The Catalyst.

I once thought I was an outcast in my family. This is because I play too much, I don't have the epitome of seriousness in me while growing up. Many times when we were to go to Arabic schools in the evening, I would stay behind and play street football, get all of my uniforms dirty, and most times get injured from playing.

When I got home again, Mum would call me and warn me of my behavior telling me to take examples from my brother and sister. But I am just way different. I won’t listen, I just have to satisfy myself.

One of my worst experiences was when I finished secondary school. I didn't know what to do next, I never had a serious career path from the beginning. My brother was interested in medicine, while my sister was interested in finance. But I don't have any serious path.

I was opportune to sit for higher-level entrance exams while I was done with college, despite not having a career path in mind. I don't even know what course of study would fit my life journey, should I become a doctor like my brother too. I am just totally confused.

Dad called me one day and asked what I would love to become in the future. As for me, the future wasn’t bright at all. I was dumbfounded. Got no response to give him then and this played a great trick on me in some ways.

When I sat for my first entrance exam, of the two examinations, I passed one of them excellently but failed the other one.

I never felt bad about myself, since it was just my first time sitting for the exams. Dad even reminded me how my brothers sat for theirs and passed at once. He tried to encourage me. But I am not getting encouraged.

Another year passed by again, so I registered for the second time. Sat for the exams, when results were out, I passed one of them and failed the second again.

Before gaining admission to the university you must pass both and also have a pass in the institution entrance exams.

For the second time, I wasn’t so fulfilled yet… I never thought of it a third time or maybe I would even get to see the walls of the university in life.

I applied as a primary school teacher in one of my aunt's schools. Got paid some amounts, but I still didn’t depend on it. The payment I got was used to support my siblings at school. I wasn’t concerned

My cousins of the same age mate got admitted into the institution. Dad asked me to follow him and I helped them pack their bags and foodstuffs into the car. They resumed, and I am still home as a teacher. I wasn’t concerned.

My uncle who happened to be their father one day called me and told me;

“What are you doing with your life? See your age mates in the institution. You are busy teaching and sending your money to your brother. Do you think when he becomes wealthy he will remember you?”

Oooh. This got me challenged. I wondered why my uncle could think about such things. At that point, I knew I had to disappoint his words.

I overheard a conversation from my dad advising someone to live his life like he had no parents. So he can be focused and successful. I held on to his words and promised to be a better version of myself.

For a few months, I started thinking about what I could do best. Tried to figure out who I am, and my purpose in life. Am I destined to do great things in life? If yes, then how?

I was on this self-discovery for months. But I still couldn’t find my path. But I knew there was a purpose.

I sat for the third entrance exam, and this time around I got focused but not determined. Because I don't know who I am. The results came out and I failed both again.

One of my uncle's wives asked about my result then, I told her and she was highly disappointed in me. She told me how unserious I was. The third time?

In all of these, my parents never stopped supporting me, they got my back. Because at those moments I was down and disappointed in myself too. I decided to try again the fourth time. I never knew when it would end. How long will I keep failing?

Sat for the fourth time, results came out and I passed both exams. Wow! Everyone celebrated with me, my mum was extremely happy. I also had the institution exam and passed. This time around there were about 15 people I knew who sat for the exam. I was the only candidate that passed and got into the institution.

Everything became clearer at this point, I faced a lot of challenges but scaled through the higher institutions. My dad's words kept ringing in my head. "Live like you have no one, and you will see yourself succeeding".

I became a graduate, at the end. Despite how long the journey was. But what’s meant to be will be. After graduation, I took my path and got myself focused on building a career path in agriculture which was what I studied in school.

No one expected that from me because agriculture is an undervalued course, unlike engineering, medicine, law, and the like.

One day my uncle’s wife called me again and said, Abdulqudus, I know you are a star. Make sure you soar high to the sky and make our family proud.

I am hoping to become that star they think I am, soar higher beyond the sky, and shine so brightly to the world.