For Those Who Still Feel Inferior
A letter to those eager to end the year.
2024 was—and still is—a rollercoaster. But that’s not what this piece is about. This is a letter to the overachievers: The ones who set goals at the start of the year and met most of them. The ones who didn’t meet said goals. The ones who lost friends, gained friends, missed loved ones, and cried on several occasions. The ones who are reading this piece even now. How are you doing?
I might not speak for everyone, but I’m definitely not the only one who noticed the past couple of months have been very eventful. In APSUL, we moved a class up, and that came with a lot of ups and downs.
For those of us in our final year now, we get to run one last lap before calling it a day. For those in 300, a wise man once said, “shit just got real.” And for 200-level students, finding your footing is probably not as easy as you thought it'd be. But, in all, we’re here, and there’s no turning back now.
So, in the spirit of new beginnings, year-endings, and reminiscings, here are some things you should consider as 2024 comes to a close.
For the Academics - The Road’s Tough, But You’re Tougher
You’ve put a lot into school this year, and it might or might not have paid off as much as you wanted. The good news is you’re actually doing amazing, even though you can’t tell. For starters, you’re in the College of Medicine at Unilag—one of the most challenging places to be.
Come rain, come sun, come two weeks without light in the middle of the semester, you’ve read books, you’ve crammed drug names, you’ve written exams, and it’s led you here: To where you are right now. Take a moment to appreciate that and appreciate yourself too.
For the Entrepreneurs - The Multitasking Gurus
I have this friend who’s really shed light on what entrepreneurship as a student means. Basically, it means that no exam, incourse, or class should stop your business, and no business should stop your exams, incourses, or classes.
In 2024, I was privileged to know some pretty amazing people who were juggling full-on businesses with school. Fighting between bagging customers and bagging A’s. I’ve watched these strong people break down from time to time, but I’ve also watched them stand up and go at it better the second—or fourth—time. So, if you’re in this category, take a step back, look at your work, and be proud of yourself because you’re doing so well, and you have to acknowledge that.
For the Freelancers and Half Employed - The Ones In-Between
One would think freelancing would be easier since you get to “Choose your working hours.” well, I’m here to tell you that it definitely isn’t. But these amazing people are doing it every day. And I’m not just referring to the remote workers, im talking about models, ushers, artists, creatives, and anyone who’s working on multiple projects but doesn’t have the title of businessperson.
Whether you put out two or 200 of your works this year, I hope you’re proud of your work and happy with it too. And if you’re a freelancer who is juggling too much work or trying to find jobs, take this time to pause and recalibrate. 2024 is coming to an end, but it doesn’t mean your career will end with it.
For Those Who Still Feel Inferior
From entrepreneurs, to academics, to freelancers, and everyone in between, inferiority complex isn’t a new concept. It might not be a problem for you, but at one point or the other, especially in this turbulent year, I’m sure there’s been a low point or two.
Let this be your comfort, that the lows are acknowledged, understood, and leaned from. That rather than see them as reasons to give up, you deem them starting points. And the thing about starting points is that you can have several of them: It’s your life, after all.
So, even if you just learned that you can’t swap courses in 200 level just like that, or if the reality of life outside school is getting to you, don’t panic. This is your starting point, and you have the liberty to do whatever you want with it.
In The Lab
As 2024 comes to a close, APSoUL will be rounding up the year in style, and we’d love for you to join us! So, if you haven’t yet, subscribe to get these letters delivered straight to your inbox.
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