What’s a time you followed your gut and it turned out to be exactly right?

I will continue to work hard—not because I think exhaustion is noble, but because I remember what it felt like to pray for the opportunity I have today.

People often wonder why I work so hard. The answer isn’t as complex as it might seem. So I always want to work hard whenever I get the opportunity.

For a long time, I prayed for the opportunities I have today. Then I remember my friends getting scholarships to the UK, Sweden, and other countries. I prayed for doors to further education to open because I knew I had something I wanted to share with the world. I prayed that people and institutions would believe in me and give me a chance. I prayed for the opportunity to learn, grow, and contribute something meaningful to the world. Those prayers were not just vague wishes. They came from years of knowing what I can do, but shadowed by uncertainty, setbacks, and hope that one day I would get a fair shot.

When the opportunity through the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program finally came, I realized something important: prayer was only part of the journey. The other part was mine. I seized it with both hands and decided to make something meaningful out of it. Being a Mastercard Scholar led to other wonderful things, including developing my leadership and networking skills, volunteering, creativity, building confidence, and ultimately, discovering myself. 

I often see things this way: when I pray for opportunities, once they arrive, my job is to work hard, handle them well, and make the most of them. My role is to show up, prepare, learn, put in effort, and give my best. To honor the gift by using it fully. To push my imagination beyond its limits. That’s the main reason—keeping my end of the bargain. Is it not said that ‘To whom much is given, much is expected’?

Hard work represents gratitude. There’s another reason I put in effort — I want to break the cycle of poverty. For me, poverty isn’t just about money; it’s about limited choices. It’s about seeing talent go unnoticed because opportunity never appears. It’s about generations carrying burdens they didn’t create because they live in a dysfunctional society. Talents in Nigeria often go unseen and are sometimes wasted because of poor governance. I wonder why many youth turn to crime just to get by. Imagine if young people had opportunities to use their creativity to thrive and help the Nigerian economy. Just imagine. I’m also grateful that I didn’t become part of the statistic of Nigerian youth who had no choice but to live in places where good governance and opportunities are rare. I hope we get it right before it’s too late.

Back to my story, I cannot change where I started, but I can influence where it goes from now on. Every paper I write, every project I build, every class I teach, every language I help preserve, and every hour I invest in bettering myself is part of that bigger goal. Hard work isn’t about proving my worth to the world. It’s about creating opportunities that didn’t exist before—for myself, my family, my community, Nigeria, Africa, the world, and hopefully for others who will come after me.

That said, I don’t believe that hard work equals self-sacrifice. There’s a dangerous idea that success only belongs to those who constantly push themselves to the limit. I’ve learned that this is neither healthy nor sustainable.

So I rest, sleep, and spend time with friends. I take walks and read books unrelated to my research. I write from my imagination. Sometimes I sit quietly to enjoy the beauty of the day. I also believe in treating myself—a good meal, a look in the mirror to tell myself I look great, a thoughtfully chosen book, a beautiful view, ice cream or chocolates—when my body demands it, a small gift, or a travel experience that brings joy. These aren’t distractions from hard work; they remind me that life is meant to be lived, not just endured.

Rest is not laziness. Joy is not irresponsibility. Self-care is not a reward reserved for the finish line; it is fuel for the journey. Maybe that’s the balance I keep trying to find: working with discipline while living with hope, faith, gratitude, and chasing ambitious dreams, not forgetting to notice beautiful moments, and not building a future without appreciating the present.

I will continue to work hard—not because I believe exhaustion is admirable, but because I remember what it felt like to pray for the opportunity I have now. And since it is here, I plan to do my part of the bargain. Good night.