I've grown up to understand that life doesn't give everyone the same starting line.
And before someone says “Stop making excuses” - let’s be honest.
Not everyone is running the same race.
Some people were born into families that could pay their school fees without breaking a sweat. Some had connections waiting for them after graduation. Some had parents who could finance their first business.
Others?
We were just trying to survive long enough to get an opportunity.
For a long time, I felt behind in life.
I had a plan.
Finish secondary school.
Get admission.
TheGraduate around 21.
Get a good job.
Start building my life.
But life said, “Who gave you the script?”
From registering for JAMB to finally settling into a College of Education, my journey came with delays I never planned for.
And while I was trying to find my footing, people around me seemed to be flying.
Someone with a low JAMB score was offered admission, while I was not offered.
Someone graduated.
Someone got a great job.
Someone started a business.
Someone bought a car.
Someone travelled out of the country.
And me?
Still trying to figure things out.
Sometimes I wondered if I had wasted too much time. And some times try to figure out what I have done wrong.
Social media made it worse because every time I opened my phone, somebody seemed to be achieving something.
It is very easy to start measuring your life against somebody else's highlight reel.
“At my age, I should have…”
That sentence can destroy your peace.
But here is what I've learned:
Being delayed doesn't mean being defeated.
Your journey can take longer because your purpose is different.
You can start late and still build something meaningful.
You can take the long road and still arrive.
And honestly, I've stopped asking myself, “Why am I not where they are?”
I'm learning to ask:
“Considering everything I've been through, how far have I actually come?”
That question changed something in me.
Because maybe I am not behind.
Maybe I'm simply on a different timeline.
And maybe the real trap isn't being behind.
Maybe the real trap is spending so much time watching other people's lives that you forget to live your own.
Thanks for stopping by !