Kaosisochukwu Sonia Onyeagba

The words I was born with died on my tongue before I even learned to spell America.

For years, I thought losing my native language just meant losing the words I once spoke. Over time, I realized that finding my voice had less to do with language and more to do with how I chose to show up in the world. I found it in leadership, in the small moments when I could help someone feel seen.

At my high school, that realization led me to found my school’s first Health Occupations Students of America (HOSA) chapter. I wanted students interested in healthcare to have a place to explore their interests and find people who shared their goals. Building the chapter taught me how to turn an idea into a community. As a Student Government Association representative and varsity volleyball 2024 MVP, I continued learning how to advocate for others, collaborate with people who think differently from me, and create spaces where people feel comfortable.

I found another version of that same purpose through "SlayedBySony", the hair-braiding business I started in 2022. What began as a way to express my creative skill became a space for connection. My clients would sit in my chair and talk about school, friendships, family, and the pressures they carried with them. I learned that sometimes community care looks like listening without judgment or just making someone laugh after a difficult day. Running my business taught me how to build trust through communication and recognize the emotional impact of making someone feel valued.

These experiences shaped the way I see healthcare. My interest in Neuroscience specifically comes from wanting to understand the science behind the brain and human behavior as my experiences with others have taught me to care about the person both mentally and physically. At The University of Texas at Austin, I plan to study courses related to science and pursue a career in medicine, bringing both scientific curiosity and genuine attentiveness to the people I serve.

As a Forty Acres Scholar, I hope to keep finding new ways to get involve in my community and use my education to serve others. I began by learning to reclaim my own voice. Now, I want to use it to help other people feel confident enough to find theirs.

Major
Neuroscience

Other Academic Interests
Spanish for Medical Professions Certificate

Extracurricular Activities 
WiStem, Tip Scholar, Freshman Research Initiative

What drew you to the Forty Acres Scholars Program?
What drew me to the Forty Acres Scholars Program was the program’s emphasis on belonging. I have always wanted to attend UT, but I knew that navigating such a large university with so many resources could be challenging. I wanted an immediate sense of community, and the program gave me that and so much more. I was drawn to the opportunity to build genuine relationships with people who would become my support system throughout college.