Chinwe Njoku: Paying the price for the things that count in your life (30 Days, 30 Voices)

Unpleasant experiences are there for a reason, to mould our lives in God’s hands. What experiences seem unpleasant in your life now? Know that this too shall pass, trials come to make you strong, and it’s only for a season.

ACT 1

Here I was with two (2) M.Sc. admissions to the UK and it looked all good but…

Scene 1

Me: So who’s paying? Me? Lol! How? A new bank staff on N100k per month, seriously?

My family? Erm…! Can’t, no, unable to!

Alternative: Apply for a tuition-only scholarship by writing one of the greatest classics of all time explaining why I needed the money. Bam! Scholarship came!

Me: Praise God!

Scene 2

University: Pay £1,000 to secure your place or show you can pay.

Me: No £1,000 anywhere, but my boss will show he can for me. And he does so…

University: You are accepted!

Me: We thank the Lord!

Scene 3

Me: Resign, buy ticket, pack, fly to the unknown.

Me on arrival in September: Dermit! It’s cold, I’m broke. I find myself a “freezer” job. I freeze and I “go” no more. I cry then I find myself another job, this time a cleaning job. I clean daily for 1 year.  I cry more then I find myself a job with McDonalds. I work for 6 months, can’t take it no more, I leave and I wail a lot (senior brother of crying).

Scene 4 (Final)

MSc done! Whew! 3 prizes: 1+2+3 = £1,100 (Remember the £1,000 earlier? ;)).

ACT 2

Ph.D. offer on full funding – tuition, living expenses et al! Bam! I accept! Bam! Funding came. We seriously thank the Lord!

Epilogue

Now, looking back, like they say, hindsight is 20:20. It wasn’t funny at all when I had to work whatever the weather – cleaning in schools & having my ‘juniors’ see me clean in the university library.  But it was all part of what made me who I am today. Unpleasant experiences are there for a reason, to mould our lives in God’s hands. What experiences seem unpleasant in your life now? Know that this too shall pass, trials come to make you strong, and it’s only for a season. Through it, stand, you’re being built, stretched, fix your eyes on the prize & live beyond yourself.

A friend asked me recently if I felt fulfilled, without hesitation, I answered, an emphatic YES! And know that I would NOT trade these last 4 years, not even for the best paying Naija job.  The experience is priceless! The people I’ve met, more priceless!! I may not have made/be making the money like my mates but I know my life has counted for something and for someone. I know GOD has had me miles away from home to touch several people, my family included.

The crux of the matter: so what if you need an A4 cheque book to write all the zeros with the monies you have? So what if you sing & give the birds a run for their money? So what if your grades are so high, you break the Guinness Book of World Records? So what if Denzel Washington’s got nothing on you? So what, think about it, so what? Whose life is any better because you’re on this planet? Who’s arising to bless you? Who smiles when they think of what their lives are because you came in? Think on these things! You live once! Make your life count! God help us all!

Note: Another University award few months back – the highest award actually – £1,500.  Nominee for the Future Awards on two (2) categories! Whew! It’s sure been worth it!

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Chinwe Njoku is a 3rd year Ph.D. student at the School of Electrical, Electronic & Systems Engineering, Loughborough University, UK, currently having to ‘vomit’ 150-200 pages for her thesis. She loves God, wishes she had started a blog called “The musings of a PhD Student” at the start of her PhD, and is proudly Nigerian (even wearing green while typing this).

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30 Days 30 Voices series is an opportunity for young Nigerians to share their stories and experiences with other young Nigerians, within our borders and beyond, to inspire and motivate them.

 

Op-ed pieces and contributions are the opinions of the writers only and do not represent the opinions of Y!/YNaija.

Comments (12)

  1. Beautiful story Chinwe. You're the best!

  2. Well done Miss Chi.

    very inspirational.

    Proud of You girl!

    *hugs*

  3. Great. Inspiring story

    1. its not too late to start the blog!!! 😉

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