Hi there! Here’s a bit about me.

My name is Oluwateniola Olukareh, and I was born and raised in Abuja, Nigeria, but I currently live in Victoria, BC, on the traditional territories of the Coast Salish peoples, including the Songhees, Esquimalt, W̱SÁNEĆ, and Sc’ianew Nations. Before transferring to UVic to complete my Bachelor of Science degree, I was actually in a 6-year MD program in the Caribbean, specifically the islands of St Kitts & Nevis and Antigua & Barbuda.

I’m someone who’s happiest outdoors — whether I’m hiking, taking long walks, or just sitting still and soaking in the beauty around me. I can’t say camping is my thing (I’ve never tried it, but I’m still on edge for that one), but anything that lets me be outside, I’m in. I’m also really into makeup; I love creating fun, colourful looks and playing around with different styles, it’s one of my favourite creative outlets. Another fun fact: I’ve played the violin since I was 4 years old. I absolutely adore the sound of instruments (could you guess what my favourite genre of music is?), and hope to learn the piano soon.

I grew up with lots of animals. My family back home currently has 6 dogs and 1 cat ( it can get a bit hectic). I actually volunteered with a pet shelter back in Nigeria, but I’m yet to find one here. If anyone has any ideas, please let me know! Volunteering is actually another thing I’m pretty passionate about; it’s surprising how much we could do for our community with skills we consider quite “basic”.

I’m taking this class because I want to fully immerse myself in the educational experience from the other side. I’ve spent years as the learner, but now I want to understand what it takes to design learning that actually supports students. I’m interested in how we can use digital tools and creative teaching techniques to make education more engaging, more accessible, and more meaningful for everyone.

I’m excited to learn with you all and look forward to all the conversations, ideas, and fascinating things we’ll learn in this class!