ISWS01 || Interviewing a Nigerian University Student who Finally Studied his Dream Course at the Age of 26

To students around the globe, we all have been faced with one challenge after another. Even though you're not in a tertiary institution, you must have had experiences where you were subjected to injustices in school or probably a memorable experience you won't forget in a hurry.

Every student has something to say after school. In the course of this interview, a 26-year-old university student would be sharing his experience as an ex-fresher at the University of Ibadan. His discipline is human nutrition and dietetics. His story revolves around finally studying his dream course after many years of graduating from high school, and his inability to have studied back then was due to financial constraints.

His experience will touch us in one way or another. Most students who get admission to study at the university may at some point lack the finance taken to complete the study to the end. I know of a student who got admitted to study medicine and surgery at the University of Uyo.

Due to his parents' inability to pay the fees and all it took to secure the admission, he had to suspend his studies till further notice. Sad to say, it was during his time of gaining admission that the institution increased fees for the whole school.

So listen as I interview this Steemian who's a university student in Nigeria. He goes by the name Ayobami, but on Steemit, he is @yourguybami026.

@yourguybami026: Yes, I'm good. I give all the glory and thank God for the gift of life.

@yourguybami026: I'm a university student, as you've rightly said, and I just concluded my first year in school. I'm currently studying Human Nutrition and Dietetics. Though a few challenges were part of the journey, it was all great, and I'll tell you the reasons behind this.

@yourguybami026: My first year in school has been great, and the discipline has been my dream discipline way back if not for financial constraints. I would have been done a long time ago. When you finally study something you've been dreaming of studying, there are no regrets. You do everything with a grateful heart, and you try to make those who sponsored you proud. The only challenge I have is studying with my juniors. They tend to see you as their mate, not knowing you're advanced in age. Regardless, I give glory to God, and to me, I personally feel this is the best time to study this course. I have no regrets.

@yourguybami026: To a few challenges, there was a time in the middle of the year when I was juggling lectures, choir rehearsals three times a week, assignments, and tests, while also trying to stay active in the academic community. I thought I was invincible, staying up late, skipping meals, and relying on adrenaline and garri. But my body finally said, "No more." I fell ill for almost two weeks, missed important rehearsals, and couldn’t meet deadlines. That time off forced me to slow down and refocus. Now I make sure to eat well, get at least 6-7 hours of sleep, and say "no" when I’m overwhelmed. Health isn’t everything, but without it, nothing else matters.

@yourguybami026: One moment I won't forget is when I was told to be the course rep of the class, which I turned down because I didn't want anything to add to my stress or serve as a burden to me. People said I was selfless with my actions, giving out a position people dread to another person. Coming to see people I know already in the institution was a major backbone to my getting accommodation easily, registration and other runs.

@yourguybami026: If I'm to advise someone who's anticipating a first class, the main and best foundation for achieving such is in the first year. It's better to strain for a first class in your first year to earn this in your finals. Being in second class lower may not really give you a 100% guarantee because the higher we go, the tougher it gets. In this first year, you are exposed to things you know already. So you have to smash them with grades of A's. You'll be introduced to something new and different in your second year, which may make it difficult to get constant A's.

@yourguybami026: Relating to working and schooling at the same time, I'd say that what works for me may not work for you. Let me explain. Some people have their reading time during the day, while others have theirs at night while they do their work simultaneously. To attain first class, you must pay the price of focus, consistency, determination and discipline. So if you can work at the same time and achieve all these things academically, then you're good to go. To me, working and attaining a first class won't work for me because academic mental work is enough work to stress and weigh me down. So adding physical work, which would stress the academic mental work I'm already undergoing, may not work well with me. It would be very difficult to balance up.

@yourguybami026: I usually attend night classes and tutorials, as reading or studying from home wasn't my best therapy. I would spend time in the library, keep my phone in my apartment to avoid distractions and study like my life depends on it. I knew how difficult it was to study my dream course in this university, not because it was difficult to enter, but because of finance. So I had to make my sponsors proud.

@yourguybami026: To my dear freshmen, I'll say that school is not for the weak. I'm not discouraging you from going to school, but you must be mentally ready to face certain challenges. I'm not talking about high school. Tertiary institution is a different zone. You'll at some point want to give up because of challenging situations, but remember why you started and keep going. If you're not ready mentally, don't be pressured to go to school. Wait, but don't go when you're 3 years older than when you graduated from school. That fresh brain won't be easy to sustain for 3 years of not being fed academically. Everyone can be successful, including you.

Thanks for having this session with us. I've learnt three things from this interview.

• Prioritise your health while in school or balance it with academics. Your health shouldn't suffer for academics to thrive, and your academics shouldn't suffer for health to thrive. It must be balanced. No, go kill yourself at a top school.

• You must be mentally ready before you go to school. School isn't for the weak, but don't be later than 3 years. It can be very difficult to blend, as I'm trying now.

• Your first year in school is the foundation year for getting a first class. If you miss it, it becomes difficult to get.

Is it a waste of time to further your education in higher institution or you would rather use that time to learn a high-income skill?