₦airaland Forum

Babakenny:
@JB, that's really awesome! God indeed really favoured you. But in any case, it has been destined to happened in that way. I knew someone similar to your case. He's also there as well. Well congrats in a belated way. Your words are very encouraging and inspiring.
I hope we'll meet soon.

Take care!

Thanks Babakenny

Am forever grateful to God.

Hope to meet you soon

Babakenny:
Yes that's the secret! One should pursue his/her dreams no matter what people say. I have always followed my heart and never allow anyone to break me with their own taughts or negative influence, that ,one is too old to attain the height of success, or what not.
Good move. I can figure out that you're one of the lucky lottery winners when you immigrated to US. That's correct right?

Thanks Babakenny.

Yes! am one of the lucky lottery winners. Would you believe I didn't even play that lottery? someone I never knew did, and am forever grateful to God for him (Let me tell you how it happened)

A year after NYSC, I got a call one Sunday morning from someone in Ondo State, he said I won a US lottery. I was like " scam- a won ole" I dropped the call immediately. He called severally but I didn't pick up his call, he called again around 9 pm with another number so I picked the call, I was like you again. Then I asked what do you want from me? He said he just wanted me to listen to him.

From our discussion, I got to know he picked up my information from a photo album made during service year in Jos. I was still skeptical about the whole thing, so he decided to bring the document sent to him from Kentucky.

We met at Police College Ikeja and he showed me all the documents. Before meeting, I did some research, and got to know how important the case number is to every winner- that was the first thing I memorized when I saw the document.

Now we are getting serious but I was still a doubting Thomas. But then we need to conclude on the document, so he said I was going to marry someone. I was like ha ha- no way, 've got a fiancee and this lottery won't come between us, so he asked me to pay N250k and we departed.

I sent an email to KCC including all the required information, I was stunned beyond words to know winning the lottery was real. I gave the guy N150K, collected my package, filled the documents and mailed back to Kentucky. After a month, I sent an email to KCC that I would like to get married, they replied asking me to go ahead.

Got married to the one I loved, filled her documents and mailed to Kentucky.

We had a bad experience during our first interview (I was sick and could barely speak, was also nervous and did't present all documents I had on me), we were asked to come for another interview and God was just Awesome. We got the visa and we left for the U.S a month after.

Hope you find this encouraging.


SORRY AM NOT A GOOD WRITER

Babakenny:
@JB, how old were u when you took the second degree?

Hi Babakenny,

I was a few month above 30 when I stated. Am 33 now.

@ttmacoy:

Good comment and you nailed it right in the head. It is important to know who you are and what you want out of life, if not, one will end up following the path of others expectations.

TCPonly:
@JB2174, how were u able to take care of ur tuition fees? Was it a community college or a university?

Hi TCPonly,

I went to a university and took some loan to pay my tuition.

Goldenby007: This is absolutely true. I plan writing up my experience in the U.S sometime soon to encourage other folks migrating to the States. I will try to summarize my 4 years experience in the States in just few paragraphs. (Please disregard any typo, it is 12.42am)

My wife and I migrated to the U.S in 2010 immediately after completing my National Youth Service year. All I had was $400 and a B.Sc Sociology certificate. 3 months after arriving in the U.S; I got a job at a retail store, working as a back room team member. A month after getting a job at that retail store, I picked up another job at restaurant few miles from each other. I worked almost 80hr/week standing on my feet, my experience at both jobs was horrible but I had to do it to save up some money to rent an apartment. On 16, Nov. 2010 we got a 4 bedroom house instead of an apartment (a miracle I plan to share another day). On 23rd of December 2010 I quit one of my jobs at the retail store and waited for some months to have my one year residency complete before going to school.

Fast forward to August 2011.

Started another undergrad studies- Computer Information Systems (Undergrad again? Do you know what you are doing? IT is saturated, all IT jobs have been outsourced, why not apply for a masters in Social work or nursing? why waste your time) These and many other discouraging remarks were made to me, I disregarded them, isolated myself from their gathering and pursue my dream.

I graduated in May 2014 and today, I am an Information Security Analyst working with the World's Largest Independent Claims Management Company with over 700 offices in 70 countries.

Things I have learnt over the years:
1. Let no one tell you what you can or can't do
2. Sometimes, one needs to take few steps backwards to move forward in life
3. People are always there to discourage you
4. Challenges of life will test your faith

There are lots more to be said, but I have to go to bed now, need to be up God willing in the next 6hrs.