Imagine getting to grade 12 (Matric) and still not know what
you want to study in Varsity, I think that’s one of the worst nightmare. It
feels like your life is not in order, or you just feel pretty much useless.
In grade 10, we had to choose subjects and I chose very
random subjects; Accounting, Tourism and Life Science. They were not bad in
grade 10, but I felt the Accounting pressure in grade 11 all I wanted to do was
to QUIT accounting. By the end of grade 11, I had made up my mind that in grade
12, I will not carry on with Accounting no ways! I was given the opportunity to
change Accounting for Business Studies. I enjoyed it, even though it was just
for a year. During that year, 2009 I was really thinking about my future and
what do I want to study in Varsity and I wanted to study Psychology. I wanted
to be a Psychologist because I wanted to work with people’s mindset and to help
people. I felt from my past, I knew that wild be an advantage. I had a
fantastic opportunity to job shadow a Psychologist who was then in Diepkloof.
She was the best, she made that two-day experience feel like I want to
immediately be a Psychologist. It
felt like something I would really love to do, despite the challenges but I
gracefully enjoyed the job shadowing.
Throughout
grade 11 and 12 I had to search for a Varsity that would accommodate my future
career, and the only one that came to mind was University of Johannesburg it
was near home, convenient and affordable. It was so overwhelming applying for
Varsity, I couldn’t handle it at all. I went back and forth with my Aunt who
was with me from the beginning. I got rejected to study Psychology and that was
when I shut down. I was torn inside, I couldn’t deal. And I had to decide on
another plan right there. We drove to Rosebank College in Braamfontein, and I
decided to study Journalism. It was also one of the things I loved, writing so
it wasn’t out of my dream goals even though I wanted to study Psychology, but I
eventually settled for Journalism. First year wasn’t so bad, I got a few good
grades and one-night mare mark MEDIA STUDIES. I had to repeat it because it was
clearly not my cup of tea. I went on to second year with a first-year subject
that I had to repeat. Before I go into deep, let me tell you about my turn over
year 2012. It was one crazy year, I was crazy, I went crazy, I was CRAZY. I
went out a lot, neglected my school work, I started not to care anymore. I was
going through a phase I still can’t describe it at all. And I failed my second
year like crazy and I didn’t know how to tell my family. Where do I even begin
to explain “WHY DID I FAIL”? I didn’t have a valid reason. I wanted to dig a
hole and just hide, I don’t know for how long though. Anyways, I had to suck it
all up and be honest to them about my grades, that I failed most of my
subjects. I was meant to graduate that year and I couldn’t. When I told my Aunt
and Granny I was so scared oh my goodness, I am quite sure I was not breathing
the way I was so scared to tell them. They didn’t shout but their silent was
loud enough and my Aunt gave me two options if she should stop paying my fees
or if will I pull up my socks and take school seriously. From that day onwards,
I took everything I do seriously because I don’t know what the future held. The
following year I kicked my grades (remember I still had first year subjects),
so I had divided them for the next two years. It was hard very, but I pushed
myself harder and harder remembering the sacrifices Aunt and Granny did for me.
By the end of 2014 I was done and passed all my subjects, and getting ready for
graduations 2015, May. It took a while to believe that I was done, because the
last 4 years was crazy, and I never thought I would finish. I really thought I
was going to drop out, varsity is hard even though you are studying something
you love, it is still a lot of hard-work but all worth it in the end. 9 Mat
2015, I walked down the stage Isle at the Wits Auditorium to receive my
diploma. I made sure my Aunt and Granny sit where I would see them while
walking because I don’t know what I would’ve been without them. It was great
feeling to pat myself on the back to say, “Well Done Girl, You did it”! After
receiving my Diploma, I still had to pinch myself.
A year went
by and I was working, and I still wanted to go back to school. But due to
funds, I couldn’t that year, so I carried on with work. Adult life was not for
the feint hearted indeed. Working made me so aware that I am growing and bit by
bit I am forced to face adult responsibilities. It wasn’t that bad though,
first real job and first serious salary. Just before I finished my contract, I
received and opportunity to further my studies. I grabbed it with both hands,
as much as it was way out of my comfort zone in another Country I still grabbed
the opportunity with both arms. It was very nerve racking, but I knew I’d kill
it. As soon as I stepped foot in all my classes, I had my A game on. I nailed it
with disbelief too. Studying at Scottsdale Community College was one of the
greatest experiences of my life, it is something I will forever cherish. With
being from a foreign country I think I did well for myself and country. It was
very challenging in the beginning, trying to understand all the techniques,
submissions and everything else. I got used to it in a snap. In my head I only
thought we would be Graduating for our CCI Program (mentioned in my previous
blogs), little did I know Business students will graduating with the rest of
the school. I was very excited, graduating in the United States of America was
something I never dreamt of, but only God knows what He has been planning for
me. It was so surreal, May 11, 2017 was magical. I wished someone in my family
came to see me walking down my second graduations and receiving my certificate.
I remember tearing up, tears of joy of course. I was happy that “I DID IT AGAIN”.
I am not
done with international Studies just by the way. God knows what’s the next
step. It was just the beginning of greatness that God has for me. I will
forever be thankful and appreciative for everything that God has granted me.
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