Last six years has been a ride, lots of stories to tell, lots of memories, many moments of joy, some moments of pain and tears, a lot of wins and victories, many connections made, many friendships made and lost.
Let me get right into the story, it all started from when I got admitted into the University of Port Harcourt to study petroleum engineering. Hmm, my dream course I must say. Initially i wanted to study electrical engineering but I was discouraged and later fell in love with petroleum engineering. I remember looking so small, naive, scared, uncertain about so many things, I didn't know anyone, the only thing I had was myself and my determination to succeed. I remember walking through those Gates with lots of thoughts going on in my head. Thoughts of how I was going to cope being that I was a very very timid young lady, an introvert and one who didn't know how to Express herself properly. But even with all of this I was determined more than ever to succeed. "I can never go back a failure" I said to myself. I mean everyone had so much hope in me, people trusted me a lot, people had so much confidence in my capabilities and abilities and I couldn't just let them down. So by that gate i made the strong resolution that I was going to succeed.
My first experience in the department of petroleum engineering wasn't a very pleasant one. I mean I know that people don't really like me easily but I didn't expect it to be that bad. I remember not being able to get along with anybody at all or most persons. Everything about me just felt odd, when I said something it always came out wrong, I didn't say anything it still came out wrong. I just didn't know how to handle any of it. I was depressed for the better part of the 1st semester of my 100 level days. Yet I tried never to show it to anyone that any of those ill-treatment meted to me affected me. Everyone perceived me as a very strong independent young lady but deep down I was dying. I wanted to have a normal life. I'm not one to have so many conversations but I wanted to be able to talk to people and not feel left out, wanted to just live on my terms without being seen as the odd person. I remember how I would cry while reading and preparing for my examinations and still going to the hall to write them because I knew I could not fail, I didn't have the option to fail, I just cannot fail and I didn't.
Fast forward to 200 level, I had already started getting used to everything that was happening, thanks to the books I read, they made me realise that my kind of personality was better off alone. So basically, I was someone who can be called a loner and would never ever do well with crowd. This acceptance of self brought a lot of peace and joy to me and I just couldn't understand how anyone would hate another person or just not like another person for being different? I mean we are all different and unique in the ways God made us and even till date I cannot wrap my hands around why people would have a problem with the way you live your life even when you don't even see them or have a problem with how they live theirs.
Everything was beginning to look okay for me when I go to 300 level. I had already developed a thick skin and so none of the things happenning to me matter so much anymore. I was genuinely happy and as God could have it I made some really cool friends. Well not so many friends but you know what they say; the smaller your group the better, i mean two good heads are better than one, so why do I need a crowd when two or three nice persons are enough.
I was so happy full of life grateful to God for everything. I realised that God knows the end from the beginning and his plans for us are always the best. Just when I thought everything had already sorted itself out, I suddenly started feeling sick. I was sick, I went to the hospital I did series of test, I was confused because every results came out saying I was perfectly ok and that nothing was wrong with me but I was still sick. At that moment I got to realise that you never know the value of what you have till you lose it, I mean I never knew the value of good health till I was looking for it. I remember how I would constantly say to myself " good health is underrated". I prayed, I cried, I took drugs, I was hopeful and it was so funny that at this point instead of losing hope I had much more hope because I had loved ones who genuinely cared about me around, everyone was praying for me, everyone was caring for me and everyone kept saying "it's going to be ok" and I believed it. My faith in God doubled at this point instead of dropping like most people would have. I prayed more, like I drew closer to God and I tried to do the thing that God wanted and I tried to stay away from things that he didn't like.
Then came 400 level and we were all looking for internship space. This is another phase of my life that I cannot forget in a hurry. How we had to travel from one state to another, from one company to another dropping CVs, application letters,cover letters all to no avail. It was either you had an uncle or an Aunty, or you knew someone that knew someone that works in these companies or you wouldn't get in. I was at the verge of losing hope and miraculously just one day I was coming out of class with my friend and something just told me "go meet your HOD and tell him you are looking for internship space". And there and then, I confirmed it once again that God really works in miraculous ways because you wouldn't believe it that immediately we told the man that we were in need of an internship space he put calls across to two of his friends working in different companies and they told us to come that we have the internship space already. Just like that. I was overwhelmed, I didn't know how i was going to thank God, in my head I was thinking "will rolling on the floor be enough for him?, Or will singing do?" I came to the conclusion that none of those were enough for him but I did them anyways.
After a period of six months, internship was over and i had gone back to school for 500 level also called final year. There was a lot of excitement, i just couldn't believe that 5 years had gone by already. I remember how I would sit on my bed reminiscing of how far God has brought me, his graces and mercies, the many battles he had helped me fight and was still helping me fight. I was more than grateful that all of it was coming to an end. And just like the flash of light Covid came and we all had to go home for almost 7 months. This made us spend 6 years for a 5 year course. But when we came back, I barely even had time for myself, a lot was happening so fast. I was doing my project, seminar report, entrepreneurship report and still going to class at the same time and also still had to find time to read in preparation for examinations.
Finally in August we had our final paper, after what seemed like eternity. I remember I was down with malaria but was still super excited and I danced so hard that my head ached. I had promised myself that no matter what happened that day, I must be happy and Rejoice because only I know the great miracle God had performed in my life. That was my own way of saying Lord I am grateful and that none of this would have been possible without him.
