CLARITY OF PERSPECTIVE

Each year, as thousands of dreamy-eyed students attempt to grab a seat in their favourite university, it feels more like the fierce battle of a royal rumble than a simple admission process. After two failed UTME attempts, you'd think my spirits would be low. But no, I was on my third and determined. It wasn't that I lacked the smarts; it was just that I always aimed for the star institutions, the crème de la crème. However, this year, I went rogue. Instead of the Ivy-league-esque spots, I pitched my tent with a university that promised the perfect mix of zen and zest.

But here's the twist: This wasn’t just about university selection. It was a deeper dive into understanding our chaotic, diverse society. The class disparities, the age-old tussles between rich and poor, and the often-masked lives of the so-called "middle class". For instance, my father, a hard-working man with a reputable job, was classified as middle class. But behind closed doors, I watched him juggle numbers and penny-pinch, all to keep up an image.

So, when I envisioned my future, it wasn't in a fancy office chair. I wanted more. I aimed to rewrite societal norms. That drive only grew stronger when I heard hushed tales of young go-getters mysteriously turning millionaires overnight. And then there was my uncle, freshly returned from the UK, who cheekily whispered, "Whatever you do, lad, just don’t get caught." It sounded like a line from a gangster movie, but it was rooted in an unsettling reality.

Delving deeper, I began to categorize our societal actors:

1. The Rich Moguls: Those with overflowing coffers, no matter the means of acquisition, fiercely guarding their vaults.
2. The Underdogs: A blend of fate and complacency, always quick to blame, but rarely acting to shift the scales.
3. The Trailblazers: The restless ones, challenging norms, always pushing the envelope, hungry to rewrite their destinies.

I'd say I'm brewing a storm as a Trailblazer. While I've waded through stacks of "get-rich-quick" books, most just felt like tales spun around campfires. But my quest is far from over. Stay tuned, because my journey is set to take a wild turn!