The darker it gets, the brighter your light will shine – Leonard Ravenhill
When I set out to pursue my MBA, I quickly learned that going after big dreams comes with constant trade-offs. Something always takes a back seat. It’s not about trying to balance it all—it’s about knowing which sacrifices to make and focusing on what truly matters in each moment.
Continued from part 1
Navigating the MBA Application Process
My in-depth research for top schools led to me applying to ten different schools selected based on ranking, academic prowess, thriving alumni, and scholarship opportunities; knowing that I didn’t have an educational fund or significant savings, I scoured the internet daily for fully funded scholarship opportunities while writing and rewriting the justification to merit a 100% award. I read through many scholarship success stories to keep me optimistic. I combined searching for scholarships and applications with running my home, managing my kids, and handling a demanding job role I was passionate about.
Many nights, I stayed awake to complete my applications; my weekends were also dedicated to this pursuit. Thankfully, my family understood and supported my aspiration to achieve a doctorate, a dream prominently displayed on my vision board for years. I submitted more applications as days turned into weeks and weeks into months. Eventually, my efforts paid off with email invitations for interviews from various schools, which I meticulously scheduled. I didn’t take any opportunity lightly and practised my answers to potential questions before a mirror, also asking for constructive criticism from my husband.
The Wait and the Sacrifices
Understanding my journey and that it took Eleven years to arrive at this point was a major motivation. I had previously deferred two admissions for an MBA due to personal reasons ranging from pregnancy to the demands of motherhood and work. My first admission to the University of Pretoria filled me with joy, which turned to dismay when I discovered I was pregnant with our second child shortly after. We decided to defer the admission for a year and revisit the decision a year later; that was not to be, for being a present mother prevailed, so I let go of the opportunity.
Six years later, I got a second admission to a university in the United Kingdom for another MBA; this time, I opted for online studies to accommodate my young family. I processed all required documentation, and the week I was to consummate the payment, I got a work promotion and had to reconsider my options—navigating increased work responsibilities, a young family, and my passion for supporting working mothers through curated resources and learning sessions proved too demanding. I reluctantly forwent this opportunity once again.
Sacrifices And Successes
Often, I felt I was sacrificing my dreams for life’s demands. On some days, I struggled when I felt I was losing myself in a cycle of motherhood, chores (or, as I often termed it, serving everyone but myself), and professional obligations. In hindsight, I see that period as a time of waiting, though I didn’t recognise it then. The skills and insights I acquired during those years became the foundation of the later successes I achieved in my career and leadership, even enabling me to secure scholarships and influence my overall outlook on life. That waiting period was not merely a delay but a crucial preparation for the success that was to come.
During the interviews, some institutions immediately offered me scholarships, while others invited me to apply for 100% funding, given the competitive nature. Two key attributes that worked successfully and effectively at each interview were the ability to sell value and self-preparation. I had clearly articulated the WHY behind my returning to school, the choice of course, and the location, in addition to some research about the school. I learned these through my work experience in Know Your Customer (KYC) and Known Your Customer’s Business (KYB) in sales and customer relationship management, and they were pivotal in the success I encountered at each interview.
I got admission into seven (7) top schools and had four scholarship opportunities; I was spoiled with choices. Eventually, I settled for one in northeast England and was determined to enjoy living this dream that had eluded me for a long time.
Once I settled for a school, the next step was to pay the acceptance deposit and subsequent fees before classes started in September. Following the deposit, the school would issue a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS), a crucial document for the visa application process. Obtaining the required foreign exchange at the Central Bank of Nigeria – CBN rate was another hurdle to overcome as Nigeria grappled with the Forex crisis. The CBN offered a lower exchange rate but limited availability, while the black market provided a readily available but more expensive rate. The best option to maximise my limited funds was to secure Forex at the CBN rate to pay my acceptance fees, which would be a sheer miracle. Fortunately, I managed to secure the CBN rate just in time to make the payment.
The Visa Hurdle
Securing a visa was the next hurdle. This document was essential for entering and staying in the United Kingdom throughout my educational journey. The visa application included several prerequisites, including a tuberculosis test mandated by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) due to the high incidence of TB in Nigeria. What was supposed to be a straightforward process turned into a gruelling ordeal because of the high volume of people applying for the same test. I was dumbfounded at the number of people applying for tuberculosis tests and waiting to receive their certificates from the International Organisation for Migration (IOM). My attempt to schedule a slot for the test via their website was futile as the earliest date was three months away. The Nigerian in me urged me to visit the office and attempt to scurry favours for an earlier date. The scene at the office was chaotic, with a massive crowd struggling against a malfunctioning queuing system, all under the watch of indifferent security staff and ad-hoc staff. It took three exhausting days and hours of staying in the queue from dawn to dusk and under the sun and rain to eventually secure a slot and get tested.
After getting the tuberculous test certificate, the Visa process was straightforward but very detail-oriented. It involved logging into the UK visa website, filling out detailed forms, attaching the necessary documents, and paying the requisite fees. The next step was scheduling a date to capture biometrics and attend a physical visa interview. Despite the process’s apparent simplicity, I still encountered the tortuous queue and the attendant irregularities of a faulty queue management system, inefficient document processing system, and overworked staff. I endured spending the whole day at the visa center, knowing it was the last hurdle to the next phase.
Two weeks later, I received my visa, and four days after that, my family obtained theirs. It was an almost surreal moment for someone from a modest background with no experience travelling abroad or navigating the complexities of international education. The excitement of moving into the next phase of my life was palpable.
The Journey to The Unknown
Because I took each phase as it came. Without prior foresightedness that should have come with this decision, I was unaware that flight prices would skyrocket in September and October due to the summer vacation, the influx of international students, and the mass exodus phenomenon known as “Japa” that I had inadvertently found myself. Securing and paying for an affordable flight ticket almost became herculean; every day, we logged in to different airline web pages to check flight tickets and compare findings with the quotes from our travel agent, who provided varied options like using an indirect flight that increases the travel time for an 8-hour journey to 26 hours or 36 hours. For context, this is like dishing an Uber ride of 25 minutes because of the cost to use a commercial bus that will take 1 hour 30 minutes to reach the same destination. Eventually, we got an affordable ticket and settled for a travel date.
With tickets bought and the school resumption date in sight, I finally let the fear of the unknown wash over me, albeit momentarily. I doubted myself, the move, the choice of city and university, the days ahead, my decision to start again in a new land, and the many what-ifs.
The truth is the heights of my thoughts could never have prepared me for the turbulence I was to encounter.
To be continued…
