SOUTH HADLEY — It took a leap of faith for Mount Holyoke student Diamond Abiakalam-Chinagorom to commit to a historically women’s college in bucolic Massachusetts an ocean away from her home in bustling Lagos, Nigeria.

Four years later, after Abiakalam-Chinagorom receives her diploma in May, she will once again travel to a new continent — this time across the Pacific Ocean — to study at Tsinghua University in Beijing, China, as a Schwarzman Scholar. She is one of 150 students picked from an applicant pool of 5,000 to partake in one of the most prestigious international affairs fellowships in the world — and the first Mount Holyoke student to attend the program.

“I’ve always been interested in trade policies, like China’s (activities) within African countries,” Abiakalam-Chinagorom said. “I felt it to be a great place to learn about China’s relationship with Africa from a Chinese perspective.”

The Schwarzman Scholars was begun by Blackrock Group co-founder and CEO Stephen A. Schwarzman in 2016 to prepare the next generation of global leaders. Those admitted to the program pursue a one-year master’s degree in global affairs that touches on leadership, global affairs and China.

“It is clear just how deeply she (Abiakalam-Chinagorom) regards the stories and lives of people and how connected economic policy is to enacting positive change that can transform livelihoods,” Mount Holyoke’s Associate Director of Fellowships Briana Chase said in a statement. “I do not doubt that she will continue to engage in purposeful leadership through this program and beyond.”

Abiakalam-Chinagorom discovered the program while browsing LinkedIn profiles for postgraduation ideas. She came across the profile of a Nigerian man who spent a year in China as a Schwarzman Scholar. An economics student with an interest in law, Abiakalam-Chinagorom’s interests in China grew as she learned more about China’s trade activities in various African countries.

While living in Nigeria, Abiakalam-Chinagorom experienced firsthand China’s increased activity in the region as British and U.S. economic investments dwindled in African countries. She often spoke with friends and family about the various controversies around China’s ventures, such as building a port in Nigeria for more trade.

“I felt it (Schwarzman Scholars) to be a great place to learn about China’s relationship with Africa from a Chinese perspective, because most times African scholars are speculating the reasons or why the West thinks China is involved,” Abiakalam-Chinagorom said.

Navigating the rigorous application process provided its own challenges. Abiakalam-Chinagorom worked with Mount Holyoke advisers and staff to perfect her essays, practiced mock interviews and gathered advice from graduates of the program.

“A lot of (scholars) always said you have to tell your own story,” she said. “With fellowships like this, you always want to present yourself in a way you think would be impressive and not necessarily in an authentic way, and I was falling into that trap.”

Abiakalam-Chinagorom said it took a lot of personal reflection to fight writer’s block and overcome her imposter syndrome to write her story. She describes her experiences as a Nigerian woman aspiring to bolster the economic autonomy of other Nigerian women.

“I realized that a lot of Nigerian laws work actively against women’s success,” she said. “I think I want to be a lawyer to go into the international space, not just to make a change in my country, but do something about the laws that affect women in my continent.”

While Schwarzman Scholars focus on China’s history and perspective, the fellowship program attracts fellows from around the world to Tsinghua University to discuss global politics and leadership. Abiakalam-Chinagorom applied to the program to learn more about China, but she’s equally excited to meet people from all over Africa and other Asian countries.

“Engaging with other scholars from these countries is one thing that will open up my mind,” she said.