Interest Shifts

Isn’t it fascinating how our interests can shift from one field to another over time? One moment, you might be captivated by fashion; the next, you’re pondering the mysteries of space and the origins of the universe. Your curiosity can span human biology, physiology, and suddenly, art. Often, you’re interested in so many things that you have to choose a few to focus on.

For example, as I grew older, my interests constantly shifted. In primary school, I wanted to be a lawyer. I didn’t have a solid reason—it was just childishness and the belief that being a lawyer was super cool, which it is. In junior secondary school, my aspirations changed to becoming a newscaster because I admired how they composed themselves on TV, looking up and down and presenting the news so well.

When I reached senior secondary school, my dad gave me the book “Gifted Hands” by Dr. Ben Carson. Inspired by his story, I decided I wanted to become a doctor to help people just like he did. However, the Nigerian education system disrupted my plans. I took the JAMB exams three times consecutively but didn’t get into the medicine program. Instead, I was offered a spot in agriculture.

In Nigeria, if your preferred course is full, universities will offer you another course, related or not. You can accept or reject the offer. I accepted it because I didn’t want to stay home while my friends were already in university. In my first year, I discovered I liked physics, a subject I had always enjoyed but hadn’t fully realized. My obsession with studying medicine had blinded me to my strengths in other areas. Despite this realization, I continued to pursue medicine, taking the JAMB exam a third time. I passed but still didn’t get the course I wanted.

I considered trying again in my second year, which would have been my fourth attempt, but my parents discouraged me. They thought I was wasting time and getting older. I was only 18 or 19 at the time, but I eventually gave up. If my parents had been wealthy, I might have been able to attend a private school or study abroad to study medicine (it is way less stressful), but that wasn’t an option.

The reality of not being able to become a doctor was hard to accept. I was depressed, skipped classes, and hated everything. But eventually, I found a new interest in tech, even though I had no idea how to get started.

Long story short, I learned web design and development. I could use no-code platforms to design various websites and learned HTML, CSS, and JavaScript for front-end development. I also picked up email marketing and other simple tech skills to earn money. Freelancing became a good distraction and a source of income, allowing me to stop relying on allowances from home.

Now, my interests are shifting towards science, space, math, and physics—fields that are intriguing and challenging. I want to make discoveries, invent new things, improve existing ones, and learn for the fun of it. My interest in tech remains, but I think exploring science and its discoveries will be much more enjoyable.

Financial independence is also crucial to me. I’ve started this journey and want to continue it, making more money along the way. If I were a trust fund kid or my dad was the richest man in the world, I would pursue my curiosity purely for fun, without the need to hustle. I’d create companies for fun, live out my fantasies, give to charities, and organize events.

I’ll stop writing for now and continue later. (Winks)