THE JOURNEY OF GROWTH

She first took a cursory glance at the image in the mirror and stopped. She then began to stare and realised what she had never taken cognizance of – the woman she had become. Medicine University of Ibadan

His words earlier ran swiftly across her mind. He could not have said any truer words and she realised that now. ‘I do not recognise the woman you have become’, he had said, hitting the nail squarely on the head!

They had seen each other three years prior, something intense brewing between them. Unfortunately, they were about to be separated by distance and career choices. And when they saw each other once again tonight, it was clear that they were different people. She had changed. She had grown.

‘What had happened in a span of three years?’ he thought. There was a simple yet profound answer. It was her journey through medical school so far. It was her journey of growth.

She had grown stronger. So many times, medical school would deal her one of its many blows through ridiculous amounts of work, test scores and the MB exam itself. Without a doubt, there were moments of fear, doubt and regret, but these eventually contributed to building a stronger woman. Three years ago, she would cry at the slightest failure, but now, she realised that failure is really when you refuse to fight back.

She had learnt. There usually was no time for extracurricular activities or time for building other strengths. Her academics were the one and undoubtedly the only. That certainly was not the case three years later. Being part of things bigger than her gave fulfilment like nothing else. Getting into the press and eventually politics was fuelled by this feeling. She would never again be just an onlooker in the crowd.

She had built relationships. When she looked back at the friendships and relationships from three years prior, she wondered how they had come about. She did not even know who she was then! It was no wonder she made poor choices in friends. Her myopic view about people was something she took with her into medical school but she certainly would not be leaving with it. She had come to realise that everyone was special!

She had come to understand God’s Love and purpose. Understanding God’s Word had enlightened her beyond her imaginations. She had immensely grown from the girl who believed because her parents did, to the woman who believed because she knew. And every time medical school generated fear, doubt or weakness, she was well equipped to fight.

The journey was surely not over yet but she liked how far she had come and where she would be after medical school. She was grateful for the lessons and growth. Considering she was reluctant concerning studying Medicine at the University of Ibadan three years prior, it is ironic that there currently is no place she rather would be!

Written by Nwagbara Jaachi, a three hundred level medical student at the University of Ibadan.