Kansas State's Oluchi Amakoh on Cross-Cultural Learning, Financial Considerations, and a Culture of Mentorship
By Julia Gamolina
Oluchi Amakoh is an international student from Lagos, Nigeria, and in her fifth year at Kansas State University, graduating in May 2023. Oluchi is currently a member of the NOMAS chapter at K-State and the President of the African Students Union.
JG: Why did you decide to study architecture?
OA: As a kid, I was always drawing or cutting up pages of old newspapers to create a craft, boat, crown, or whatever my imagination conjured up as I searched for supplies at home. To this day, my mom has some of my old paintings and drawings somewhere in the house, and one of the most vivid memories from my childhood is of the time my mom and I spent hours sticking sand and peanuts onto a board to create a multi-media collage.
My passion for crafting and creating continued well into my high school years although, I picked up other interests along the way. Back in Nigeria, during the last three years of high school, we chose between three broad and overly-simplified career groups and took classes strictly related to that category. I chose to be in the science class which meant the end of any official art training for me in school, and by the end of high school, I had grown fond of and excelled in math, physics, and geography. However, I couldn’t imagine an ideal career or future for myself that didn’t harness my creative talents in one way or the other. It all finally came together when I discovered what architecture and architecture school was all about and that was it — I had found a career path that would encompass all of my interests without having to forfeit one or the other.
What was the most significant project to you that you worked on in school?
The most significant project I have worked on in school would be the design of an Indoor Aquatic Center in Manhattan, Kansas during the first semester of my fourth year. This project was most significant to me for many reasons related to my personal and professional growth. The first semester of my fourth year of Architecture school was also my first semester back to school after a two-year break due to financial circumstances. At the end of 2018, I was advised to pause my education and return home to Nigeria to avoid incurring more debt on my student account and to conform to my visa regulations. This was a difficult time, but it ultimately became a time to learn many valuable life lessons and develop my design and illustration skills. During this time, I worked with an architect and a graphic designer and took online courses on digital marketing and graphic design.
I’m so sorry to hear that Oluchi; that’s very tough, and thank you for sharing that with us. It’s wonderful though that you were able to stay engaged with design, and just add more cumulative experiences in the field on your break.
I felt like every moment of the prior two years came full circle in the Fall of 2021 while I was working on this studio project. There were four site options, and I chose a site on the edge of a residential neighborhood- the historically black neighborhood of Manhattan, Kansas. The site and context of the design guided the narrative of the story I wished to tell. I expanded the project scope beyond the facility requirements of the center and introduced elements of community, context, and place-making.
I was to represent my studio in the 2021 Manko Design Scholarship Competition, and I won the second-place prize. Working through this project and going on to represent my studio in the design competition after being away from school was a memorable experience. I became more aware of my talent as a design student to conceptualize, develop and narrate a story through visual graphics and oral presentation.
“My goal has always been to have contributed to at least one cross-cultural experience of any student by the time I graduate. I believe that as much as I stand to learn about U.S. culture by studying here, I also have the opportunity to expose people to my culture, the kind of music I like to listen to, and the African artists and designers that inspire me.”
What are some of the initiatives you’ve focused on in school, and why?
I attend a predominantly white institution in Kansas which is a stark difference from where I grew up. For this reason, many of my involvements within and outside the College of Architecture have been related to fostering and promoting cross-cultural learning. I have served as a Resident Assistant in my sophomore and junior years, and as Multi-Cultural Chair for the University’s Union Programming Council. Now, I’m a member of the NOMAS chapter at my school, and the President of the African Students Union.
My goal has always been to have contributed to at least one cross-cultural experience of any student by the time I graduate. I believe that as much as I stand to learn about U.S. culture by studying here, I also have the opportunity to expose people to my culture, the kind of music I like to listen to, and the African artists and designers that inspire me. Knowledge has no geographical constraints, and we can all learn something from the most unlikely interaction that can alter our perspective once we step out of our comfort zone.
When searching for internships and jobs, what are you looking for?
As much as I would like to give a long spiel about the importance of a welcoming culture in the work environment in response to this question, the truth is that it’s not the first thing I look for as an international student looking to live and work in the U.S after graduation. The first thing I look out for is whether a firm can sponsor my work visa. Unfortunately, this eliminates many smaller firms from my list of firms to apply to. But beyond this, I am looking for firms committed to mentorship and education for their young professionals. I am looking for firms committed to the hiring, retaining, and developing young talent because this speaks volumes about the firm’s values and culture.
I appreciate your candor Oluchi! A lot of international students have multiple layers of consideration in regards to employment here, which we don’t discuss enough. What have you learned in the last six months?
Six months ago, I had just turned twenty-four, I was rounding up the final weeks of my academic internship and a research paper, getting ready to move back to Kansas from Portland, Oregon, and working through the responsibilities of my new position as the President of a student organization. Six months ago, I didn’t realize how much more mentally and emotionally taxing the rest of the year would be on me. Six months ago, I didn’t imagine that I would be reading a message from my mom about the passing of a loved one or did I imagine swimming in an ancient Mayan cenoté in Mexico. Looking back at the last six months, I learned that I probably won't know what the next six months or six weeks, or six days will look like. I had to learn to step back, let go, and trust that I had people looking out for me even more than I realized.
What do you hope to do in your career?
I hope to combine my passion for design and storytelling to create spaces that consider experiences and the spatial perception of user groups. I hope to work on projects that are empathetic to the needs of its users from internally displaced populations to K-12 students on the Autism Spectrum. I want to create intentional and meaningful spaces that are true to the daily experiences and stories of the users. I have always been specifically interested in cultural design-designing museums, galleries, cultural centers, and such. I believe architecture is the physical manifestation of culture and the vessel that contains and impacts our lives and interaction with the world.
“...there is a growing culture of mentorship in the design industry and many other fields — so take advantage of this!”
Who do you look up to? Both in terms of women in architecture, and in general.
I look up to anyone that comes from the same place as me and is working to find that sweet spot in life where their full potential can be achieved. I use the word “place” here to loosely refer to family, country, culture, elementary school, high school, college, or any other shared experience. I am most inspired by people that I can identify with that choose to show up authentically to their job or school regardless of the obstacles they face.
I also look up to many of my talented friends and classmates — the friend that makes the coolest miniature furniture I have ever seen, the friend that wants to save up enough money to get her parents a new house, and the friend that packed up her life into her car to chase her dreams. Among architecture professionals, I am inspired by women that are paving the way for the younger generation of female designers through mentorship and education. I look up to my professors, La Barbara Wigfall, Robyn Gibson, and Michelle Wempe who have constantly cheered me on and advocated for me. I also look up to designers like Tosin Oshinowo and Kimberly Dowdell as trendsetters in the design industry.
Finally, what advice would you give to those in high school now, choosing their field of study?
I find it difficult to answer this question because I was set on studying architecture while I was still in high school and never really struggled with deciding between multiple fields. What might have helped was the fact that I knew what I felt the most fulfilled doing. Although I loved math and physics, I knew that sacrificing my creative interests, at least professionally, would be something I would regret.
High school might be a difficult time to ask you to give some deep thought to who you are and what inspires and motivates you, but it’s a great time to do this. If you can't do this yourself, reach out to your support system — family, friends, teachers — whoever can be honest with you about where your strengths lie. If you have one or two fields in mind, turn to social media and reach out to young professionals for advice. It might seem like a long shot, but there is a growing culture of mentorship in the design industry and many other fields — so take advantage of this!