Mowa Adeleye (’20) is passionate about caring for and empowering vulnerable populations. For as long as she can remember, she knew she wanted to use a medical degree to help her be a part of making Canada’s healthcare system more equitable and diverse.
Through her journey of applying to medical school, Mowa saw her faith grow and become fresh in a whole new way as she rested in her identity in Christ.
Life often doesn’t always go as planned. That reality became painfully clear to Mowa Adeleye (’20) when her applications to medical school were rejected one after another. Though she knew becoming a doctor was her dream, she began to question whether it was actually possible to turn that dream into a reality.
“My biggest childhood desire had always been to become a doctor,” says Mowa, who is passionate about caring for and empowering vulnerable populations. For as long as she can remember, she knew she wanted to use a medical degree to help her be a part of making Canada’s healthcare system more equitable and diverse.
“My biggest childhood desire had always been to become a doctor."
Unfortunately, not everyone in her life was as open to this idea as she had hoped.
“As a woman of colour who has been heavily involved in athletics from a young age, my dream of becoming a doctor never quite landed right in the ears of many that heard it,” recounts Mowa. “Whether it was through looks of disbelief or overt comments about the impossibility of my goal, I had many opportunities to feel discouraged by others.”
What kept Mowa going was focusing on God and on what He thought about her.
“The encounters I had at TWU with various professors, coaches, and classmates motivated me to further quiet all opposing thoughts as people saw me for me and genuinely encouraged me,” says Mowa. “This was because people took the time to get to know and understand me, and because of that they were able to point out the attributes I had that aligned with my goal.”
“The encounters I had at TWU with various professors, coaches, and classmates motivated me to further quiet all opposing thoughts as people saw me for me and genuinely encouraged me.”
One such encouragement came in the form of a podcast interview where a staff member at Trinity Western discussed Mowa’s experience as a student-athlete and her dream to be a doctor. That episode was titled, “Spartan Athlete, Future Doctor”.
“The second part of that statement felt so out of reach amid my growing pile of med school rejection letters,” says Mowa. “But having people believe in me enough to publish this filled me with a huge level of encouragement at the time I needed it the most.”
“But having people believe in me enough to publish this filled me with a huge level of encouragement at the time I needed it the most.”
Mowa decided that despite the setbacks, she would apply again. In this time, she felt her faith grow and become fresh in a whole new way as she rested in her identity in Christ amid the uncertainty of her future. It was in this season that she began work as a Homeless Shelter Support Worker for The Mustard Seed in Calgary.
“My role involved journeying alongside Calgary's homeless population to support them on their journey towards reintegration into society while telling them about the hope and security that comes from a relationship with Jesus.”
...she felt her faith grow and become fresh in a whole new way as she rested in her identity in Christ amid the uncertainty of her future.
She also began volunteering for Elements Calgary Mental Health Center, where she supported individuals in increasing their self-esteem and mental health by assisting them in finding clothing items that made them more confident in who they are.
Both of these experiences moved her in deep ways and provided opportunities for her to give back to her home city in a new way.
Although it took some time, Mowa did eventually receive multiple acceptance offers to attend medical school, and she began at the University of Calgary Cumming School of Medicine in July of 2022.
“I was overwhelmed with gratitude and in awe of how faithful God is. It truly was an out-of-this-world experience and I give God all the glory for it.”
“Being accepted to med school felt like being overwhelmed by the power of the verse, ‘To Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think,’ because I had two different acceptances come in on the same day from two of my top choices,” explains Mowa. “I was overwhelmed with gratitude and in awe of how faithful God is. It truly was an out-of-this-world experience and I give God all the glory for it.”
Today, Mowa is pursuing her dream while also continuing to serve her church community and getting accustomed to new responsibilities within different student organizations. She looks forward to one day being able to care for and empower marginalized communities as a doctor and hopes to use her medical degree to serve in underprivileged areas.
About TWU Alumni
Whether you’re a recent graduate or one of TWU’s original alumni pioneers, you belong here. Our desire is to nurture an engaged and flourishing global community of alumni who are serving God and people in the various marketplaces of life. We invite you to stay connected, proudly represent TWU, and participate in the University’s vision to equip graduates for life. Learn more at TWU Alumni.
About Trinity Western University
Founded in 1962, Trinity Western University is a global Christian liberal arts university. We are dedicated to equipping students to discover meaningful connections between career, life, and the needs of the world. Drawing upon the riches of the Christian tradition, seeking to unite faith and reason through teaching and scholarship, Trinity Western University is a degree-granting research institution offering liberal arts and sciences as well as professional schools in business, nursing, education, human kinetics, graduate studies, and arts, media, and culture. It has four locations in Canada: Langley, Richmond-Lansdowne, Richmond-Minoru, and Ottawa. Learn more at www.twu.ca or follow us on Instagram @trinitywestern, Twitter @TrinityWestern, on Facebook and LinkedIn.
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Words by Jonathan Fehr ('09) Director of Alumni Engagement and Communications.