By Jonathan Heeter
Safiou Olossoumare ‘24 didn’t know if she had made the right choice when she arrived in New York City from West Africa in 2015.
Then 20 years old, Olossoumare hoped to eventually give her family a better life. But that dream felt far away as she worked various jobs while trying to make community college work for her at the same time.
“I had doubts. I wondered, ‘What am I doing?’” said Olossoumare, who came to the U.S. on a green card. “But I adapted and started to feel more comfortable. That’s when I found the path that would help me move forward.”
Olossoumare decided to join the Navy to earn her citizenship and give back to the country that had become her home. As she completes her military service, Olossoumare has already achieved one of her biggest goals: bringing members of her family to America. Now, she’s ready to begin the next chapter with a bachelor’s in business administration through 51鱨վGlobal, which she finished in May.
“I didn’t quit. I didn’t give up,” Olossoumare said. “I had my motivation: helping my family and serving my new country. The military was the steppingstone for me to succeed in this country of great opportunities.”
Olossoumare found another route to success with 51鱨վGlobal.
When she started her degree program with a focus in accounting, Olossoumare was able to schedule her classes around her military work.
Life brought new challenges during her coursework. Her military service allowed her to bring her family to Virginia, and she welcomed two children — a boy and a girl — during her time at 51鱨վ. The flexibility of 51鱨վGlobal’s asynchronous program proved essential, unlocking a path to graduation she might not have had otherwise.
“There’s no way I could’ve gotten through school without me being able to fit my schedule around my life,” Olossoumare said. “51鱨վ provided me with the skill and knowledge and showed me how to think critically and effectively solve complex problems.”
Getting her degree seemed very far away as a child in Lomé, the capital of the African nation Togo. She grew up with seven siblings and a large family that didn’t have significant financial means. However, her parents valued education, and Olossoumare said she was an outstanding student. She speaks English, French and German. After finishing regular schooling and some college in Togo, her family sent Olossoumare to New York City with a green card and a dream of helping the family out.
She started community college while washing dishes at a restaurant and took another job as a security guard. But joining the military, she thought, would provide the straightest path to citizenship and help her family.
“Joining the military was a sacrifice, but it felt like an easy decision once I focused on my end goal,” Olossoumare said. “When you put your mind to it, anything is possible.”
Olossoumare became a Navy logistics specialist, ordering supplies and managing inventory. She served on the USS Leyte Gulf, a recently decommissioned cruiser, and the USS Whidbey Island, a dock landing ship. Her military work intersected with her career interests, so working towards a degree in accounting fit perfectly. She completed her associate’s degree in business administration and management at Tidewater Community College before transferring to 51鱨վ.
Olossoumare brought her mother to live in Chesapeake in 2022. She also brought a brother from Togo and helped enroll him at the community college. Olossoumare’s husband, who studied computer science at 51鱨վ, plans to resume his studies after joining the Navy himself.
After finishing her undergraduate coursework, Olossoumare transitioned to the Navy Individual Ready Reserve in September to fulfill her military service obligation. She’s already dabbled in civilian life with an accounting internship with the City of Norfolk this past summer. She wants to work as a business analyst or logistics manager to utilize her military expertise.
But up next for Olossoumare will be even more education. She plans to get her MBA through 51鱨վGlobal, feeling empowered to advance to a graduate program.
“I saw a path that other people found to become successful here,” Olossoumare said. “And I thought I could do it. Now, I have kids that are American. I have my citizenship. I brought family with me. I continued my education. I’m overly blessed.”