The Road I Didn’t Choose Became the Path I Needed

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Daraabasi was lost in thought as her father’s voice replayed in her mind.

“You will not go down that path. If you keep being stubborn, you will have to hustle your way through university and pay your own fees.”

She was a technical drawing student with a clear vision to become an engineer. But in her final year of high school, everything began to shift.

Her father had already designed her future in his mind: she would become a pharmacist, and her sister, a doctor. He often fantasized about their “perfect collaboration.”

The door slowly swung open, its hinges letting out a faint creaking sound. Then, her technical drawing teacher walked into the room.

The students all said "good morning" to their teacher, but they sounded really tired, even though it was still early in the day. They drew out the words, making the greeting last longer than it needed to, like they were already feeling exhausted.

Today felt different for Daraabasi as she stood in silence.

"Daraabasi," her teacher said, looking at her with concern, "what's going on, why the sour face.

She hesitated, then said it.

“I’m quitting your class.”

The room froze.

“Why?” he asked gently.

“My dad said I should.”

A pause.

She spoke up, her voice barely above a whisper, "We're always told to chase our dreams, but mine's a bit different, I suppose." Her words trailed off, and she added, "I'm not really following my own dreams, but my dad's instead."

Silence settled over the classroom. Her classmates stared, each of them remembering the laughter she once brought into the room.

"Don't worry, I'm not going anywhere just yet," she said with a faint smile, trying to reassure whoever was listening. "I'll still be around for a while, so you won't get rid of me that easily."

Her best friend moved in closer and whispered, "We need to take nine subjects for the WAEC exam, so you're going to have to add Further Maths to your list."

Daraabasi nodded slowly.

Her best friend's expression changed.

She knew exactly what her best friend was about to say—how much she had always feared Further Maths.

“I will pull through,” she said quickly, cutting her off before the words came.

WAEC came out she cleared everything, Further Maths inclusive.

Daraabasi had a though time getting into the university, as she had to write JAMB two times without success of getting in.

Most days she cursed herself for listening to her Dad’s advice; depression had become part of her daily routine.

On her third attempt she got admitted, her Dad’s joy knew bound but could not be compared to hers

Yes, she was happy but more than anything, she was relieved. Relieved to finally leave home, to escape what she jokingly called “house help duties.”

Getting into the university was one thing; getting through it was another story entirely.

On the first days of campus, Senior Colleagues trooped in with different story which was accompanied with advice.

From complaining about they Lecturers, to the 8am-6
pm classes, to the daily readings so as to meet up the lecturer’s speed as pilling up the work would do them no good.

They were advised to interact with their colleagues, discuss some tough areas to get through it and have a schedule to get them through.

She listened carefully, with her mind counting her regrets than her possibilities.

Her first year in Pharmacy school was tough as she predicted, but the advice made her tougher.

She was diligent with her studies, prepared for her test vigorously and on the days it felt too much she prayed God for strength.

She scaled through properly with good grades; which gave her the courage that she could fall in love with the Pharmacy.

Every new Session birth new curiosity; the different branches of drugs, their interactions, their indications and their contraindications. The part that ignited the lights in her was the herbal medicines. How so many leaves could provide proper cure with less adverse effects.

Daraabasi began to hate the Profession, herself and her dad less.

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Her dad did come through for her most times but she needed more for herself.
The urge to be more and do more fuelled her as she went in search of a skill.

She picked Cybersecurity without doing proper research
she only believed one thing; If I could survive Pharmacy, I can survive this too.

Despite the self-doubts that lingered in her mind ; she decided to forge ahead with her decision.

The program was to last ran for seven months, she gave herself the assurance she will scale. She saved up money and paid for the class.

The Seven months came to an end faster than Daraabasi had imagined. The fact that she didn’t know how to navigate her way after the classes dawn on her.

She realized she would have created a Roadmap before setting out for the journey.
The thoughts of not knowing how to navigate next gripped her in the neck as she felt stuck for days.

“I just wanted to become something more… not feel miserable,” she whispered to herself on nights when her thoughts became too loud.

She tried researching but it only made things worse as she was not financially capable to go through that phase.

She still needed to take more classes for certain certifications, which was way too expensive, she felt there was no need for her constant research and no point to keep going.

But she held two motivational speeches;
"When there is a will there is a way"

“If your dream is not bigger than where you are now, then it isn’t right.”

She started practicing on try hack me, hack the box, watching videos to learn programming language, doing more research, and reading so as not to lose value in the process of looking and hoping to landing on IT job role, documenting her progress, every small win,every confusion, on every platform available.

She finally landed on IT support role, more like an internship role to keep on building herself for the future.

She explored AI tools, understanding how they could support her growth in cybersecurity because the field was evolving, and she refused to be left behind.

She had to cut down expenses, ate less and spent less on herself, and saved relentlessly.

Eventually, she afforded her certification.

She landed a job role not immediately but she did.
By then, she had finished university and entered her internship phase in Pharmacy.

And somehow she managed both worlds; Pharmacy and Cybersecurity.

She combined the both job roles and did not really find it stressful as she had so much passion for the both lines of duties.

For Cyber Security the protecting data, to securing network and the protecting devices

For pharmacy the interaction with new clients and giving them drugs to feel better, most of them return to render praises which warms her soul, she really love the feeling and loved to see or clients health again.

Both job had different paths but same purpose helping to help people which she loves doing .

Even though this This road less traveled." And people found her crazy for combining no conflicting skills, she looked back to her overwhelming sad days and was grateful she took this path regardless.