<p><br></p><p><br></p><p><br></p><p>Back in secondary school, I was that rare breed - good at both arts and science. I enjoyed government, literature, accounting, physics, biology, and, of course, English and Mathematics. Mathematics was my first love; I reveled in solving problems, calculating using formulas, exploring differentiation, matric, factorials, tackling simultaneous equations, and a bunch of other mathematical goodies. English, on the other hand, came naturally to me. I devoured books, wrote essays, and even corrected my siblings’ and family members’ grammar.</p><p>But mathematics gave me a rude awakening in my first year at Obafemi Awolowo University. I was so confident in my exam prep that I jumped right in, attempting all the questions without going through the instructions. I was so proud of myself and the 90A I was going to score until I heard people asking each other what questions they had chosen.
</p><p><strong>Lobatan! </strong>(My hands were on my head) I was in a state of panic and temporary dementia for a couple of seconds. Alas! “They have finally gotten me!” I exclaimed. We were expected to answer just a few questions (I’m not sure of the number now), but my coconut head attempted all!
</p><p>Right before my eyes, my expectation was cut short. Let’s just say I did not get an A, and I did not get an F, either.
</p><p>Let’s go back to secondary school. As we entered SS2, the pressure to choose a career path mounted. My school invited counselors to speak to us about different fields. I attended the sessions, hoping to find clarity. But as I listened to the counselors discuss the arts and sciences, I found myself more conflicted than ever. Both paths seemed alluring, and I couldn’t shake off the feeling that I was being pulled in two different directions. To make matters worse, my guardian, like many well-meaning guardians, was eager to see me pursue a “respectable” science-based career- you know, the classic doctor route. It's not that they didn’t support my artistic interests, but their expectation was clear: science equals stability and success. Let’s not forget that I had my idea of what I wanted to become - or so I thought.
</p><p>I wanted to become a doctor because, well, doctors are rich, right? Then I dropped medicine- it's engineering now! Oh! I want to become a civil engineer because one of my favorite aunties is a civil engineer. Oh, now I want to become an automobile engineer so that I can make cars for every member of my family. Can you see how shallow I was? I guess I can say that I was only "book" smart but not savvy.
</p><p>It didn’t end there. It has to be law. Why? Because I talked too much as a young growing child (ask my siblings and parents, lol). Finally, I found my calling – or so I thought. It's pediatrics; I wanted to be a pediatrician because of my love for children and the need to see them healthy and happy at all times. Sigh… As I grew older, I realized that my dreams and aspirations were still evolving. I didn’t ultimately settle on pediatrics; instead, I found myself drawn to the fascinating world of cyber security. Today, I'm still learning, still growing, and still discovering new passions.
</p><p>The saying goes that “learning never ends,” and I’m living proof. Whether it’s mathematics, medicine, or cyber security, my journey has taught me that it's okay to explore, adapt, and evolve. As I continue on this path, I’m reminded that satisfaction and purpose can be found in the journey itself, not just the destination. Or what do you think?</p><p>
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