Growing up in Nigeria, I have always wanted to do something meaningful with my life. I want to be different, become a successful person, do something meaningful with my life and make my dad proud. I want to be a doctor, treat people, and make them feel alive.
I came to the US to further my education. I enrolled in the Chicago Math and Science Academy. My dad and uncle chose this school because I told them I wanted to become a doctor. They said a science school would be perfect for me because I wanted to study medicine. I felt happy and alive because I have always wanted to go to school in the US. My first year at school wasn’t very good. At first, I was having issues with my math and chemistry teacher, and I was failing the class because my test scores, quizzes, and classwork were poor, and I had to stay back for tutoring after school. My GPA dropped from 3.14 to 2.48. I went tutoring every day for the entire school year. My grades began to change; at the end of the fourth quarter, my grades changed from a D to C in math, and from F to C+ in chemistry. It took a while to get used to the learning skills and school life in America. I developed better studying skills, I learned to achieve success in the classroom and beyond when I started going for tutoring. My math and chemistry grades were better than before. During the break, I worked really hard, went to libraries, watched Youtube math videos, watched Khan academy, and learned other studying skills to help me prepare for my junior year. By the time school resumed, I was fully prepared for my junior year. My classes were going well. I had A’s in all my classes in the first quarter, started making friends with people, and I began to gain courage. I felt great about my grades compared to my challenging first year. I was encouraged by my dad and guardian to put in more effort and try different studying techniques to help me get ready for the next school year. My passion for being a doctor started growing stronger. I had to study all the time to keep my grades high. I started getting invited to school field trips. My dad wanted me to come to the US first before my older siblings and said to me, ”I have seen your strength in academic fields. you’ll be better in the US. I want you to focus and put in more effort in your studies, believe in yourself and you’ll succeed.” My dad helped me build my foundation. He always gives advice that I think of when I am about to do something.
I have always enjoyed helping people, being a role model and being a mentor has been something I have always enjoyed back from Nigeria. I feel good helping people, it makes me remember when I was once in need of help, but I didn’t have an accent to communicate or ask for it in class. I want to study medicine in college and be a medical doctor in the future. I believe in hard work, when you put lots of effort into something you want to do and work towards it, anything is possible. Your hard work and time will make you succeed. You have to believe in yourself, tell yourself you can, it’s possible and you will be successful. I learned a lot from it. My aspirations to be something meaningful led me not to give up. I have always believed in my hard work and efforts. I dedicate all my time to studying. I now have good grades at school, a great resume, and more friends from different countries. This is my journey, all thanks to my dad.