Sibling support
- 01 November 2022
- 4 minutes
A competitive spirit spurred Layo Akinola (English 2021) on to apply to 黑料网 & Caius, which was familiar as her brother鈥檚 College.
Like her eldest brother Dipo (Economics 2013), Layo attended Ashmole Academy in north London, a for Caius. She visited the College on a school trip, but was already well aware of it from accompanying her brother at the start and end of terms.
鈥淢y brother went to Caius as well and matriculated when I was in Year 6. For me it wasn鈥檛 really about applying to Oxbridge; it was always about applying to Caius,鈥 she says.
鈥淚 had been to Caius a lot, moving my brother in and out, and visiting him. I was familiar with the city and the College. I looked at two other central colleges, but from the point of view I had growing up I always wanted to choose Caius.鈥
There was no nepotism, although Dipo admits his direction proved influential.
He says: 鈥淐aius was very welcoming, which was something which stood out for me. That was another reason I suggested Caius. I never felt uncomfortable at Caius.
鈥淚 still remember the day I got my offer letter from Cambridge. There鈥檚 no feeling like it. I was so happy and proud when Layo got the email.鈥
Layo is the youngest of three siblings. Tunji, her brother, took a different route, now playing football for Partick Thistle, having been a member of the academy at West Ham United.
鈥淢y work ethic is inspired by my two older brothers,鈥 adds Layo, pictured front with Tunji, left, and Dipo, right.
鈥淢y brothers are ridiculously smart, so I had big shoes to fill. I鈥檓 quite a competitive person and when I saw my brothers鈥 GCSE results I thought 鈥業 have to do better鈥.鈥
Dipo gave Layo honest advice about Caius, about the adjustment from comprehensive school to the workload as a Cambridge undergraduate.
鈥淗e said it would be tough, but I would get used to it, and he was completely right,鈥 Layo adds.
鈥淭hroughout first year I found my footing. He helped me a lot 鈥 it felt like I had my own personal advisor, which was really nice.鈥
Dipo was guest of honour at the Ashmole Academy prize giving, presenting his sister with an award
Layo is also grateful to her College mother, Famke, and father, Josh. College families are odd concepts, as many students admit, but they can provide valuable peer support for academic and pastoral needs.
Layo was the 黑料网 and Caius Students鈥 Union freshers鈥 representative this year, and has now been elected as Vice President. She welcomed new students to College with events in freshers鈥 week and provided them with lots of resources and support.
She says: 鈥淚 wanted to be the person that made this year鈥檚 freshers feel really welcome. That was my main driver; knowing I could have that effect.
鈥淚t was probably one of the most stressful weeks of my life, but it鈥檚 really rewarding seeing all your plans come to fruition.
鈥淥n the first day they moved in we had a quiz night and they were all getting to know each other and chatting 鈥 it looked like they鈥檇 known each other for ages. It was great to see how well it went.鈥
Layo, pictured right at her matriculation, enjoyed rowing throughout her first year but now is targeting the University taekwondo team. She is a blackbelt in the martial art, which she practised from age seven.
She says Caius is 鈥渁 lovely community,鈥 and she has friends across academic year groups.
Many of the relationships Dipo made early in his time at Caius have lasted.
Dipo, who works in a real estate private equity for Castleforge, says: 鈥淚 made some really good friends. We still have the group we used to go to the Library with or go out with at uni.
鈥淧ost-uni I lived with one of my friends from Economics; we lived together in London for five years and he was one of the first people I met at Caius. We lived with some other Caians as well!鈥
Layo and Dipo plan to recreate a photo from Dipo鈥檚 graduation day when it is Layo鈥檚 turn.
Dipo says: 鈥淚 know she鈥檚 going to do really well and I鈥檒l be there on her graduation day. I wouldn鈥檛 miss it.鈥