The picture above was taken during my midwifery posting in the hospital. Close to me there are my course mates🥰🥰🥰.
Growing up in an area where you can dream big but think twice about achieving them is a problem because no hope was coming from anywhere, but as a young boy, I will always tell myself that I must survive anywhere no matter what life brings up on a daily basis.
I will always tell my friends that I can't joke with reggae music, especially Lucky Dube's, because it has been my source of advice and life-strengthening messages whenever I listen to it. His music is something I will always play for my children in the future whenever they are around me, so that they can understand what life is all about.
How I scaled through with determination
Life was never easy, but consistency and hope were just what I had to achieve my Bachelor of Nursing Science. High school wasn't a good one though, but I kept on hoping to get a better degree in life and also achieve my life plans.
I got admitted into the school of basic science at the University of Port Harcourt in 2015 from a secondary school that looks funny. When I got there to meet some students who also came to do basic, and when I heard the kind of secondary school they attended, I was afraid because I thought I could not make it there, but the courage I had in me was that it was either this nursing or nursing; there was no option to think about. During my basic days, my determination for success was very high. Because I have determined never to fail but to become successful with the program, I kept on reading like my life depended on it. Consistency was top notch. At last, I was admitted to the department of nursing science. Out of the 300 students that applied for the course, 24 were admitted, and I was one of them. Along the line of study, I got some good nursing skills, and then I started doing some home care jobs that literally helped me while I was still a student. Being successful in life is all about working hard with a target in mind and then applying some skills to achieve it.
The picture below was when I took my patient to the hospital for dialysis.
I started my caregiving job at my 200-level level, where I was being paid 2,000 naira for a 24-hour nursing job. I literally stay with the patient 24/7 due to her condition just to provide her with good nursing care. It was painful then, but trust me, it was for surviving on a daily basis as I lived on that job to settle some bills for myself. I almost lost my admission when I was in 300 because of school fees, but I told myself that I must finish this school. I tried my best to ensure that I paid my fees, and I did. Determination was just leading me all through my days on campus. At 400 levels, I lost everything I have to thieves. Meeting up with life became so tough that my friends thought I would commit suicide. When I heard of their thoughts, I started laughing because I'm looking up to achieve something better in life than those things I lost to those people.
How I cope with everything that happened?
Wow, reggae music was the secret behind everything that strengthened me during that period. As I was listening to Lucky Dube's music, everything was like nothing happened to me that period. I was just smiling because I do understand that life has its own part, but I will be the one to make the major decisions about anything I want to do.
The picture below is a selfie I took while I was in the hospital.
My little piece of advice to everyone reading this is to never allow anyone to make you take any decisions that will put you in trouble in the future. Stay clear of false accusations. Never say what you're not sure of.
I have a lot to say about Lucky Dube's music, trust me.
The only thing I told myself when I lost my money and phone was that I would never do anything that would cause me harm, maybe today or later in life.
The image below was on the day I did my final year external defence after a long time struggle as a student. The lady beside me here is my very good friend and also my course mate.
A few months later, I got a nursing care job where I was paid 6,000 naira daily, of which I made over 100% of what I lost to thieves. I kept pushing through hard times to ensure I got what I wanted in life. Hence, I will advise you to keep pushing until you achieve your life goals, because I know you will get them if you really wish to achieve them. With all the hardship I experienced while still in school, I graduated without having an extra year. It was tough, but I scaled through, and today I'm now a graduate registered nurse and midwife.
Whatever you have in mind to achieve in life, you can achieve it, no matter how tough or difficult it looks. Just keep pushing and working. Do not give up.
You can also share how life has treated you in the comment section so we can laugh together over it.