Oluwatunmise “Aph” Ogunbanjo found community, confidence, and opportunity at Higher Achievement, experiences that continue to shape her path today.
Evenings at Higher Achievement centered on connection. “The only independent activity was study hall,” remembers Aph. “Everything else was working with others, one on one or in a team.” Aph and her peers built community and confidence through collaborative activities like constructing a tower out of dried spaghetti, establishing culture teams and chants, and competing in group tournaments like “Olympics of the Mind.” She also fondly remembers the field trips scholars experienced together—a standout favorite being a trip to the Spy Museum.
Beyond her friendships with fellow scholars, Aph values the relationships she built with mentors and staff, who made it a point to get to know each scholar individually. “In middle school, it’s hard for students and educators to be close. But they got to know us as people.”
One of the ways Aph connected with her Higher Achievement Learning Director, Mike Ruff, was through photography. Mr. Mike encouraged Aph’s creativity by letting her use the camera at Center. She further honed her skills in The White House and President’s Park’s Photography Program, where she photographed various national park sites. Aph continues photography as a hobby—returning to photograph the last day of programming at her old Achievement Center, and, recently, capturing photos at Higher Achievement’s 9th Grade Bridge Retreat.
The skills Aph gained at Higher Achievement extended beyond photography. She credits Higher Achievement with helping her pursue challenging opportunities, particularly as she explored high school options.
“Higher Achievement was the first experience I had with realizing I should go after opportunities, even if I didn’t have full confidence yet. I love art, and my mentor and Mr. Mike encouraged me to apply for an art program at Northwestern High School. I didn’t think I was good enough to get in, but I got accepted. It was the first experience I had realizing that I should go after opportunities, even if I don’t think I have the skills.”
That growth mindset guided Aph through high school. During her freshman and sophomore years, her career aspirations focused on 2D animation, and she attended a two-week pre-college animation program at MICA before her junior year. Later, an AP psychology class sparked a new interest and shifted her career plans. Aph graduated high school as valedictorian, ready for the next chapter of her academic journey.
This fall, Aph is attending the University of Maryland, Baltimore County. She enters college with credits earned through dual enrollment and AP coursework. Aph hopes to pursue a career in clinical psychology and continue her education through graduate study, with interests in research and teaching.
As she begins college, Aph remains grounded in the community, hard work, and growth mindset that have shaped her journey.
“As an alum, I always think about if there are ways I can give back to Higher Achievement and hopefully I can become a mentor. I take a lot of pride in being a Higher Achievement alumni because Higher Achievement is such a great organization. Higher Achievement was more than a study program or afterschool program, it’s a community that you’re forever a part of. I want to give back because of how much they played a part in helping me during middle school.”
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