Against All Odds: Nigerian Mother Earns Master’s Degree While Balancing Work, Family, and Grief

Despite the challenges of motherhood, marriage, cultural adaptation, and personal loss, Nigerian mother Sandra Onah earned a Master’s degree in Accounting and Finance from Ithaca University, proving that resilience and support can overcome any obstacle.

Sandra Onah, a resilient Nigerian mother, has successfully earned a Master of Science degree in Accounting and Finance from Ithaca University in New York, USA, while navigating the immense challenges of motherhood, marriage, cultural adjustment, and personal loss.

Sandra shared on LinkedIn that her academic journey was anything but easy. As an international student, she had to adapt to a new education system, overcome language and cultural barriers, and manage without childcare in the beginning—relying on friends until she could afford part-time support. She described the experience as a test of her resilience and resolve, especially after losing her father during her studies.

“This degree is more than just a certificate—it’s a symbol of perseverance, sacrifice, and the love of everyone who supported me,” she wrote.

Throughout her time at university, Sandra balanced multiple demanding roles—student, employee, wife, and most importantly, mother. She credited her husband for standing by her through sleepless nights and emotional lows, even as he pursued his own graduate studies. The smile of her daughter, Kamsi, and a professor’s reminder that “your child is watching and learning from you” kept her going when she felt overwhelmed.

Sandra’s journey also included the emotional weight of grief, having recently lost her father. She said his memory gave her the strength to keep moving forward.

In her message to other women, especially mothers and international students, she emphasized:

“No dream is too big, and no obstacle is too great. Embrace your journey, trust your support system, and never stop believing in yourself.”

Sandra now looks to the future with excitement, inspired to continue building a life filled with possibility and purpose.

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SOURCES: ALLSCHOOL, SCHOLARSHIP REGION