Moving to the UK from Nigeria at 7 was a big change for me. In Nigeria, everyone around me looked like me—same skin tone, same cultural experiences. But when I arrived here, that changed overnight. I went from blending in to suddenly being the only black person in the room, the only black girl in my class, on my netball team, and in dance. It was a shift I wasn’t prepared for, and it shaped my childhood in ways I didn’t fully understand back then.

As I grew up, I became the 'token Black girl,' and that label followed me everywhere. Whether it was in school or on sports teams, I constantly felt like I was seen first for my skin colour and everything else came second. People had preconceived ideas about who I was—before I even had the chance to open my mouth. Being the only black girl in the room came with a lot of pressure. I felt like I had to represent an entire race, to be on my best behaviour, and to avoid making mistakes because I was often the only person of colour in those spaces.

It wasn’t always easy. In fact, it was often isolating. I remember, during my teenage years, feeling embarrassed about my braids because no one else wore their hair like that. I’d be on the netball or dance team and watch the other girls style their hair in ways that I couldn’t replicate. I felt left out, like I didn’t belong. I thought that if I straightened my hair, wore it like everyone else, and even changed parts of myself—like asking my parents to give me a "white-sounding" name—I’d fit in more. Rightfully they refused reminding me of the tradition and cultural significance and meaning my name had and why they named me that. I remember my dad saying ‘Oluwanifemi means God has love for me and we named you that its beautiful and it’s you’. I didn’t care I stormed out of the room as it felt no matter what I did, I couldn’t fully escape the feeling of being different. I spent years trying to fit into spaces that weren’t made for me, spaces where I felt like I had to hide parts of myself just to get by.

But now, at 23, I see how that journey has shaped me into who I am today. What once felt like isolation has become my strength. Being the 'only one' in the room isn’t easy, but it’s also what lit a fire in me. The very experience of being underestimated, stereotyped, or feeling out of place is what motivated me to work harder, to be resilient, and to prove that I belong anywhere I choose to be. I didn’t always see it this way. But something shifted inside me during my teenage years. I realized that I didn’t have to apologize for who I was or shrink myself to fit in. My skin, my hair, my culture—those weren’t things to be ashamed of; they were things to celebrate.

Yes, I still faced challenges. There were still moments of being misunderstood, underestimated, or even mocked. But I stopped letting those moments define me. Instead, I used them as motivation. I began to see that being the 'only one' wasn’t a disadvantage—it was an opportunity. I had a unique perspective, a lived experience that others didn’t have. I could bring something different to the table, and that set me apart in the best way possible.

Now, as a VP Welfare at one of the top 10 Students' Unions in the country, I look back at my journey with pride. Those experiences in predominantly white spaces didn’t just make me resilient—they gave me an advantage. They taught me how to adapt, how to use my voice, and how to navigate spaces where I didn’t always feel like I belonged. But the truth is, I did belong.

So, to anyone reading this who has ever felt like the 'token Black person,' or like they didn’t fully belong—know this: your difference is your power. The things that set you apart from others are the very things that make you incredible. You don’t have to blend in or shrink yourself to fit into spaces that weren’t made with you in mind. In fact, the world needs your voice, your perspective, your lived experience.

Reclaim that narrative. Don’t see being the 'only one' as a disadvantage, but as an opportunity to bring something unique and powerful to the table. Use it to fuel you, to push you forward, and to remind you that you belong just as much as anyone else. Take up space, be unapologetically you, and never doubt that you deserve to be in every room you walk into. Because the truth is, you’re not just the 'token Black girl'—you’re a force to be reckoned with.

And we’ll keep being that force—until we’re no longer the 'token.' We’ll keep pushing, advocating, and breaking barriers until there are more of us around those tables, in those rooms, and in those positions of power. Because the goal isn’t just to stand out alone, but to create space for more Black voices to be heard and more Black faces to be seen. Together, we’ll change the narrative.

Events to celebrate Black History Month

• BHM Sip & Paint | Wednesday 17 October
• BHM Essex Rebels game | Saturday 19 October
• BHM Eat & Meet | Monday 21 October
• Rollover Quiz: BHM Special | Thursday 24 October
• BHM 'Get Out' Screening | Monday 28 October

See more events