Sanc11: Share your thoughts about success

SUCCESS: MORE THAN WHAT THE EYES CAN SEE

I feel success is not just about the physical assets we see around us, such as money, owning land, acquiring buildings or getting an apartment. Success goes beyond material possessions.

To me, success is more about setting goals for yourself, working towards them and eventually achieving those goals. It's about having something you want to accomplish and being able to look back someday and say, "I set out to do this, and I achieved it."

My Photography Success Story

Let me bring this closer to home by sharing my own experience with photography.

When I started photography, I wasn't entirely satisfied with where I was. I knew I wanted to become better at what I was doing, so I set personal goals for myself. I told myself that within the next two or three years, I should have improved significantly.

I wanted to understand my camera better, even though my camera was simply my mobile phone. I wanted to master how I captured pictures, improve my editing skills and eventually produce quality photographs that would earn me more money than I was making at the time.

To me, that was success: setting a target and working towards becoming a better version of myself.

When I started, I was using a Redmi 10C to create pictures. I used it for nature photography, portrait photography and several other forms of photography. Despite its limitations, that device helped me create beautiful pictures. They weren't necessarily the best, but they were good enough to attract people's attention. People appreciated my work, loved what I created and even patronised me.

As time went on, things began to change. I acquired a Redmi Note 13, and that was another step forward in my photography journey.

About two years later, I acquired an iPhone 13 Pro. This opened another chapter for me. I could create better-quality pictures, explore mobile videography and handle more demanding creative projects without constantly worrying about storage limitations.

Eventually, I wanted more, and I acquired an iPhone 16 Pro.

Now, when I look back at the journey from the Redmi 10C to the Redmi Note 13, then the iPhone 13 Pro and eventually the iPhone 16 Pro, I see more than just a change of devices.

I see growth. I see improvement. I see goals gradually becoming reality.

And that, in my own little way, is my success story.

My Educational Success Story

Moving away from photography, let me talk about another important aspect of my life: education.

My educational journey has not been an easy one. Going back to my primary school days, I remember how difficult it sometimes was for my parents to provide the essential things I needed to keep me in school. Things weren't always comfortable financially, but I held on to the belief that one day things would get better.

Fast-forward to my university days. My first year was relatively manageable because my parents were still doing their best to support me. My second year was also okay, but things became increasingly difficult as I progressed into my third year.

At some point, even getting transport fare from my residence to school became a serious challenge. My parents could barely afford my educational expenses, and I couldn't do much to support them financially either. It was a difficult period for me.

I knew I had to do something.

During one of our industrial strikes, I decided to look for work at the timber market. I went there hoping to find something I could do to earn money before academic activities resumed. I eventually got an opportunity and spent about three months working there.

That period wasn't particularly easy, but I was determined. I managed to save some money, which helped me prepare financially for the semesters ahead.

Rather than allow the money to disappear through daily expenses, I made a decision to invest it in something that could generate income for me regularly. That decision became another turning point in my educational journey.

Gradually, I started taking responsibility for my expenses. From my second-year second semester, I began paying my school fees myself. I also took care of my transportation and feeding expenses.

I simply didn't want to put more pressure on my parents. I understood that they were trying their best, even when they had little or nothing left to offer.

I kept believing in God and reminding myself that things would eventually work out.

There were moments when I wondered whether I would graduate alongside my coursemates. Sometimes, I questioned whether I would achieve the academic dreams I had set for myself. The financial challenges were overwhelming, but giving up was never what I wanted.

Today, when I look back, I see myself moving from year one to year two, then year three and eventually year four. Now, I am looking forward to completing this chapter and proceeding for my NYSC next year.

Honestly, I am happy with myself.

Not because everything went smoothly, but because I didn't allow the difficulties I encountered to determine how my story would end.

For me, that is another definition of success. Being able to continue despite the circumstances, taking responsibility when necessary and eventually getting closer to the dreams you once thought might never happen.

My educational journey has taught me that success is not always about having everything you need at the beginning. Sometimes, it is about making the best use of what you have, finding alternatives when things get difficult and holding on to hope.

And today, I am grateful that I didn't give up.