Single-minded persistence, detours, flexibility

Michael Held_UNSPLASH

2010

"Change your choice of institution to MAPOLY, buy their post-UME form, and you will gain admission." Brother Taiye assured me.

I had just gone through the circle of not gaining admission into UNILAG to study Business Administration by 1 or 2 points. Can no longer recall.

Going to a polytechnic was never my plan. I'd be my family's first child to ever go to a university. While having no model ahead hurt, I wasn't willing to court anyhow the decision I made that studying was the only thing that interested me when my father asked me what trade I'd love to learn as I neared the end of my secondary school education. I loved to read. And I had read a lot of news stories and opinion articles in the newspapers about the "dichotomy between a University certificate and a Polytechnic certificate."

The first to do it must attend only the best university. That’s my thought.

2011

I started preparing for UME again. Burning night candles. UNILAG on my mind again. I had read a lot about the university. People who study there talked about it with pride. Plus, it's close to home. I don't enjoy being on the road for long hours.

The form came out and I still went ahead to chose UNILAG - first and second choice.

In 2010, during registration, I chose 'any’ polytechnic and college of education without much care. In 2011, with little interest, I chose the Moshood Abiola Polytechnic for the polytechnic section. The course was Mass Communication.

I believed strongly that nothing was going to stop me from gaining admission to UNILAG this second time. I did excellently in UME. And I moved to prep for post-UME.

After the two-day stress I went through at the purchase point - Jibowu, Lagos, trying to purchase the post-UME form, I still ended up being behind the cutoff mark by 2. Not like the stress was a ticket to being successful, but I was so pained😭.

There’s no way I’d spend another year at home.

“What’s wrong with going to a polytechnic?” You can bet, bro. Taiye was there to nudge me again.

“You have nothing to lose. Besides, you are smart and intelligent. Meeting the marks and gaining admission would be so easy for you.” He added.

I told him I’d think about it and get back to him. For someone who suddenly carried her bag at 5 PM and headed for Lagos from Ibadan, unplanned, I took some days to get back to Bro. Taiye.

2012

I matriculated. Moshood Abiola Polytechnic, Abeokuta. Mass Communication. Yes, I got back to Bro. Taiye. And just as he said, I exceeded the cutoff mark. I would go on to become the popular student who made a distinction in my first semester, and later the first female news editor and best performing SIWES student at NUJ. My journalistic skills and leadership competencies were honed in the process. I fell in love with news reporting and, at one point, aspired to a career in journalism.

Mind you, I still hadn’t given up on my desire to go to the university. UNILAG or nowhere. The plan was that when I was done with the national diploma program, I’d retake UME.

2014

English Language and Literature-in-English Teacher at a Secondary School.

It’s supposed to be the year for industrial training, but since I was sure I wouldn’t be returning for the Higher National Diploma at MAPOLY, I took a teaching job by recommendation while making UNILAG 3.0 plans.🤣

It was at the school where I worked as a teacher that I met Segun Ogunmowo. He’s at the University of Ibadan. He’s very smart and intelligent. He spoke highly of UI. And I concluded from his intellectual capacity that the school’s in the same prestigious category as UNILAG.

I started doing my online research along asking him questions.

“UNIBADAN FIRST AND BEST..." I changed my mind about UNILAG. Maybe I wasn’t meant to go to UNILAG.

It’s time for a change. Finally.

The admission was like a walk in the park. From purchasing the form without hassle to sitting the post-UME.

I made the merit list.

And I wondered why I had wasted my time choosing UNILAG for two years.

When the wind changes direction, what does the sailor do?

Flexibility isn't failure.

As they always say, you can change your mind without feeling bad about it.

Flexibility is not about abandoning your goals; it's about being open to different paths that lead to the same destination. I still ended up going to a university despite the detours.

In 2024, be careful about single-minded persistence.

Shifted paths, unexpected opportunities

Change opens opportunities. Even though you may not see it at first because change could be difficult.

Going to MAPOLY was a different path towards my journey, but it helped me evolve in a way I didn’t think of. The journalistic training I had at MAPOLY helped me build further skills and competencies outside the four walls of the University of Ibadan. Through what felt like a 'detour,' I excelled, honed my skills, and found new passions. I nurtured my writing skills, which, till today, are a vital source of my livelihood.

As you pursue your dreams, be persistent. But be willing to re-evaluate, adapt, and embrace the unexpected turns.

If you change your mind about anything, it isn't a sign of weakness; it's a hallmark of your strength and intelligence.

STAY BAKE!