Joy Adesina, the 24 years old woman, won the Ogun State government scholarship, a house, and a N5m for becoming the best medical graduate of Obafemi Awolowo University in Osun State Ile-Ife in the 2018/2019 school year.
In this interview with Punch newspaper, Adesina said that her achievements did not come out of thin air.
You have recently been awarded a house, a gift of N5m, and a scholarship for further studies by the Ogun State Government. Is this what you are looking forward to?
I did not expect to receive a gift. This is a surprise. I received a call from His Excellency Prince Dapo Abiodun. He congratulated me on the phone and told me that I would be invited to my hometown of Ogun to receive the honor.
When the governor announced the award at the reception held for you, can you accurately describe your feelings?
I am speechless! I didn’t expect it at all. This is an emotional roller coaster, mixed with shock and excitement.
Someone saw your mother shed tears. What do you think she has in her head?
It must be tears of joy. She was in awe. I’m sure she is thinking about all the trials I have gone through in the past few years, and how God allowed me to win.
What kind of test have you experienced?
I encountered a gun battle during an armed robbery, and in the same week, I was involved in a terrible car accident.
There are several reports on the internet about the awards and honors you received at the university. Can you clarify?
I finally won 9 awards and 10 honors, but if calculated by level, there are 13 honors: 200 level, I got excellent results in anatomy, biochemistry, and physiology; 300 level: in anatomy, biology Excellent results in chemistry and physiology; Class 400: Excellent in pharmacology; Class 500: Winners in obstetrics and gynecology, pediatrics and child health, dermatology and mental health; Class 600: Outstanding achievements in surgery and community health.
Is this part of the academic goals you set for yourself on your first day at the OAU?
No, it’s not. My first year in school was struggling. However, when I started to see my second-year results, I was encouraged, so I continued to do my best to surpass with God’s help.
Did people around you think you were aiming too high?
Yes, a lot of people did think that. It wasn’t as though I was even aiming too high; I had just got to a point where I couldn’t afford to just settle for less.
What were the other things people said to discourage you?
Hmmn, this question is deep. I got a lot of back-stabbing; people accused me of sleeping with lecturers to get questions. They didn’t even know that I was dealing with sexual harassment at that time, so it was a lot to take in. Some even went as far as saying that my uncle had the college in his pockets. Some couldn’t even stand a lady leading the class. There were so many other things people said, but in all, I learnt that the only way to shut people up was to be consistent in all that I do and that was what I did by the grace of God.
As a medical student, what do you have to give up to stay focused?
Well, I won’t say that I missed anything in particular. I just plan my time and live a balanced life. I prioritized a lot and allocated my time accordingly.
As a medical student, what is your study plan?
I attended lectures and clinical meetings from 8 am to 4 pm or 5 pm. However, it differs depending on where I work. When I come back, I eat and rest until around 7 pm, and then I study until 9 pm. My bedtime is 9 pm to 2 am; then I study from 2 am to 6 am. I have quiet time and prepare to go to school between 6 am and 7:45 am. However, during the exam, I will sleep from 9 pm to 12 am to free up more time for study. I allocated time for each course and did not put too much on my plate as I can handle.
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