You didn’t come to university just to get a degree. You came to build a life. But sadly, what most of us do is rent five years of our lives to an environment called “University” and leave with nothing but a paper.
Your life could change forever if you realize that university is more than a place for lectures and results. It’s your training ground for life.
The mistake many of us make is treating school like a waiting room, counting down the days until graduation, NYSC, or that dream job we believe will magically appear. But what if I told you that your university years are your biggest opportunity to rewire your life? To build character, habits, skills, and relationships that will carry you for decades?
School is not designed to make you rich. It’s designed to make you literate, functional, and employable. That’s fine, but the real question is: Do you want to be just employable, or do you want to be valuable?
You have to decide.
The Power of Hunger
Twenty-seven years ago, I was a young student like you. I didn’t have much. My parents couldn’t pay my fees or send me pocket money. I had no rich uncle. I lacked many basic things.
What I had was hunger—not just physical hunger, but the hunger to become more valuable. And it was in that hunger that I found my breakthrough. That hunger woke my mind up.
That hunger was my gift. It pushed me to become resourceful. It forced me to learn how to provide value. I learned to spot what people needed and offer a solution with creativity.
Right there on my bunk in Hostel A, I turned my little corner into a business. I started typing, designing, and printing jobs for fellow students. That small initiative opened doors to money, relationships, and personal growth I could never have imagined.
Growth Comes from Discomfort
When you are pushed into a corner where survival becomes a must, your brain will wake up. Solutions will appear. Strength you never knew you had will rise.
But the painful truth is that most students are too comfortable to grow. Yes, I said it.
That weekly or monthly allowance from your parents is silently robbing you of one of your most important elements—resourcefulness.
If you are serious about making the most of your university years, here’s my challenge to you:
- Develop a skill – Learn something valuable beyond your course of study. Graphic design, writing, programming, public speaking—anything that makes you stand out.
- Build meaningful relationships – Your future network is sitting next to you in class today. Connect with people who challenge you to be better.
- Take initiative – Don’t wait for opportunities; create them. Organize events, start a small business, volunteer, or intern in your desired field.
- Rewire your mindset – Stop seeing university as a waiting room. See it as a launchpad.
Final Words
Dear Nigerian student, don’t just pass through school—let school pass through you. University is your time to build, grow, and prepare for the life ahead. Make every moment count.
This is a wake-up call. Please share it.
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