Scholarship Essay \u2013 Sterling Bank x Miva Open University<\/p>\n
I could have gotten a university education. I wanted to become a medical doctor. At first, it didn\u2019t seem like it was my decision. My mother, a widow doing everything in her power to give me a better life, had already paid for a diploma course she couldn\u2019t get refunded for. So I took it, not because it was my dream, but because saying no to the woman who sacrificed everything for me felt like betrayal. I told myself I\u2019d still take the university entrance exam the next year. I didn\u2019t.<\/p>\n
By the time I left school, life had shifted again. My baby brother underwent major surgery, my family was drowning in medical bills, and my mum\u2014exhausted from a second marriage that only added to her burdens\u2014was spiraling. My older brother\u2019s school fees became another worry. We were barely surviving. I had a diploma, and it was time to fend for myself.<\/p>\n
I stepped into adulthood fast, navigating realities that no one prepares you for. A society that values certificates over skill. A system where minimum wage doesn\u2019t cover survival, let alone tuition. I moved from my hometown to the city, trying to build something out of nothing. I lost my mother\u2014my biggest supporter\u2014just as I was finding myself. I survived an accident that has currently left me disabled. I lost my job. I transitioned careers. And through it all, I never stopped dreaming.<\/p>\n
I applied again, and I faced rejections. I even applied abroad, and I received more rejections. Each \u201cno\u201d stung, but I kept going.<\/p>\n
Eventually, I got accepted to Miva Open University. It felt like the beginning of something meaningful. But I had to defer\u2014again\u2014not because I wanted to, but because I simply couldn\u2019t afford it. I\u2019m currently not working, and with each passing month, I wonder if I\u2019ll have to defer again. But I\u2019m still here. Still believing.<\/p>\n
Education, for me, is no longer about chasing a title. It\u2019s a strategic decision. It\u2019s about amplifying the skills I\u2019ve built over the years\u2014through work, self-learning, and lived experience\u2014and using them to create real impact. I\u2019ve worked with the best teams, in healthcare customer experience, and systems strategy. I\u2019ve given care to patients, played key roles in health programs impacting communities, supported founders, startups, and given impact through social involvement. I know how to learn. I know how to grow. But I also know that a degree would unlock new doors, deeper knowledge, and greater credibility to keep showing up for the problems I want to solve\u2014especially for women in underserved communities like where I grew up.<\/p>\n
This scholarship would not just fund my education. It would give me momentum. It would remind me that even when life delays you, you can still win. I\u2019m ready. Ready to learn, lead, and build. I hope Sterling Bank sees not just my need\u2014but my resolve.<\/p>\n
Because I could have gotten a university education.
\nAnd now\u2014with your support\u2014I finally will.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":0,"template":"","cohorts":[20],"class_list":["post-4918","nominees","type-nominees","status-publish","hentry","cohorts-cohort-1"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sterling.ng\/decide\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/nominees\/4918","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sterling.ng\/decide\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/nominees"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sterling.ng\/decide\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/nominees"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sterling.ng\/decide\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4918"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"cohorts","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sterling.ng\/decide\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/cohorts?post=4918"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}