Bookmarks in history often begin with a person. Moreso, two, four, maybe ten – a group of people. And these bookmarks occur not because of the people themselves, but their synergies – combinations of their perspectives, roads that appear when trails collide, links that mesh and form when threads of differing colors intertwine.
It could be fate, destiny, a predetermined end.
But it is in cases such as these that we take a step back and realize that the end might not always be independent of the means to reach it. For just as any two people might be fated to bump heads in a busy hallway, said people could also miss each other on an empty road.
And with that, we arrive at my conclusion.
Weaving these threads is a responsibility that belongs to each and every one of us – some just realize it sooner than later. For now, we begin with just ten.
Ghostbusters.
The name is a work in progress – so treat it as such. Starting with,
Madam Organizer, Shaibu Omobolanle, a Computer Science student who’s currently in her do-it era, a moving woman who believes she will get everything she wants – an extroverted introvert who loves meeting new people, reading a book, or watching reality TV.
Madam VP, Favour Adachukwu Uzochukwu, a software and AI engineer, public speaker, and leader, who prefers to spend her time reading both fiction and non-fiction, watching movies, and tracking her stock value.
General Secretary, Olamide Suleiman, a girl with big dreams, who loves to dance, read pieces on Substack, write songs, and sing.
Partnerships Lead, Osisanya Oluwadayomisi, also known as Daddy D The Designer, whose hobbies are playing chess and designing.
Community Lead, Kadiri Oluwatimileyin, a person who loves people, growth, and acts on the drive to leave things better than he finds them – hobbies include visiting new places, photography, academic debates, dancing, and eating beans.
Technical Lead (Development), Agbonikpeya Eromoigbe Winner, a software engineer with an avid curiosity – from building things, learning new ideas, exploring technology, to chess, photography, and messing around with AI models, he’s what you’d call a packed brain.
Technical Lead (Tracks), Henry Aloh Fabian, who believes machine learning and psychology are two fields that can change the world – his interests also lie in music and reading books.
Programs Lead, Oba Odumeru, is just a boy who wants to have fun while doing meaningful things – he loves to pass time by listening to music and spending time with friends.
Marketing Lead, Oyebajo Olamide Isaac, a chill guy who loves what he does, is open to learning new things, and expanding his skill set – hobbies range from singing to solving problems.
Media Lead, Agunbiade Ayomide Obanijesu, your friendly Ekiti boy next door – who loves to read books, eat, listen to music, and engage in basically anything that gets his brain itching.
Now you know the ghostbusters, let’s go a bit deeper.
There exist several reasons that explain why people do things – which in this case, is applying for a lead role at GDG Babcock. From wanting to do and achieve more, like Bolanle and Olamide (Gen Sec), to building problem-solving products and a foundation for students, like Winner, Timileyin, and Fabian. For others, it was about giving back to the community, creating experiences, gaining real-life experience, harnessing latent potential, and understanding the importance of being involved in a cause far greater than self.
For how they feel when compared to the big shoes of the previous leadership team, they had quite a lot to say.
“I believe the Core team this year has an amazing set of diverse and brilliant people with a lot of plans for GDG, and we can't wait for y'all to see it.”
– Bolanle (Organizer)
“I would agree. From the outside, I know it would seem like they were these unshakable soldiers while cooking up all they did, but as someone who worked with majority of them - they were as human as the rest of us. Well, not as human. The number of commitments they balanced in the final year was awe-inducing. From ORBIT, to their final year projects, then introducing about 3 new intuitional products - they were cracked. And that’s the thing; I don’t see their achievements as shoes to fill - merely a benchmark to push on with. They laid the foundation, and we’ll build three floors on it. But really, we’ll go it one step at a time.”
– Ayo (Media)
“We definitely have big shoes to fill with Orbit, Radar and a couple of cool community-focused ideas the previous administration came up with. However, after engaging with the members of the team, I have absolute faith in the abilities of everyone on the team. The team has some cool ideas, and GDGoC Babcock members should anticipate them!”
– Ada (VP)
“We are up to the task. I don’t usually mind how much work has to be done, as long as I’m willing to do it, I will.”
– Olamide (Marketing)
“We have big legs”
– Dayo (Partnerships)
Other responses ranged from excitement at what they had in store for GDG Babcock, to enthusiasm at surpassing the benchmark set by our predecessors.
Furthermore, in a position as tasking as being a lead for a community with so many students, there will be many situations one would fall into doubt. Be it in themselves, or their capabilities – these are their ways of dealing with such situations:
“I focus on the goal at hand rather than dwelling on doubt, because I believe those thoughts only slow me down.”
– Winner (Tracks)
“By working my ass off”
– Fabian (Tracks)
“I talk to people. Simple as that, really. Constantly make myself understand that I don’t have to do anything alone. I have a team, and they’re damn well capable. Shout out to Alpha Maro btw, one in a million co lead.”
– Ayo (Media)
“I fight doubt with action. I remind myself why I started, prepare as much as I can, and then take the step even when I’m not completely confident. I’ve learned that confidence doesn’t always come before action; sometimes, confidence is built by taking action. Also, I ask for help whenever I know it’s behind me.”
- Timileyin (Community)
“With the word of God.”
– Olamide (Gen Sec)
To close, we asked what their favorite foods were:
“I’d say my girlfriend but let’s keep it at smoky jollof.”
– Olamide (Marketing)
“Fried rice and salad with turkey”
– Olamide (Gen Sec)
“Amala and ewedsss”
– Dayo (Partnerships)
“Yam and egg”
– Oba (Programs)
“Pounded yam and egusi”
- Ayomide (Media)
“Beans Beans Beans and plantain and egg and fish and meat and soft bread”
- Timileyin (Community)
“Ewa ati bread!”
– Ada (VP)
“Fried rice with chicken”
– Winner (Development)
“Chicken, just chicken”
– Fabian (Tracks)
“Fried rice”
– Bolanle (Organizer)
GDG Babcock, thank you for having us!