"I Still Follow God. I Just Got My Ears Pierced." — Ep52.

In this episode of I Love My HBCU?, we’re joined by Oakwood University student Mariel Awoniyi, who brings us into his world of challenging stereotypes and embracing a rich legacy at his HBCU. Mariel passionately discusses the impact of putting God at the forefront of education and his journey to finding balance between faith, identity, and self-expression. Growing up as a third-generation student at Oakwood, Mariel shares how his grandfather’s journey from Nigeria, with only $50 and a dream, inspires him daily. Mariel opens up about overcoming misconceptions—being both intellectual and stylish—and his concerns about the acceptance of false ideologies in today’s society. He also shares his own spiritual path: originally a business major, Mariel ultimately answered a calling to study theology, learning to trust in his purpose along the way. Students trying to navigate their identity in conjunction with their Christian faith will relate with Awoniyi’s sentiments when he assuredly notes, “I still follow God. I just got my ears pierced.” Join us as Mariel speaks on Oakwood’s strong sense of community and acceptance, a place where “love is in the air” and students like him find both faith and purpose. All opinions expressed by guests do not reflect the views of "I Love My HBCU?" A new episode premieres every Saturday at Noon EST. Follow us on Instagram — https://instagram.com/ilovemyhbcyou Listen on Apple Podcast — https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/i-love-my-hbcu/id1698859331 Spotify — https://open.spotify.com/show/1Ump3xDUAbKxX9pH68AFIB Amazon Music — https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/9bdfc506-3fd6-4279-afab-267f5e431b3c/i-love-my-hbcu Connect on LinkedIn — https://linkedin.com/company/i-love-my-hbcu