Catalyzing Dreams: A Biochemistry Student’s Journey
Submitted by: Adetunfese Adefeyikemi
Country: Nigeria
University: Lagos State University
My name is Adetunfese Adefeyikemi, a student of Lagos state university, department of Biochemistry, faculty of Science.
My journey towards adulthood started when I was fifteen(15) years old. I had just graduated high school, brimming with vigor and strength. I enrolled for two entrepreneurship classes, fashion designing and hair styling but those were my second… no last choices. Getting an admission into college was the top priority, a medical course precisely.
University life in Nigeria never seemed to be anything productive or a conducive environment for growth, judging from the people around me. I looked into getting admissions from schools in Canada with the support of my dad. With my grades I easily got admission into two universities in Canada. I accepted the one closest to my Aunt living in Canada, Mount Royal university.
Bustling with excitement I checked everything about them on their social media platforms, watched vlogs of students in the school, and joined a chat forum for new students in the hope to make friends beforehand. I received the admission letter and the processing of my Visa commenced, I was still going through with the entrepreneurship training 6 days a week and everything was going smoothly, but you know with the saying “with the calm comes a great storm”. I was hit deep where it hurts when the first wave of Covid-19 took the world on a
disastrous rollercoaster.
Inter-country travel routes were blocked, everyone worked from home, and of course, the Visa office halted all traveling processing. I was home for about 4 months before the lockdown was lifted here. During this period, I spent it exercising, reading novels and watching my diet to reach my goal weight. It was a time to reflect on myself and my attitude towards the world.
The academic calendar of the university was scheduled for the middle of September but I still hadn’t gotten the visa by then, so I had no choice but to defer the admission to the next year. I continued the entrepreneurship training and exercised patience.
The next September arrived, still no Visa, the admission was deferred again and thankfully my dad had me take the national exam for college here in Nigeria earlier, which I passed and got into Lagos State University(LASU) for a four-year bachelor of science course.
Although I wasn’t totally willing to study in Nigeria, what’s worth doing is worth doing well so I never relented on my studies, I pushed to my limits and worked within boundaries. My social interactions had never been great so I kept a small circle and it was peaceful.
The third year came and I still hadn’t gotten the visa, left with no choice. I asked to defer the admission again but I was met with a debacle when the admission officer told me the school changed its policy and I could only defer my admission once, which I already did twice. Left with no choice I had to give up on it.
I’m 19 now, currently in my 3rd year of the four-year Biochemistry course in Lagos State University(LASU), with a 2nd-class upper grade and although it might not be considered the best, I’m proud of my achievements.
I own an online clothing and multipurpose business, learnt freelancing skills and is putting them to good use, I read so many books during the Covid-19 lockdown I developed a keen interest in writing and I have a signed book with a popular Novel application and recently I created a project on Fiverr based on my hobby.
I love and adore love, the author in me never ceases to write about love and the reader in me never ever stops reading about beautiful love stories. The project covers writing of; love letters, wedding speeches, reconciliation letters, birthday letters, anniversary letters, and services like trial dating, listening sessions and relationship advice.
Overall, I’m glad I didn’t give up three years ago when Covid-19 shattered all hopes of traveling. I’m glad I didn’t botch my grades in my current university due to dissatisfaction with the educational system here.
I think learning to adapt and fit into certain situations, creating alternatives and healing from disappointments is a superhuman skill and we all have superhuman potential.
