(Courtesy of Nick Aime)

When Nick Aime entered Wake Forest in the fall of 2020, he did not know that his next four years would be split between Chile, Washington, D.C. and Winston-Salem. But now, as a senior politics and international affairs major and Latin American studies minor, he could not imagine his college experience any differently.

Aime initially enrolled in Wake Forest with the intention of majoring in biology, hoping to become a physician and work to end disparities in public health policy. However, after seeing the impact that the COVID-19 pandemic had on marginalized communities, Aime decided to switch his focus.

“Somewhere in the pandemic, I noticed how much marginalized people and people with disadvantaged socioeconomic positions were suffering, especially within countries in the Global South,” Aime said. “I became motivated to study more about global inequality. That’s kind of what got me towards studying politics and international affairs.”

Aime had always possessed an interest in international politics, particularly those centered around the Caribbean. He grew up in Fayetteville, N.C., as part of a first-generation Haitian-American family. Haitian culture had a large influence on his childhood, and his love for Haiti has percolated through every aspect of his life, most noticeably in his goals and academic interests.

“I’ve always been passionate about trying to eventually get to a place where I can help Haiti in its political and economic relationship with the U.S.,” Aime said.

This enthusiasm was a guiding factor in his decision to study abroad in Santiago, Chile, in the spring of 2023. 

“It was cool to go there because there’s a kind of synergy that Chile has with Haiti,” he said, “partly because both of those countries’ histories have been demonstrably impacted by U.S. foreign policy. But also, there are actually a lot of Haitian migrants and refugees in Chile right now, and they were there back then. And, you know, Chile is kind of a stopgap between locations, traveling from Haiti to the U.S.”

While abroad, Aime traveled throughout South America and polished his Spanish language skills. When he began his senior year in the fall, he was excited to return to the community that he had found on campus, which he credits, in large part, to the Black Student Alliance (BSA). 

“For me, my best memories have always been with the multicultural organizations on campus,” Aime said. “… Going into Wake [Forest], I wasn’t confident in [my ability] to find a group of people that I identified with, and through the multicultural organizations, I was able to find a solid friend group that I’ll definitely be keeping in touch with past my time at Wake [Forest].”

The end of Aime’s time at Wake Forest, at least on campus in Winston-Salem, came earlier than he had anticipated. In the first semester of his senior year, Aime set his sights on the nation’s capital — Washington, D.C. Thus, he decided to complete his last semester as an undergraduate via the Wake Washington program.

“I had conflicting feelings last semester because obviously, it’s my senior year,” Aime said. “… But I knew eventually that decision would pay off for me professionally. So, I guess this trip, for me, is more about my professional aspirations and wanting to work and eventually get a job that allows me to [pursue] my passions after Wake [Forest], and I’m in that process right now.”

For now, Aime is looking towards the future and channeling his optimism for a more peaceful world. When he graduates in May, he is committed to making a profound impact on both the U.S. and Haiti.

“I think the issues in Haiti are so current,” Aime said. “And my family is living through it, which continues to motivate me to study the topic and try to figure out solutions that I can strive for in my career after Wake [Forest].”