Emeka Esumeh: Determination that breaks ground (30 Days, 30 Voices)

The nerve-racking process of passing JAMB to gain admission into the higher institution couldn’t stop me from going to the university, the lack of educational infrastructure couldn’t deter me from graduating either.

The story of my life is longer than a million leaves of an epistle if am given the time to light up the tales, but its essence can easily be related to by people who had pierced through the abject phase of growing up from nothing to attain something worth emulating by upcoming generations. Unimaginable situations have sometimes placed too many pathetic hurdles on my paths growing up but knowing where I am coming from, I had to focus on achieving my stipulated goals in life to achieve what the society never anticipated a child brought up in sheer austerity can.

I am Chukwuemeka Victor Esumeh. I could say I inhaled the breath of “Why here?” the very moment I was delivered, which I could only translate with an agonizing cry which no one could conceive why I had such outburst as a baby. Being born in the early 80’s, I never knew how it felt to live a life filled with “Disney land” experiences. At 6, I had my first major encounter with reality – the first day in primary school somewhere in Surulere. My naivety and ingenuousness landed me in trouble as I broke the jungle rules of the school. The school authority never considered my naivety before unleashing the severe wrath of the punishment for breaking the rules. The experience was so unpleasant and horrendous that I almost told my parents that I didn’t want to go back there, but that experience gave me the guidelines that made me distinct among my peers.

Another thought provoking memory I had while I was in secondary school that I later in life transformed to a success story, was one I had in the course of a Mathematics class when I was in JSS 3. After a lengthy and uncomprehending lecture on “angle of elevation and depression” by our Mathematics teacher, she asked the class a question that whoever didn’t understand the topic should signify by raising his hand being an only boys school. I did so and all I got was a curse from the teacher that I will never understand the topic till I die. That particular experience made me swear I was going to do everything to learn the topic on my own which I achieved.

The nerve-racking process of passing JAMB to gain admission into the higher institution couldn’t stop me from going to the university, the lack of educational infrastructure couldn’t deter me from graduating either. Even the toll of unemployment on the youth in the society couldn’t stop me from making a career out of what I love doing the most while most people clamoured for lack of employment.

In summary, as I grew older, I found out that these situations that seemed to pose a threat to our breakthrough, often are challenges that makes us thick and become achievers in life. These challenges made me become imperturbable at every phase of my career and endeavour. They are bound to be encountered in life. Surpassing them requires our sole determination. We need to put in effort to yield positivity in life, we need to work towards achieving a good life and ground breaking achievements for ourselves no matter the condition we face. As youths let’s employ positive attitude towards impacting positively to the society to make our country grow.

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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 (6)

  1. In à country where there's no form of motivation, high unemployment, deprived citizens and yet austerity happens to be the plan to grow the economy, one can only survive on self motivation like Emeka did, nice1 brother, its encouraging….

  2. Nkemeso doing me proud….nice one dear

  3. Very interesting Mr. Esumeh. I believe this article will build our children making them to have determination in achieving their education.

  4. That was really inspiring and well-written.

  5. That's an encouraging one. Determination goes a long way

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