change rather than simply accept an imperfect status quo.