Hello, good day Nairalanders.
I'm presently in a critical situation in my life. I really need your advice on this situation of mine.
I just feel like a looser, I am an undergraduate studying botany. In 300 level due to me deferring a semester due to a Relapsing illness (schizophrenia). I suffered from brain fog when I resumed school after the relapse and lock down. I'm 26 and I don't have any skill and don't have a degree at hand.
The reason for this is not far fetched because till date I still harbour that anger for what my Dad has done to me. When I was in Jss1 in a very good school and also doing well, he removed me and my younger brother from school and took us to a Quran memorizing Islamic school following the advice of a hausa colleague of his in his place of work. We memorized the holy book but for me it came with it's price, I didn't even have solid memorization of the Quran self to speak. I went through hell in those two years memorizing the holy book, ranging from mental, physical and spiritual challenges, which I believe triggered the schizophrenia am suffering from today. After the graduation ceremony from the Islamic school he enrolled me in conventional secondary school into Ss1 which means I never attended Jss2 and Jss3. Had episodes of relapse of the ailment am suffering from after then twice apart from the first occurrence after my memorization of the holy book. I believe that if I was allowed to continue my education back then I would have been a graduate by now and even working and must have gained financial independence
Presently my mum brought the idea that we should meet a Sheikh who is a saint of God, regarding my issue of not being able to read, assimilate let alone retain, and also my inability to sleep without taking a prescribed medication the saint said that I should defer a session, that is a year so that he will pray for me that there is a good spirit standing beside me that needs to be dissolved into my system before I can sleep normally, which (the spirit) is as a result of a spiritual book, litanies I read that my father gave me.
So now I don't have any skill, my Father has no source of income whatsoever, he doesn't earn any salary, he only has ND, the money we are even feeding on presently is a contribution by BOT of a foundation he founded to buy a house for its Islamic school. I started learning photography during the lock down but left it for no tangible reason. My Dad insisted that I should learn shoe mending, that it is easy to learn and get small small change, I started it but had to leave it when I faced the challenge of sowing and polishing shoes, I don't just like the work. And presently am been pressured by my parents to get something doing to be getting money because even to eat once in a day is a problem for us now, and to buy the drug am living on which enables me to sleep but believe me I'm at loss of what to do, should I go back and learn photography as a skill or should I find a job, like a company that can employ an Ssce holder. Cos the former needs start up fee and also need time for me to master it before talking of getting money from it.
Secondly, regarding my academics, I am thinking of using this one year or two years which I would defer to gain financial independence and mental well being, then rewrite jamb and apply for my original passion which is medicine and surgery but hmm, am already in my late twenties, so please Nairalanders help a confused soul.
Sorry for the long write up, just had to say everything.
Thanks, any contribution is welcomed
Please Lalasticlala move to front page for it to gain more views, am really in a critical situation

Pls i would advise you to go back and learn photography
There is money there,I see people who are blessed with the job
Plss seek help spiritually from real men of God and be prayerful
After some months or years of succeeding,you can then further your education into the university
Looking for a company job won't pay because as time goes on they will want to recruit people and replace u with people that has qualifications better than yours.
God will help you
Stay blessed

guy, i really feel for you o.
you are in 300 level, try to endure and graduate.
even as a student,
I'll advise you go ahead and learn the photography while you look for something else that will be putting money into your pockets as side hustle.
the process of learning the photography might be difficult now, but when you finally become independent, it can feed you for life.

STOP FOCUSING ON PLEASING YOUR PARENTS
this might hurt, but it is the truth.
they are the basic reason for your present predicament.

but before this, you need to ask and answer the following questions below:
is photography truly your passion?
is there any other skill/thing you enjoy doing?
how long will you allow your parents to be dictating for you?
is there anyone around you that you can approach to help you(by giving you connects)?

as for going back to study medicine and surgery, forget about your age. one of my evil uncles told me in 2011 that: you can study to any length you desire in life without been answerable to anyone, as long as you are the one funding it

Happyyoo:
Pls i would advise you to go back and learn photography
There is money there,I see people who are blessed with the job
Plss seek help spiritually from real men of God and be prayerful
After some months or years of succeeding,you can then further your education into the university
Looking for a company job won't pay because as time goes on they will want to recruit people and replace u with people that has qualifications better than yours.
God will help you
Stay blessed

Amen thanks for your advice ma'am. The photography, do you think learning as an apprentice under someone will be the best shot?

Murder your dad bury him in a shallow grave..
Then drop out of school.. Learn how to burn down mosques thats a good skill that pays.

@op I am sorry you are going through this.
Unfortunately, many Nigerian youths like you grossly underrate the internet.
Whatever skill you want to pursue, you no longer have to commit funds or energy into it before you figure out if its your passion.
Go to youtube, look for videos on photography and start experimenting with your phone.

There are people with huge followership on youtube and all they use to shoot and edit their videos is just phone.
Learn to make use of technology, tons of free video on photography are on youtube, start from there, see if you can develop interest in it, before you commit fully to it.

Also, you are not too old to learn web development, lots of free resources are available on the internet.
I wish you good luck.

anthonyuncle:
guy, i really feel for you o.
you are in 300 level, try to endure and graduate.
even as a student,
I'll advise you go ahead and learn the photography while you look for something else that will be putting money into your pockets as side hustle.
the process of learning the photography might be difficult now, but when you finally become independent, it can feed you for life.

STOP FOCUSING ON PLEASING YOUR PARENTS
this might hurt, but it is the truth.
they are the basic reason for your present predicament.

but before this, you need to ask and answer the following questions below:
is photography truly your passion?
is there any other skill/thing you enjoy doing?
how long will you allow your parents to be dictating for you?
is there anyone around you that you can approach to help you(by giving you connects)?

as for going back to study medicine and surgery, forget about your age. one of my evil uncles told me in 2011 that: you can study to any length you desire in life without been answerable to anyone, as long as you are the one funding it

Thanks sir.
I would have also loved to endure and graduate but now, that Saint of God told us to defer a session for me to gain good health, and my parents don't want to go against him, so that is why I just decided to concur and used the 1-2 years to develop myself mentally and financially before going back to school.

spiritualmubi:
Thanks sir.
I would have also loved to endure and graduate but now, that Saint of God told us to defer a session for me to gain good health, and my parents don't want to go against him, so that is why I just decided to concur and used the 1-2 years to develop myself mentally and financially before going back to school.

hmm

i won't tell you who to obey and disobey o

Why do memorization of the Quran always have side effects some times,three of my friends are facing this same issue...

spiritualmubi:
Thanks sir.
I would have also loved to endure and graduate but now, that Saint of God told us to defer a session for me to gain good health, and my parents don't want to go against him, so that is why I just decided to concur and used the 1-2 years to develop myself mentally and financially before going back to school.

You will surely overcome it.
I've been there before. Most people won't understand you. Stop putting unnecessary pressure on your self. I will urge you not to take leave of absence in school. What would you be doing after that? Unless you have a concrete plan laid out and you are ready to follow the plan to the letter, please don't think of LOA.

I think this is happening to you because you over think about stuff that you have no control over. Just focus on what is within your control and stop blaming yourself for not being able to be the ideal self you want to be for now. You can still develop your self.
You get depressed because you know you are not what you should be. Don't give up. Keep fighting. Be positive and optimistic.
You need someone to confide in and also you should be seeing a psychologist or psychiatrist for therapy and evaluation from time to time. I suggest you get rosemary tea. It helps in boosting brain functions.

Since you are a Muslim, I have some ruqyah audio you can keep listening to and share some special prayers with you. Do you pray tahajjud? If no, start observing it and ask Allah to help you. Pleade don't visit anybody not upon the Quran and sunnah, lest they misguide and lead you to commit shrik.
Never neglect your solah, engage in dhikr intensively, seek repentance abundantly from Allah and put your trust in Him. May Allah ease your affairs, aamiin.

And I don't think you have schizophrenia, it seems like a major depressive disorder. When and where were you diagnosed of schizophrenia? Can you let me in on the symptoms you experienced or experiencing?

spiritualmubi:
Amen thanks for your advice ma'am. The photography, do you think learning as an apprentice under someone will be the best shot?

@ spiritualmubi
If you know the job well then u can start on your own,then later wen u are okay,u can get a studio and get apprentice
But if you know u haven't learn well,then go and start as an apprentice atleast for a year or 6months and make sure u are serious and Good at what you u do.