Interview with Faith Odiete
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I had the chance to speak with Faith Odiete, a criminal justice graduate who is now an immigration officer at USCIS and a military intelligence officer in the U.S. Army. Her story is one of resilience, hard work, and making the most of opportunities.
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Faith’s journey wasn’t easy. She lost her father, who was an officer in Nigeria, and moved to the U.S. with her mom at 14. Adjusting to a new country, new culture, and even a new accent was tough, but she stayed focused on her goals. She joined the Army to honor her father’s legacy, and she ended up loving the structure, discipline, and experience it gave her.
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"SETS YOU APART"
In her work as an immigration officer, she sees firsthand the challenges people face when moving to a new country. She talked about balancing law enforcement with compassion, especially since she understands what it’s like to be an immigrant. Faith also shared how she avoided distractions, got involved in school clubs, and used every resource available to succeed.
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One of her biggest takeaway: "Being an honors student matters. It sets you apart, shows dedication, and opens doors for opportunities in competitive careers like law, immigration, and public service"
Reflection
Talking to Faith made me realize how important it is to be intentional about my choices. As an honors student studying law, I want to position myself for success just like she did.
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Faith’s story really resonated with me because of our shared background. We both come from Nigeria, and hearing how she overcame challenges losing her father, adapting to a new country, and pushing through struggles reminded me of my own journey.
I’ve also lost two important people in my life, and I understand how loss can shape the way you see the world. It can either break you or push you to be stronger, and Faith’s story showed me how resilience, focus, and a strong sense of purpose can turn pain into motivation.
Faith also talked about the struggles of being different from her accent to adjusting to American culture and I connected with that as well. Being in a new environment, whether it’s a new country or a new academic space, can make you feel out of place. But instead of letting those challenges hold her back, she embraced discipline, worked hard, and used every available resource to succeed. She reminded me that success isn’t just about talent. it’s about persistence, adaptability, and knowing how to use what’s around you to your advantage.
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Another thing that stood out to me was her volunteering and community involvement. Even though she worked in demanding roles like immigration and military intelligence, she still made time to give back. That reminded me of my own values and how important it is to support others, especially those facing struggles like the ones we’ve been through. Seeing how Faith balanced her personal goals with service inspired me to continue finding ways to contribute to my community while pursuing my career in law.
BALANCING GOALS AND SERVICES
I CAN DO IT
Talking to Faith made me reflect on how I plan to position myself as an honors student and future lawyer. I see now that excelling in academics isn’t enough, I need to gain real-world experience, build strong professional relationships, and seek leadership opportunities. Honors courses will help me develop critical thinking skills, but I also need to take advantage of networking events, internships, and mentorship programs. Faith’s journey showed me that the people you connect with along the way can open doors you never even knew existed.
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One of the biggest takeaways from our conversation was the idea that hardships can be fuel for success. Faith didn’t let her losses or challenges define her, she used them as motivation to work harder and prove herself. That mindset is something I want to carry with me. No matter what obstacles I face, I want to keep pushing forward, making the most of my honors experience, and preparing myself for a future where I can use law to help others who feel unheard or disadvantaged.
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Her story reminded me that success isn’t about where you start—it’s about how you adapt, grow, and create opportunities for yourself and others. And that’s exactly what I intend to do.
Faith’s story reminded me that success isn’t just about being smart. it’s about being focused, adaptable, and taking advantage of every opportunity. I plan to do just that by making the most of my honors experience!