Imagination is where everything happens perfectly.
I always thought life was easy, you make your wishes and they're granted. But little did I know that life had other plans.
I used to imagine my life in my head; a beautiful life. a life where I would become a nurse, work in the hospital and take care of sick patients. I had hopes of being a Science Student to achieve that. Along the line, in secondary school, I discovered I wasn't science inclined, because I wasn't good at Mathematics. So, there was absolutely nothing there for me.
I shifted my focus to becoming a successful lawyer, marrying a particular kind of man, having a certain number of children at a certain age. I imagined how I would be a career woman, pursuing my dreams and making it big. Being in big offices. I still didn't understand that life had its plans–a different one from what I had stored up in my head.
In order to achieve my goals, I joined the art class in SS2, and as God would have it, I was good at the major art subjects that was required before one can become a lawyer—Literature, C.R.K, Government, etc.
After High School, I prepared for JAMB, I sat for it the first time, the score was good, so, that qualified me for the Aptitude Test in my first choice institution. I sat for the test, and came out with good marks too but not for those studying Law. I Needed about 20 more marks to qualify. So I was asked to take a complimentary Course, English Language, I refused, and that's how I lost those marks that would have qualified me for good course other than Law, but I was hell bent on Law.
Fast–forward to the next year, I applied again but this time, the score wasn't as good as the former, that was when regrets set in, I began to think that the life I had imagined wasn't for me after all. I understood, and learnt about life differently. I didn't relent, that too passed and I applied again the third time.
Again, the score wasn't encouraging as well. so it was time to settle, I asked myself, is this what you want to continue doing? Some of my classmates already accepted courses offered by the school, and were already in school while I kept on repeating JAMB every year. I made a decision to attend a Polytechnic, after which I would apply for a direct entry into the university. Some of my friends had started already so I thought, I wasn't going to be at home the next year. So, I proceeded to get the form to process everything.
Then, what I never thought of, became my reality
First, I never thought of studying Mass Communication, it was never an afterthought even, but it became reality, and I had to face it. After my National Diploma, I paused, I spent about two years at home. I used about 6months in learning Microsoft Office Suites. At this point, I already got the memo—life wasn't what I thought.
While I was still undergoing the computer training, I gained admission into the university through Direct Entry, to study English and Literary Studies. At this point the idea of becoming a lawyer had died, and I was left with myself to face reality. It was glaring that life doesn't care what our desires are, it simply does whatever it deems fit. The admission requirements were met, and completed. But I had my regrets, I thought to myself "why the delay, why didn't I just accept to study English at the first instance, I would have graduated and it would have saved me from the expenses, time and stress in the Polytechnic.
I had many challenges, but I was determined to face it and I scaled through regardless.
I didn't find myself in the Hospital or Courtroom as I had planned for myself but at the same time I wasn't a failure. I took on something entirely different and I'm still standing.
What this has taught me is that:
First, life might not always go in our direction, but it's our duty to never give up on ourselves. That we didn't become what we envisioned does not mean we should dwell in regrets, and abandon ourselves.
Second, that sometimes we win and sometimes we lose in life. Again we should always have multiple plans, make provisions for contingency, and take life one day at a time, living in the present with joy and hope for a better future. Not dwelling in the past, and feeling bad for what we couldn't achieve.
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