Numi Oyebode
With her innate compassion and exemplary leadership skills, four-year senior Inumidun Oyebode, better known as Numi, makes impactful connections with those around her. Known by Exonians as a person with diverse interests, Oyebode can be spotted around campus shooting photos, winning snowball fights or participating in athletic competitions—sometimes all in one day.
A native of Nigeria, Oyebode heard about Exeter through her older brothers who attended Andover. “I was really nervous about Exeter, the fact that I was going to school in a new country and the fact that it was a boarding school,” she said. Now, midway through her senior year, she can still recall herself as a prep adjusting to her new home. Since she was not accustomed to checking the weather outside, Oyebode had to depend on her dormmates for advice on what to wear throughout the seasons.
Three years later, Oyebode serves as a proctor of McConnell Hall, a position she describes as her favorite thus far. Oyebode’s accepting and compassionate nature allows her to form meaningful relationships within her dorm. “I love having the opportunity to get closer to girls in my dorm and knowing that I’m someone they can come talk to if they need it,” she said.
Oyebode particularly enjoys Tuesday nights when she walks around McConnell with dorm faculty and history instructor Michael Golay to check her dorm-mates in and chat about their days. “She helps everyone as best as she can, and always introduces herself to and befriends the new kids in the dorm,” upper Selma Unver said. The impact that Oyebode has had on Unver is reflective of her efforts. “[Numi] is always there for me when I need her, and is definitely my favorite person to watch movies with. She’s really that kind of person [with whom] you can be yourself and let your crazies out,” added Unver.
Outside of the dorm, Oyebode can be found exploring her artistic persona as a photographer. After taking an introductory photography class during her prep year, Oyebode decided to continue pursuing her passion by shooting photos for The Exonian and PEAN. “In The Exonian, I went from a photographer to a photo editor and that allowed me to get more involved in both taking and choosing pictures,” Oyebode said.
Oyebode’s interest in the arts is not confined to photography—she also participates in music and dance groups on campus. She is a leading member of the saxophone section of PEA’s concert band and uses her art skills to design the band’s gear. “I’ve definitely met some of my best friends at band. Concert band had a relaxed atmosphere because of Mr. Schultz’s great musical puns and I’m glad I stuck with it all four years,” Oyebode said. Her love of music inspired her to further explore the subject through Exeter’s Academy Belly Dancing Society. As a member of the group, she practices the intricate dance to a variety of songs with other members of the club.
In addition to her roles as a leader and an artist, Oyebode is an integral member of the girls’ track team. Upper and fellow track teammate Ademide Kosoko described her as one of the “best shootout throwers” on the girls’ track team. He mentioned how Oyebode’s hard work has resulted in her continuous improvement as she has broke her personal record on many occasions. “Even when I joined the track team, I wasn’t throwing very far myself and was never satisfied with what I was doing,” Kosoko recalled. “Still, Numi would commend me saying I was making great progress, and indeed I have.”
Oyebode is not only an athlete herself but also a supporter of other teams on campus. In a role that uses both her athletic knowledge and her leadership skills, she serves as the manager of the boys’ varsity football team. “My first impression of her was that she was very outgoing and friendly. I got hurt in the beginning of the season, so our friendship grew from that point on as I was on the sidelines with them during practice and games,” upper Dylan O’Sullivan said. “She does the best she can to make not only herself, but her teammates better as well.”
Oyebode intends to study environmental science and music next year in college. Although her friends are excited for her to develop her passions in a new setting, they note that her absence will not go unnoticed.
“I feel incredibly lucky to call Numi a friend,” upper Nick Schwarz said. “Between her loyalty, her ability to both make and take a joke and how she appreciates the quirkiest things about her friends, Numi is the kind of person I always hoped to meet at Exeter.”