Thread by @toluthony

I GOT ADMISSION AFTER SIX YEARS!!!

I know this headline may resonate with some, and that is why I have decided to share.

After 6 years of anticipating a Ph.D., I got a fully-funded Ph.D. admission in 2019. Those 6 years of waiting looked like 'forever'!
#success #phd
#grateful

Waiting for anything in life is not easy, especially when you have had many successes in a related area. Don't get me wrong, I was making progress in many other areas of my life, but this one thing I have always desired and wanted: to be a Ph.D. holder wasn't just forthcoming.

A bit of background, I finished BSc summa cum laude and top of my faculty and proceeded to pursue MSc in the UK on the prestigious commonwealth scholarship. I should also mention that my undergraduate degree was filled with so many prestigious scholarships and awards.

So this is not a case of being dull or not pulling weight. In fact, if I recall, everyone around me expected Ph.D. to be the immediate step, but for some reason, which I now appreciate in hindsight, I experienced a delay. I had the opportunity to start my Ph.D...

#inspiration

while I was lecturing in Nigeria. However, because I had tasted what it felt to study in a more challenging environment with state of the art resources, I didn't want to settle for just any school or research topic so that I could tick the Ph.D. box.

Also, I wasn't ready to pay for a Ph.D. degree, having enjoyed fully funded education from my undergraduate degree. These and many other reasons contributed to the delay.

#motivation #successhasaprocess

In those six years, many life changes happened; I got my first job as a university lecturer at the age of 25, I became a mentor to many young people, I got married, moved to a new country, started a job outside my career goal, had a baby, got my dream job as a professional.

I didn't lose sight of my focus in all these, or I'll rather say, I have a support system that constantly reminded me not to lose sight of my goal. Shout out to my hubby, parents, and uncle, who constantly encouraged me when I got discouraged.

Was it easy? Absolutely not, especially when people thought the reason I had relocated was to start my Ph.D. 
Was the wait worth it? Absolutely! I am indeed grateful for those closed doors;

I am grateful for all the lessons I learned during the waiting period; I am grateful that I now have a better reason for doing a Ph.D.; I am grateful I didn't put my life on hold because I couldn't secure this admission.

Now, in addition to securing a fully-funded Ph.D., I was awarded the prestigious SSHRC doctoral fellowship in my first year of Ph.D...Amazing right? Did I also mention that I have got a great supervisor @ypsherm who is super supportive?

I probably wouldn't have learned all I did during my waiting period if I had started my Ph.D. immediately after my Master's degree.
I will be an absolute ingrate if I thought all these feats were simply because I was any good; I owe it all to God who works all situations...

in our favour. I can boldly say in hindsight that I am super grateful I waited for 6 years.

So, if you are like me, you have a God-given desire, something you are desperately waiting for and everything seems bleak, keep the hope alive, trust in God, and press on.

Very soon, you will experience your desire and be able to encourage others.

I am very convinced that you will make it!

Always remember that success has a process!

#phd #mystory #education #inspiration #successenthusiast #motivation #life #success #newyear #MotivationalQuotes