Esther Ogunmesin, a young Nigerian woman, has graduated from Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) with a first-class degree in Animal Sciences, despite initially aiming for Medicine at the University of Ibadan (UI). She shared her academic journey on LinkedIn, revealing the mistake she made during her first post-UTME at UI in 2017.
Early Academic Plans and the UI Post-UTME
Ogunmesin's WAEC result was excellent on her first attempt, requiring no retake. In 2017, she took her first post-UTME at the University of Ibadan, intending to study Medicine. However, based on advice, she changed her course to Food Science and Technology. After the exam, she realized her JAMB subject combination did not match the new course. That same year, she gained admission into the Pre-Degree programme at OAU, where she was later posted to study Animal Sciences.
Struggle for Medicine and Acceptance
Upon arriving at OAU, Ogunmesin's goal remained to study Medicine. She continued writing JAMB and trying to pivot until her 200-level year in 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, when she finally accepted her reality and embraced her current path. She stated, 'Accepting it was one thing; mastering it was another.' The journey was filled with challenges, including an 'E' grade in a 100-level Physics course. After calculating her CGPA, she realized she needed to exert extra effort.
Turning Point and First-Class Determination
Ogunmesin recalled a motivating statement: 'If I don't get Medicine, I have to at least be able to prove that I am academically sound by graduating with a First Class.' By 300-level, she experimented with different study methods until finding a strategy that worked. Her progress was gradual but consistent; she ensured each semester's CGPA moved closer to her goal. In 500-level, she achieved a 5.0 GPA (all A's) in her first semester, proving that the right strategy and discipline could turn her story around.
OAU's Lesson and Gratitude
Reflecting on her journey, Ogunmesin said, 'Looking back, OAU taught me that you don't have to start perfectly to finish well. It's all about adjusting, learning, staying committed, and simply refusing to give up.' She expressed gratitude for completing her Bachelor's degree with First Class Honors in Animal Sciences at OAU.
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In a similar story, UNILAG's best graduating student shared how he was rejected by the University of Ibadan. Another graduate staged a one-man protest over unemployment. Additionally, LASU's best graduating student opened up about her admission experience in an interview with Legit.ng.
