Many people have failed and given up on their quest for success, while some have bounced back to give failure a bloody nose. Ibukunoluwa Areo is one of those who have defeated failure, and her success story has continued to inspire many.
The young lady was withdrawn from the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) in 2016 due to poor performance but she went on to achieve success at Bowen University.
Areo wasn’t distracted at OAU
Speaking with Muse.ng, the young lady who was studying Agricultural Economics at the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), said she wasn’t distracted in school, adding that the only social life she had was fellowship.
In her words: “I was not distracted, in fact, I had friends we read together. The only social life I had was church fellowship. But you know when you read something and understand in that moment, but when it’s time to answer questions, it begins to look like mandarin.”
She said she struggled to understand what was taught in class but she felt that it couldn’t have been so bad to the extent of being withdrawn from school.
Areo said: “I struggled to understand what was taught in class and had thought no matter how bad it turned out, it can’t be as bad as being withdrawn.”
She was ashamed
The young lady got her withdrawal notice from her school portal and she wished rapture happened that day.
In her words: “I didn’t get a letter literally, it was on my portal. I was dejected, ashamed and lost. I wished rapture happened that day.”
She said her parents were disappointed in her but they did their best to see if the withdrawal could be reversed.
She can’t afford to fail again
Areo said she was motivated to achieve success at Bowen University because she couldn’t afford to fail again.
The young lady wrote her first Cambridge A level exam in 2017 but her grade wasn’t enough to secure admission.
According to the young lady, she wrote the second one in 2018 and passed but didn’t gain admission into the University of Ibadan due to issues with subject combination.
She said she resumed as a direct entry student at Bowen University and all she wanted was to graduate with a first class degree.
In her words: “I got more exposed while I wrote Cambridge A level. I believed if I could pass Cambridge, I could do better in uni.
“Also, I could not afford to fail again; it was not an option. That was the mindset I had. So, I wanted to make myself proud and everyone who believed in my abilities.”
She said she worked on her mindset and ensured that she utilised the library and YouTube.
In her words: “Firstly, I worked on my mindset. Even if people were saying this and that is hard, I didn’t give in. I will go to the library, get different texts and read through all till I got it, or use YouTube. I was sure somebody somewhere must have simplified it.
“Most importantly, I learnt what balance is as a Christian, God will not do for you what you should do. In a simpler term, read like you will never pray and pray like you will never read.”
Dream comes true
Areo achieved her dream by bagging a first class degree in Economics with a CGPA of 4.84/5.0.
Not only did she graduate with a first class degree, Areo emerged as the best graduating student in her programme and third overall best graduating student in the 2020/2021 set.
Focus on rebuilding
The young lady advised those experiencing failure to shut out every external noise and focus on rebuilding themselves.
According to her, most times, people lose faith in themselves because of the reaction of others to their failure.
She said: “For anyone going through the failure phase, give yourself a break, it may feel like your case is hopeless, it is not.
“Most times, it’s the reaction of people to your failing that makes you lose faith in yourself, if possible shut out every external noise and focus on rebuilding.
“It’s not going to be easy, but tenacity in building will help. By all means, invest in your mind; the power to change your life lies in your mind.”
