Meet a recent Microsoft Learn Student Ambassador graduate Joshua Dakim Solomon

This is the next segment in our blog series. Microsoft Learn Student Ambassador Gold Milestone, the highest level attainable and recent college graduate. Each blog in this series will feature a different student, highlighting their accomplishments, their experiences in the Student Ambassador community, and what they have been up to.

Today we meet Joshua Recently graduated Bachelor of Physics ~ in University of Jos ~ in Nigeria.

Responses have been edited for clarity and length.

When did you join the Student Ambassador community?

July 2022.

What is it like to be a student ambassador?

Archimedes once said, “Give me a place to stand and a lever long enough, and I will move the world.” This quote has been my guiding principle since I became a Microsoft Ambassador. This opportunity has given me a platform to act as a superhero in my community in Northern Nigeria. Northern Nigeria is clearly the most underrepresented tech community in Nigeria and Africa, and the least educated region in Nigeria. However, the MLSA program has provided me with invaluable and limitless resources to upskill and educate my community. It has also given me the opportunity to inspire young people in the region to transition into tech by providing them with the right education.

Working with Nigerian and international ambassadors, I have put Jos, Nigeria on the world stage by hosting global programs such as the Global Power Platform Bootcamp, the CloudSkills Challenge, and the first Microsoft Student Summit in Northern Nigeria. All of these efforts have been to provide my community with the opportunity to learn valuable skills and compete with their peers. The MLSA program has truly given me the leverage, the leverage, and the leverage to move the world for a long time.

Was there a particular experience that had a profound impact on you while you were participating in the program? And why?

In November 2023, I had the incredible opportunity to speak at the West Africa MCT/MVP Summit in Abuja, Nigeria. The event brought together MVPs, MCTs, cloud advocates, technology experts, and subject matter experts from various industries around the world. Speaking at the summit allowed me to reach a global audience, connect with great people, and greatly enhance my personal and professional growth.

Tell me about the skills you gained as a student ambassador. How did these skills help you in your journey after graduating from college?

During my time as an ambassador, I had the opportunity to gain in-depth knowledge of data science and machine learning. I learned and built projects using Azure Machine Learning Studio, which gave me a competitive edge in the field of data science. This skill set has greatly shaped my path to becoming a computational physicist and has further strengthened my aspiration to become a research and development expert in ML and AI at a multinational company.

What would you like to tell students around the world about the Microsoft Learn Student Ambassador Program?

This program is truly amazing. It provides opportunities for personal growth and the opportunity to make a positive impact in the community through your skills. This program is a great starting point, leading you to a new adventure that will dramatically change the trajectory of your career and help you overcome potential setbacks.

What advice would you give to new student ambassadors just starting out in the program?

Set goals and pursue them.

Share your favorite quote! It could be from a movie, a song, a book, or someone you know personally. Let us know why you chose it. What does it mean to you?

“There is no passion in pursuing small things and settling for less than you can live.” Nelson Mandela said. This quote really emphasizes the importance of striving for greatness and not settling for mediocrity. It’s inspiring to see how I’ve applied this mindset to my journey as a Microsoft ambassador and to my efforts to uplift your communities.

Tell us some interesting stories about yourself and your travels.

My journey in academia and the Microsoft Learn Student Ambassador (MLSA) program has been an exciting adventure. When I was accepted into the MLSA program, I was already serving as a department chair. Balancing academics, my role as a department chair, and my responsibilities as an ambassador was one of the most challenging things I have ever done. However, the impact I have made in my community has given me the strength to overcome these challenges and helped me grow into the individual I always dreamed of becoming.

You can follow Joshua here:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshua-dakim-129096233/

twitter: https://x.com/dark_power