David Ijishakin, also known as Akin Soul, arrived at the University of Sussex with a rare balance of scientific curiosity and creative passion. Born in Dallas to Nigerian parents and raised in South Bermondsey, he grew up in a household that valued learning. Music, however, arrived as a revelation: at 12, performing through a local Southwark programme, he discovered a love of singing that has never left him.

Although he trained in jazz before university, David chose to study physics at Sussex, drawn by its clarity and his fascination with the universe. Here, he found a way to hold both disciplines together: days spent grappling with electrodynamics, evenings singing in the Meeting House, what he fondly calls “the chapel”. For David, physics and music are not opposites but complementary ways of understanding the world.

Support from the Dr John Birch Music Scholarship made possible by philanthropic giving, proved transformational. It enabled him to access practice spaces, develop his voice, and sustain his musicianship alongside a demanding STEM degree. The impact was immediate: not just artistically, but academically. Even while performing internationally at COP30 in Brazil, David maintained outstanding academic performance, achieving a first for the term. That balance required discipline, but it was made possible because the spirit of Sussex chose to invest in students like him.

Sussex itself became central to his growth. The campus, Brighton’s creativity, and the openness of its community helped him “find himself”. From rehearsals with the Sussex Big Jazz Band to moments of calm in Stanmer Park, the University gave him both the space and confidence to thrive. It is, in his words, a place he “can’t get enough of”.

David’s story is a powerful reminder to alumni of the enduring value of their University. Support for scholarships does more than fund facilities: it opens doors, sustains wellbeing, and allows students to pursue the fullness of their ambition. For David, it meant performing at Glastonbury, preparing for major festivals, and daring to imagine a future that spans data science, music, and beyond.

“The door stays open”, he says. And through the generosity of the Sussex Fund, we want it to stay open for others too.