Chase Your Bag In Peace.

So I've been thinking about this lately and it's been kind of weird trying to put it into words because of how controversial it is.

You know what’s crazy? How the pressure to shrink yourself can sneak in so casually, even when you think you’re doing everything right. One thing I’ve come to notice, especially in this med school journey, is how easy it is to start second-guessing your own pace just because of what everyone else seems to be doing or not doing.

Like I remember when I was in 200 level, it felt like almost everybody around me was on ghost mode. Ghost on WhatsApp, ghost on Instagram, ghost on everything. Except Snapchat though, somehow, that one gets a pass. And me being myself ,I was always active on WhatsApp, posting my designs, my writings, my services, even landing clients from there. I mean, I was actually doing well. School was going fine, business was moving, passion was alive. But guess what? I still felt somehow. One day, a classmate even told me, “With the way you’re always posting, how will you pass your exams like this?”

Tough girl but that thing entered me in a weird way. Because it wasn’t like I was posting club pictures or memes or anything wild. I was literally posting my business.

But gradually, I started letting that kind of talk get to me. I started feeling like maybe I was being too loud. Maybe I was unserious. So, I told myself, let me take a break. I even had the perfect excuse ,“I’m preparing for exams.” But after the exams, I realized I had lost that fire. Coming back online and picking up where I left off felt hard. Like really hard.

That’s when I knew… you really can’t live your life based on people’s opinions. Because truth is, if you stay consistent and build something for yourself, they’ll still talk. And if you go broke trying to please them? They’ll still talk. So at the end of the day, choose your own noise. Stay consistent with what you love, strike your own balance, and just block out the background static. Especially if you're not a trustfund baby and you don't have Dangote’s next of kin waiting for you to whoop you off to some island to marry you after school.

Now let me just chip this one in , you see all those things people say about “if it’s money you’re looking for, don’t study medicine”? Yeah, it sounds like a joke, but low-key, it’s not. If you don’t have your parents blooming private practice waiting for you, and you know you don’t want to live that “average consultant” life that’s become too common in this country, then while you’re still a student, that’s actually the best time to start taking your skills seriously.

It could be anything. Tech, baking, sewing, content creation, dropshipping, social media management, storytelling, whatever. Just start. You don’t need to wait till you graduate. Because if you don’t start now, when exactly do you want to?

And please, let’s be honest. In this medicine, just know what you’re doing and what you want. If it’s distinction you’re chasing, know that it doesn’t come cheap. You’ll have to sacrifice a lot. But me, personally? I’ve made peace with the fact that maybe distinction isn’t even my goal. If it comes, glory be to God. But if it doesn’t, I want to graduate with good grades and financial stability. Because I can’t go through all these shege banza on top my own millions to study medicine and end up earning peanuts from civil service.

The expectations post-graduation are wild. As in, the moment you collect that degree, society starts pressing new buttons. “You’re now a doctor.” “You’re on your own.” “Reduce how much you depend on your parents.” And it gets realer when you realize that the housemanship year ,the one we hype ,pays between ₦150k and ₦300k. Yes, it’s money, but by then, your bills too would have upgraded. Rent, skincare, transport, responsibilities, helping at home. Especially of you're one expensive person.Then NYSC hits you with ₦77k monthly. Some even less,maybe?

Imagine going from ₦250k to ₦77k. No extra source of income. No savings plan. No brand. Just vibes. Please tell me how that math adds up.🌚

That’s why I tell myself every day , before that time comes,bi idhniLlah, my brand must be stable. My business must be running. Housemanship and NYSC must be the side hustle. Not the main deal. That way, I can get home, drop my bag, and still work on projects that pay me. I won’t be counting days to salary alert like it’s December bonus.

And let’s also be real. If distinction is your thing, you can go all out for it. Distinctions can open doors to grants, international scholarships, sponsorships, and big opportunities. Some people will never have to worry about money because of the doors distinction unlocked. And that’s beautiful too.

But at the end of the day, the keyword is clarity. Know what you want. Know what you're willing to give up. And know what path works for you. Because everyone’s story is different. Just make sure that when your own story is being written, you’re the one holding the pen.

So whether you're building your hustle or chasing your grades or trying to find your balance, just do you. And do it well.

Na who give up lose, abeg. After all people will always have opinions.

Anyway, before I sign out, let me shamelessly shoot my shot a little,because this soft life won’t fund itself.

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Also, I’m not just about visuals,I work magic with words too ,to which you can testify. (sorry for the pomposity 😂🫠)

I offer writing services that include ghostwriting (yes, I can help you sound smarter online), content writing for blogs, websites, and newsletters, social media captions, article writing, and even academic editing if your final-year project needs polishing. I understand tone, voice, structure, and how to get your message across in a way that clicks with your audience.

So, yeah, if you ever need design or writing that actually works, just send a message. Let’s build your brand,or your next big idea,together.

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