My Life Was Filled With Shame and Disappointment as I Struggled Through Education Without Support, Faced Delays and Setbacks That Left Me Behind My Age Mates, and Watched Classmates Graduate, Get Jobs, and Move Forward While I Remained Stuck
From a young age, I believed education was my only way out of hardship. I held onto that belief tightly, even when everything around me suggested otherwise. I came from a background where support was limited—financially, emotionally, and socially. While others had parents guiding them, paying fees on time, and encouraging them, I walked my journey alone. Every school term began with uncertainty, and every exam period came with fear that I might not even be allowed to sit in class.
Delays became a painful part of my life. I repeated academic years not because I was incapable, but because circumstances kept pushing me back. School fees were unpaid, deadlines were missed, and opportunities slipped away. Watching my age mates progress while I remained stuck broke my spirit slowly. Each delay felt like a public announcement of my failure, even though I was trying my best.
The hardest moments were when classmates graduated. I attended some graduation ceremonies with forced smiles, clapping while my heart ached. People I once studied with wore gowns, received certificates, and posted job announcements online. Meanwhile, I was still struggling to complete basic requirements. Some stopped calling me altogether, while others spoke to me with subtle pity. I avoided questions about my education because I had no answers that wouldn’t embarrass me.
My confidence disappeared completely. I felt like life had skipped me. At family gatherings, younger relatives overtook me academically and professionally. I was labeled “still studying” year after year. The shame was heavy, and disappointment became my daily companion. I began to believe I was cursed or simply unlucky. There were nights I cried quietly, wondering if I would ever catch up or if my life was permanently delayed.
