With a 4.66 GPA and a first-class degree in Linguistics and Languages from Adekunle Ajasin University (AAUA), Oluwadunsin Adeyemi proved that perseverance and hard effort can overcome obstacles. The 26-year-old discussed in an interview how her love of languages, her family’s encouragement, and her fortitude enabled her to overcome obstacles—such as unsupportive counsel and personal struggles—and succeed academically. Adeyemi disclosed that her passion for languages, which she first developed in high school, was the catalyst for her achievement. She became interested in English phonetics after being introduced to it by a youth corps member. Her choice to enroll in the course at AAUA was motivated by her developing love of linguistics, even though she had first thought about studying law.
“My greatest motivation was my enthusiasm for the course,” she stated. “I was committed to learning linguistics and doing well in it from the day I started school.” A woman from Adeyemi’s church discouraged her throughout the admissions process by warning that linguistics was a difficult field. Adeyemi harnessed her passion for challenges to keep going despite the criticism. She said, “I wanted to show that it wasn’t as hard as people made it seem,” and she used the criticism as inspiration to work even harder toward her objectives. Adeyemi’s path wasn’t without challenges. Because she didn’t have a laptop, she had a lot of trouble finishing her thesis in her senior year.
Although she frequently had to stay up late to fulfill deadlines, a friend offered her his laptop. Even though she wasn’t used to working late, adjusting to these responsibilities was a challenging but essential aspect of her path. In her second year, she surprisingly scored a “C” in a course that she believed she had done well in, marking her first significant academic failure. She felt disappointed and worried that her dream of earning a first-class degree was slipping away as a result of the setback. A lecturer, however, reassured her that obstacles were a necessary part of the process, revealing that he had faced similar difficulties while working toward his first-class honors. Adeyemi remarked, “The lecturer’s advice stuck with me.” It served as a reminder to me to maintain my focus and keep going.
Due to the disruptions caused by the COVID-19 epidemic, her third year was the most challenging. Many of her friends gave up on achieving first-class honors, and Adeyemi acknowledged that she was also tempted to accept less. She was nevertheless adamant about finishing strong and stayed true to her objective.
Adeyemi attributes her accomplishment in large part to her parents and lecturers. Despite being the youngest in the family, her father, who supported her from an early age, inspired her to pursue a first-class degree. She remarked, “His confidence in me gave me the confidence to push harder.” Her drive also came from her mother’s health problems.
Adeyemi’s mother had surgery for a brain tumor during her second year, which was a difficult and emotionally taxing time. Adeyemi was keen to make her parents proud, so she continued to concentrate on her academics in spite of the difficulties. Her academic path was also significantly influenced by a number of teachers. Her phonetics instructor, Dr. Ibikunle, saw her talent early on and supported her all the way through her studies. Despite not being her formal supervisor, he helped her immensely while she worked on her thesis. Mr. Oluseyi Emmanuel, another lecturer, assisted her in resolving a crucial course registration issue that might have had a detrimental effect on her GPA. Her scholastic achievement was greatly aided by his assistance, which included covering the cost of corrections when she was unable to pay for them.
Adeyemi also emphasized how her connection had benefited her academic career. In addition to understanding her objectives, her spouse constantly urged her to maintain her concentration. “He reminded me of our goal to graduate with first-class honors during times when I felt discouraged,” she said. Adeyemi, who is currently in Akwa Ibom with the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), explained how her interest in languages has grown as a result of the experience. She now has a practical grasp of what she learned in school thanks to her interactions with people from different linguistic origins, including those who speak Ibibio, Anaang, and Efik. Adeyemi intends to work in psycholinguistics, a discipline that blends language and brain science, in the future.Her interest in the field was sparked by her mother’s health issues, but she found that no Nigerian university offered master’s-level psycholinguistics courses. She is therefore actively looking for study abroad scholarships in order to focus on speech therapy and related fields.
Adeyemi gave insightful counsel to pupils who wanted to thrive academically. “Remain focused and set your priorities straight,” she said. “Determination is essential, and you shouldn’t allow pessimistic voices to deter or distract you.” She cautioned against mindlessly copying others and underlined the significance of identifying efficient study techniques. Even if they attend classes at night, some students struggle to learn well. It’s critical to identify and maintain what works for you.
Appreciation and Introspection Adeyemi thanked God for her success and for allowing her parents to live to see it as she reflected on her accomplishments. “All of this would not have been possible without God,” she stated. “For everything, including my 4.66 GPA, I am grateful.” Adeyemi’s inspirational tale shows how overcoming barriers may be facilitated by passion, tenacity, and the encouragement of loved ones, transforming setbacks into opportunities for growth.
Stay Updated with SchoolCafe! Don’t miss out on important updates about JAMB, admissions, and educational news.
To join, simply click the link below: https://chat.whatsapp.com/KEB7glBiA5fJuYGxjbdIum
Didn't find what you were looking for? Search here
