(Please read to the end. This might be the reminder you need today.)
In 2010, I gained admission into the Federal Polytechnic, Nekede.
I wasn’t the smartest in class. I wasn’t even close.
But I moved with three friends who were. They were students who spoke about formulas, concepts, and exam questions while walking to class or eating lunch. I may not have read like them, but listening made me wiser.
That’s how I started growing by walking with the wise.
If you think you’re slow academically, attach yourself to those who are ahead. You’ll start catching up without even realizing it.
But wisdom wasn’t my only challenge. Money was. Survival was. Eating was.
I played bass guitar in a church that paid me ₦500 per service. Whether it was Sunday or midweek service, it was always ₦500.
₦500 that could buy me a plate of eba and soup for that day. ₦500 that they didn’t always give. Sometimes they’d delay it. Sometimes it’d come short. Sometimes I would survive on buns… and pure water.
I couldn’t afford textbooks. I couldn’t afford practical manuals. I couldn’t even afford food most days. It affected my results. But I never gave up.
After ND in 2012, I went for IT in 2013. When others returned for HND, I stayed back. I couldn’t afford it.
But instead of hiding, I came back to school… to teach. I organized tutorials for ND and HND students. Yes, I hadn’t even done my HND, but I read, taught, and delivered.
Students thought I was a graduate already. Some thought I’d gone for NYSC.
This was my life in 2013, 2014, and 2015.
Until 2016… My pastor’s wife looked at me and asked, Are you waiting for NYSC or work? Or have you graduated?”
That was the moment I broke down and told her everything. She was stunned. And moved. She told her husband and she encouraged me to pick the HND form, write the Post UTME and when it is successful as she knew it would, they will loan me the #10,000 to pay for my acceptance fee.
That was how I returned. But my family thought I was still in school all along.
When I told my mom the truth, it broke her. She began comparing me with others: “Your mates have gone for service already… Some are working…”
But I looked her in the eye and said something she still remembers to this day: It is not how far, but how well.
I finished my HND strongly. I was popular again, not for clothes or money, but because I taught my coursemates. After that?
I did my PGD in Theoretical Physics and had a Distinction.
I did my Master’s in Theoretical Mathematical Physics and had a Distinction also. And I’m still going.
I don’t share this story for praise. I share it because I know someone reading this is about to give up. Maybe you’re hungry. Maybe you’re broke. Maybe your mates have “gone far.” But I came to tell you:
Stay the course. Keep pushing. Attach yourself to growth. And don’t give up.
📌 If you’ve ever walked this kind of journey, or you’re in it right now, drop a ❤️ or tell your story in the comments. Let someone know they’re not alone.
Instructor Alison's Tutorials
From N500 and Buns… to Distinctions.
(Please read to the end. This might be the reminder you need today.)
In 2010, I gained admission into the Federal Polytechnic, Nekede.
I wasn’t the smartest in class. I wasn’t even close.
But I moved with three friends who were.
They were students who spoke about formulas, concepts, and exam questions while walking to class or eating lunch.
I may not have read like them, but listening made me wiser.
That’s how I started growing by walking with the wise.
If you think you’re slow academically, attach yourself to those who are ahead. You’ll start catching up without even realizing it.
But wisdom wasn’t my only challenge.
Money was. Survival was. Eating was.
I played bass guitar in a church that paid me ₦500 per service.
Whether it was Sunday or midweek service, it was always ₦500.
₦500 that could buy me a plate of eba and soup for that day.
₦500 that they didn’t always give.
Sometimes they’d delay it. Sometimes it’d come short.
Sometimes I would survive on buns… and pure water.
I couldn’t afford textbooks.
I couldn’t afford practical manuals.
I couldn’t even afford food most days.
It affected my results. But I never gave up.
After ND in 2012, I went for IT in 2013.
When others returned for HND, I stayed back. I couldn’t afford it.
But instead of hiding, I came back to school… to teach.
I organized tutorials for ND and HND students.
Yes, I hadn’t even done my HND, but I read, taught, and delivered.
Students thought I was a graduate already.
Some thought I’d gone for NYSC.
This was my life in 2013, 2014, and 2015.
Until 2016…
My pastor’s wife looked at me and asked,
Are you waiting for NYSC or work? Or have you graduated?”
That was the moment I broke down and told her everything.
She was stunned. And moved.
She told her husband and she encouraged me to pick the HND form, write the Post UTME and when it is successful as she knew it would, they will loan me the #10,000 to pay for my acceptance fee.
That was how I returned.
But my family thought I was still in school all along.
When I told my mom the truth, it broke her.
She began comparing me with others:
“Your mates have gone for service already… Some are working…”
But I looked her in the eye and said something she still remembers to this day:
It is not how far, but how well.
I finished my HND strongly. I was popular again, not for clothes or money, but because I taught my coursemates.
After that?
I did my PGD in Theoretical Physics and had a Distinction.
I did my Master’s in Theoretical Mathematical Physics and had a Distinction also.
And I’m still going.
I don’t share this story for praise.
I share it because I know someone reading this is about to give up.
Maybe you’re hungry. Maybe you’re broke.
Maybe your mates have “gone far.”
But I came to tell you:
Stay the course.
Keep pushing.
Attach yourself to growth.
And don’t give up.
📌 If you’ve ever walked this kind of journey, or you’re in it right now, drop a ❤️ or tell your story in the comments. Let someone know they’re not alone.
#RealLifeStruggles
#FromPainToPurpose
#DiaryOfASurvivor
#ItIsNotHowFarButHowWell
#KeepGoing
#instructoralison
1 month ago | [YT] | 24