I've always thought I was different. I've always wanted a different life for myself. I've always believed I didn't have to go through the conventional path. I never wanted to experience what others experienced. I wanted to have my experiences and my path and my destiny and my purpose.

I got to the higher institution after 5years of writing JAMB: 4 UME's & 3 PCE's. Finally graduated exactly 10 years after leaving secondary school. I graduated with honours and as a prize winner and also with the highest professional qualification in my field.

I didn't let my background push me to the background. I pushed through many obstacles, inconveniences, discouragement, heartbreaks etc.

During my service, I had mapped out the kind of firm I wanted to work in. The first was to work in one of the "big four" and the second the "biggest indigenous" firm. I wrote two (2) tests with the "big four" and got the regret mail. Exactly 10 days after my month of Service, I got employed in the second choice - the "biggest indigenous" firm. I still wasn't satisfied. I wanted the first choice! Few weeks after, I was invited for an interview with the same "big four". I'm still expecting the success mail and I believe it will come before this month ends.

I refused to be limited in my thoughts. I refused to believe it's not possible. I refused to believe I had no choice. I refused to believe the country is bad. I refused to believe that only the rich have the opportunities. I refused to believe that I have to wait 2 years after service before I get a job. I refused rejection. I refused failure!

I choose my experiences and my path and my destiny and my purpose. I choose the good life. The life that Jesus promised me in his word. I choose success. I am taking what's mine!


http://paulipopor..com/2013/09/i-choose-to-be-different.html

Hello Paulipopor, I really appreciate ur write up. It's quite motivating and inspiring and it's coming at a time I really need it. Ur write-up suggests that u're very confident of urself and also very focus which is what am trying to develop in myself. I graduated with a very good grade and am currently doing my nysc. I tend to have less confidence in myself and this is making me loose focus and it's affecting my planning. Pls can u offer some advice....I'll truly appreciate it. Thanks in anticipation.

Ema2nty: Hello Paulipopor, I really appreciate ur write up. It's quite motivating and inspiring and it's coming at a time I really need it. Ur write-up suggests that u're very confident of urself and also very focus which is what am trying to develop in myself. I graduated with a very good grade and am currently doing my nysc. I tend to have less confidence in myself and this is making me loose focus and it's affecting my planning. Pls can u offer some advice....I'll truly appreciate it. Thanks in anticipation.

Thank you for your compliment. I really appreciate it.

To your question, the first thing about being confident is to have a positive attitude to life. This will affect the way you think, act and react to situations. This attitude will change the way you see yourself. You must not under any circumstance believe that you're a nobody, because you're unique. Nobody is better than you. This superior mindset will distinguish you among your peers. For example, I'm an accounting graduate from a Nigeria university. In my mind there shouldn't be anything in accounting that I cannot answer. I should be able to compete with a graduate of accounting from any university in the world. This attitude helps me to prepare myself, it helps me to keep developing myself. It helps me to keep up to the challenges I met and to overcome them. I am preparing to compete as a world brand not just as a local champion.

Sometimes ago here on Nairaland, a lady was bragging about living in diaspora and that if they (in diaspora) decide to return to Nigeria we will all loose our jobs! The bitter truth is; she's right! How many Nigerian graduates are ready to challenge and can compete with a foreign graduate? You know why? They have excuses! The government is bad, the lectures are wicked, there's no "NEPA", ASUU is on strike, the roads are bad (how road take concern book!), etc. Sorry but I don't see these excuses as disadvantges. I see them as opportunities. I see them as necessary "evil", I see them as part of the process to achieving my desires. They actually make you stronger and more resilient.

This is the attitude that seperate the winners from losers, the rich from the poor (how many rich people do you see complaining?) and the successful from failures.

Don't find excuses for your challenges. Face them and overcome them. Try again and again till you overcome. It'll not always be smooth but you can. This is what has kept me focussed.