'Boldly Defining Next': a poem by UC grad for UC alumni
Ejiro E. (EJ) Agoba has been interested in poetry and performing arts ever since high school.
The University of Cincinnati master's student earned a bachelor's degree this year from UC's Carl H. Lindner College of Business. Now he is studying industrial engineering in UC's College of Engineering and Applied Science.
In 2020, Agoba was honing his poetry skills during the height of COVID and shortly after began integrating it into his life as a college student at UC.
Agoba over the summer wrote and performed a poem dedicated to his fellow Bearcat alumni titled “Boldly Defining Next.”
He reflected on his time at UC and his hopes for the future.
Why did you come to UC?
I chose the University of Cincinnati primarily because it offered the most substantial scholarship for international students. But even with this, I had to work hard to secure additional funding.
UC ended up being the school that changed everything for me. Looking back on the emotional discussions with my parents about college decisions, financial planning, and the unique challenges of being an international student in America, I can now see it was all worth it. I wouldn't be where I am today if I weren't a Bearcat.
That's why I'm staying for another year — as a master's student — to see what more UC can offer me and, ultimately, how I can contribute back to the institution that shaped me.
Can you talk about your interest in spoken word?
Ejiro E. (EJ) Agoba in the recording studio. Photo/UC Alumni Association
I discovered poetry and spoken word in ninth grade while attending high school in Nigeria.
Though I had always loved performing and had participated in theater productions of famous Nigerian authors and playwrights, poetry was something I had never explored. That changed when my English teacher, Mr. Cosmas Nwelih, introduced me to the school’s annual event, the Poetry Café, where students performed their original works. He convinced me to collaborate with a girl who was known for her poetry skills, and together we wrote and performed a poem on the theme of purity.
At the time, I thought the poem I wrote was incredible, but looking back, it was full of cheesy, random rhymes. Despite that, the performance was well-received, and the compliments I received motivated me to improve my craft. I became focused on refining my lyricism and the technical aspects of my lines.
This was also the point when I started getting into hip-hop. I began listening to artists like the Notorious B.I.G. and Eminem, studying the technicality and flow of their music, and incorporating those elements into my poetry.
From then on, Mr. Cosmas would encourage me to perform at various school events, which helped build my confidence in my poetry skills. I took everything I had learned in high school and spent time honing those skills during the height of COVID in 2020. Three years into college, I decided to restart my poetry journey — and the rest is history!
Can you share your UC student experience?
To me, the UC Experience is all about practicality — a core value that has shaped my journey and brought me to where I am today. Choosing the University of Cincinnati was a strategic decision driven by my high expectations for its renowned co-op program. I knew that gaining hands-on experience was essential, that it would be fiercely competitive, especially as an international student, but I was determined to make it happen.
Ejiro E. (EJ) Agoba at UC's commencement. Photo/Provided
The big question was: how would I do it? It began with recognizing and confronting the challenges I would face. Starting my freshman year, I had my sights set on joining certain programs that I knew would benefit my career, but I quickly learned that my status as a non-U.S. citizen limited my options. With fewer resources available to me, I had to get creative and make the most of what I had. That meant connecting with people like Noura Ata, the former president of the Neo Initiative. Through her encouragement, I applied and joined Neo Initiative as a data analyst, providing free analysis services to minority-owned small businesses. It was my first taste of the field I was passionate about and my only relevant experience at the time.
From there, I embarked on the grueling process of job hunting — blindly applying to more than a thousand positions and facing rejection after rejection. In my second year, I hadn’t experienced a single interview, and I yearned to know what it felt like to get that far. It took relentless research to figure out what was holding me back. I sought advice from the international student office on how to find work opportunities off-campus and received support from mentors like Keith Sun, my career coach. It was Keith who shared an internship opening at Cummins. I immediately reached out to him and the contacts associated with the role, which led to my first-ever job interview. Landing that internship was a pivotal moment; it became a steppingstone to another internship at Viasat, where I was recognized as Co-op Student of the Week.
The UC Experience isn’t just about practicality; it's also about the kinship and community that propel you forward. It's been these connections that have led to great opportunities, from impactful internships to memorable interviews, and I believe that through continuous networking, I'll one day secure my dream role.
Outside of my data science pursuits, I've kept my passion for film and arts alive, a journey sparked by people like Kelly Kiganda, who introduced me to the Black Arts Collaborative. My first poem performance there led to recognition and more opportunities to perform for the African America Cultural & Resource Center (AACRC). My talent was noticed by choir director Eric Watford, who invited me to perform at AACRC events and the MLK Coalition in Cincinnati. One thing led to another — from performing at AACRC's Tyehimba Event to being invited by Melva Karnes to perform at Bearcat Kickoff and even two graduation ceremonies.
I owe a lot to the incredible people, clubs, and experiences that have shaped my path at UC. They’ve not only helped me grow professionally and personally but have also given me a supportive community that I’m grateful to be a part of.
What are your hopes for the future?
I aspire to one day perform one of my poetry pieces at a major TED-X event, and hopefully, even at the White House!
In addition to poetry, I've always had a deep love for basketball and sports in general. My long-term goal is to lead research in data science for sports, and eventually, I hope to have partial ownership of a sports team, where I can integrate data science and artificial intelligence to accurately drive decisions and strategies.
Can you share some advice as a UC alumnus?
One of my favorite lines in poetry is, "Always make sure to live life moving in the right direction." In other words, always yearn to be "clockwise." It's a double entendre, and I love the message it conveys.
No matter what stage you're in — whether it’s your first, second, third or final year — take a moment to reflect. Set your next most achievable big goal, then look back and assess if you've been moving toward it. If not, it’s never too late to start. Take action now. Talk to as many people as you can — sometimes the best opportunities come from the most unexpected places.
Featured image at top: Ejiro E. Agoba performing. Photo/Provided
Boldly Defining Next
By Ejiro E. Agoba
Dear University of Cincinnati Alumni,
I urge you to step into the realm of nostalgia and remember your time here at UC.
No matter what actions you took in the midst of undergraduate or graduate instabilities,
You proved your fearlessness because your fight in fight or flight strengthened your response abilities,
You proceeded with caution because you’re no Icarus,
The way you chased your dreams was so vigorous,
Preying on your dreams like you were carnivorous,
I’m serious,
You see, life is a movie, and we can’t wait to buy tickets to see yours in our cinemas,
So thy loyal children of Cincinnati, Ohio,
I urge you to still smile amidst rivers of denials,
Because when life comes at you with its tribulations and trials,
That smile will keep you pushing and it will be there when you’re ahead of those obstacles by millions of miles,
And so like a couple getting married, success will be waiting for you as you walk down the aisle, And that’s why I want you to smile like our mascot does,
Because truth be told, no matter where you work at,
Deep down inside, you’re still a Bearcat,
So raise up your hands for the U,
Then swerve it to the right for the C,
That Bearcat pride shaped me and you,
It made us bigger fish to catch in the sea,
So no matter what in life that we do,
There’s a lot we can still strive to be,
And no matter what dreams we pursue,
There’s a lot that we’re still yet to see,
Nostalgia, it reminds us we grew,
From both sides of the CVG,
Because whether we’re leaving or entering through,
We never forget the moments that got us that UC degree,
Together, we’re more than 350,000 individuals in our network,
So beautiful, and so complex,
But still keeping in touch through phone calls, through memories, and through occasional texts, Look at us, Cincinnati’s personal flex,
You see, with our alumni, there’s so much more that we highly expect,
So no matter where you are in the world, just keep boldly defining next.
Welcome to the Alumni Family, Class of 2024!
Congratulations on joining the family of more than 350,000 alumni. On-campus or on the other side of the globe, your UC Alumni Association provides a life-long connection to your fellow alumni. Learn more and get connected!
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