“I lived in Africa for six years.

I moved [to Lagos, Nigeria] when I was 2, and left when I was 8.

When I was in Nigeria, we [all] lived in an expat community, so everyone [knew] each other. It’s a very secluded neighborhood. I could just go and bike to my friend’s house. It was definitely weird moving to the US from such a tight-knit community–I’m not close with my neighbors at all [here].

[But] I’m not gonna lie: I loved [the US]. America is very convenient. Nigeria was not. [Even] going to Target was [difficult]. We were doing a school musical in Nigeria, and everyone needed a pair of ripped jeans, so I had to go and make the ripped jeans with my mom and look up a YouTube tutorial. But if that was in the US, I would just be like, ‘Okay, I’m just gonna go buy a pair of ripped jeans.’

[Living in Nigeria] really gave me more of an insight [into] other people’s lives. There’s a lot of homeless people on the street, and it really brings you down to Earth. It would be really sad – there would be people knocking on your door trying to sell you things, because the poverty rate is horrible there. Seeing that at a young age and growing up with it really gives you more insight on other people and [gives you] empathy.”