The road to golden results is narrow one that is filled with lots of hard works which sometimes don't always provide the desired results.
Looking back at how hard and difficult the road to becoming a nurse was, I always have a sense of fulfillment and undying joy when I think of it. Though I know my path just started, I always feel good for this little achievement I've got.
Becoming a nurse is one thing that was all-round draining - including mentally, financially, medically and other wise.
My journey started a few years ago, I think that is 2019 when I took my first step to become a nurse. I thought the road was smooth and filled with honey and sweet, but then, when I entered, I discovered that I was about to be destroyed and rebuilt.
2019, From FCT Abuja, I traveled down to Imo state where I wrote my first Nursing entrance exams in my desired Nursing school. I passed in one sitting. They gave me admission which made me really happy.
I did not delay, I went straight to get my admission letter and prospectus. On reaching there, we were asked to pay a sum for the admission letter, before they gave us the prospectus.
After all said and done, I got the prospectus and when I checked it, my heart broke into two after I calculated the prize of its content.
What's more? After buying what's in the prospectus and paying all the fees, we will write an exams after 6 months. If we failed the exams, we will be disqualified, but if we passed the exams, we will qualify to become a student nurse. The total sum of everything was over a million naira.
I took he prospectus back home to have a deep thought. During that time, unlike now, one million naira was a whole lot of money. Many things started coming to my head. What if I failed and this money becomes a waste?
Welp, after everything I could not attend the school, so I quit. Then, I came down to Abia state where I saw another nursing school. This one was way more cheaper. Though they also wrote the exams that qualifies someone to become a student nurse, the price was not as much as the first one.
I applied for it and I got admission. I started school thinking that I have passed the hard part and it's time to enjoy the easy part. Little did I know that there is nothing like "an easy part" in the life of a student nurse.
The first 6 months was actually the toughest. That was when I developed insomnia. During orientation, we were that a nurse is supposed to have three eyes and many hands - two eyes on the normal place, and one on their forehead. We laughed at this, not knowing what the lecturer meant, but then, when we started school, I began to gradually understand what she meant.
As a student nurse, what my eyes saw, I don't know how to actually say it all. The mental and emotional torment was one that knew no bound as everyday, we were reminded that our names were written with pencil and it could be erased at anytime.
The struggle was real and evident. Students were becoming skinny not because of lack of food, but due to the stress load. No matter what I eat, it will be as if I'm not eating anything.
My schedule was - wake up in the morning, go school before 8am, get steady lectures till 2pm. Most times, we stay in school till 4pm. After school, go back home and continue reading or go photocopy some notes. I do prefer to write my notes by myself. Most times, I sleep around 10pm so as to wake up by 3am and read. After reading till 5, I sleep for an hour or two, then, I cook, bath and off I go to school. The only time I have chance is during the weekends, when I do some exercise, arrange my house and have a "me time."
The thing was very hard for me because I was the course representative. During that time, my Head of Department always call me for everything. I had no time for my self. The only time I rested was when I'm waiting for something.
This was not what I signed up for, but then, I had to do it.
6 months passed and we wrote the exams. After the exams, the results came out and I passed. I was very happy. I could finally rest, I said to my self, thinking that the struggles was over. But this time, they told us that if we did not pass up to 4 courses, they will demote us to the previous class. The fear of demotion made my routine remain as it is.
After three years, I wrote my final exams and I passed it. I stayed in school for three years but it felt like I was in school for more than ten years.
At last, my hard work paid off. It was like a dream come true. I could not show my happiness because by this time, I was totally changed.
I am glad that I finished and my hard work paid.
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