The story of ONE YES
5 years, 39 REJECTIONS (sweet LOVE letters ) – 21 scholarships and 18 fellowships rejections.
If anyone had told me in 2016 when I started the scholarship hunting that it would take me five years before I eventually won a scholarship, I would have probably not believed. Although I knew not being a First-Class Graduate (a story for another day) might limit my chances, I was determined to give it all it takes. After all, who allows a 4.43 CGPA, despite active participation in school politics, to go to waste (chuckles)? I never knew it would take this long but I had a strong conviction that I would never QUIT and no matter the number of NOs, they will never stop my ONE YES of great opportunities to come.
I decided I would keep going as long as age would permit me. I made a promise with God and I asked Him to grant my wish of a fully paid master’s programme outside Nigeria and I can’t but thank Him again for granting the wish, beautifully, in one of the best universities in the world.
Where I got the strength to keep on, I can’t explain but it was worth it eventually. I also enjoyed the support of my family members for the motivation and prayers and many other people (I will soon appreciate). But now, I must thank two great people in my life who gave the best reference letters anyone could get – Prof. Seun Kolade and Mr Rotimi Olawale (My boss). I can’t thank you both enough, perhaps, the win would have been another NO but for the truly great words, you put forward on my person.
The opportunities I applied for and REJECTED:
1. Commonwealth Shared Scholarship – 2016, 2017, 2019, 2020.
2. Chevening Scholarship – 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020.
3. The Yenching Academy, Peking University, China – 2019, 2020.
4. PETaL EMJMD – Play, Education, Toys & Languages – 2019.
5. Erasmus Mundus – International Master in Adult Education for Social Change (IMAESC) – 2016, 2020. (RESERVE)
6. GLODEP Erasmus Mundus Joint Master Degree – 2017.
7. Mastercard McGill University – 2019.
8. Mastercard Edinburgh – 2020.
9. Australia Awards Scholarship – 2019.
10. Erasmus Mundus Master in Research & Innovation in Higher Education – 2019, 2020.
11. The University of North Dakota – 2017.
12. EMMIR – European Master in Migration and Intercultural Relations – 2016.
13. Atlas Corps – 2017, 2019, 2020.
14. YALI Mandela Washington – 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2019, 2020.
15. YALI RLC West Africa – 2017, 2018.
16. British Council Future Leaders Connect – 2017, 2018.
17. ONE Champion – 2019, 2020.
18. World Youth Forum – 2018, 2019.
19. Kashim Ibrahim Fellowship – 2020.
Within this time, I wrote IELTS two times in 2017 (7/9 Band – expired without any scholarship won) and 2019 (7.5/9 Band – not required by my current school).
Are you thinking of quitting, well, here you have your story to keep you going? You may change the plan, the strategies, ‘pause and play’, ruminate and ask yourself “what do I need to do better?” (I did too – a story for another day as well) but don’t change the goal.
