It felt like I was closing in on my dreams after graduating as the best student in my school over a decade ago and a few months after graduation, my WAEC result proved my readiness to pursue my dreams of becoming a pilot which was my childhood dream. I was able to clear my papers at one sitting and we were just two who achieved that in my school.
Everything started as a kid, we lived close to the airport and I found those big birds fascinating when they flew over our building. Sometimes I sit and watch them until they are out of sight and there are times I run through households just to catch a longer view of them. It was easy to know when there was aircraft congestion, I could tell once I saw a plane circling the same spots for minutes and I always enjoyed the show.
My mom was aware of my obsession with aeroplanes and she never worried about my choice of profession whenever I sang to her ears about becoming a pilot. As I grew, I became very eager about this huge dream and spoke about it among my friends and it earned me the nickname, Captain Tom. Whenever I looked at myself in the mirror, I always saw a tall professional pilot.
"Studying hard is the only way to become successful," My class teacher always repeated this statement on the assembly ground so I gave my best academically. I worked so hard to always be at my best but little did I understand that there was more to bringing dreams to reality than studying to have good grades.
Immediately after secondary school, I started researching Aviation schools in Nigeria and there were very few private aviation schools. The bad news for me was that they charge a lot of money for tuition and it made me sad because there was no way my mom could afford it. She wasn't my only hope of getting into the school so I reached out to my dad and he promised to help but not till this minute.
After a year of petty hustle and nothing coming forth from where I was seeking help, I realized that my dreams were in my hands but there was little I could do. I made findings about the Nigeria College of Aviation but the fee was very high as well and it required having a strong political connection to get into places like that.
"I think it's time to let this pilot thing go," I told my best friend while he told me about how his dad was working on his admission.
"Why? My dad said you can become a pilot if you join the Nigerian Air Force," he replied and immediately, my hopes of becoming a pilot were renewed.
"Yes, I can be a pilot there but it would just be for combat," I replied.
"Pilot is pilot, you might find your way to study more abroad and become the pilot you wanted"
My friend encouraged me that day and I was motivated, I got the strength to try again.
I started making inquiries about the Air Force and got the Nigeria Defense Academy form when recruitment was on. My mom tried talking me out of becoming a military man but I made up my mind already. I went for the exam with high hopes but things didn't go as planned. I took the exam twice after but still didn't get admission.
Someone advised me to join the regular recruit of the Nigeria Army but it would end my hopes of becoming a pilot. I was confused and it looked like I reached a dead end so I spoke to my uncle in the police and he made it clear that getting into NDA required a connection with someone with a powerful position in the government or military which I had none. After the discussion I had with him, my hope and dream of becoming a pilot vanished.
Furthering my education was a priority since it was my only chance at becoming successful and I would rather go to a higher institution than grow old chasing my childhood dreams. After four years of chasing my childhood dreams, I had to let go because there was no hope of bringing that particular dream to reality anymore except a miracle happened.
It made me sad and my mom could see it, there were nights she woke me up just to talk to me about life. She knew how disappointed I was and didn't want it to affect me in any way but it did.
To ease the pain of an unfulfilled dream, I told myself that becoming successful was the goal and I could do other things aside from becoming a pilot to achieve success. I thought about it critically and instead of choosing another profession, I made success my dream. I just want to be successful in anything I ventured into and that opened my eyes to the possibility of becoming successful in different legal ways.
Throughout the time I was doing those exams, I was working and saving up just in case things didn't go as planned for me because I know the country's system already. If you don't have money or connections, getting into some places will be difficult. Exactly five years after graduating from secondary school, I wore the polytechnic matriculation gown. Despite the year's interval, that day was one of the happiest days of my life and the beginning of my success story.
The journey wasn't easy but it was a success after all the struggles. Although, I am happy with life today but the thought of life being better than it is for me if I had become a pilot still crosses my mind.
Image was captured by me
