August 2024: What’s next after school?

6 min readSep 1, 2024

It’s been a month since I graduated and submitted my final project, and now I’m standing at a point where I’m asking myself, “What’s next?” I’ve always been the type of person who likes to have a plan. Back in my third year, I started thinking about life after school, trying to map out what my future might look like. Plans don’t always go perfectly, but they kind of give me a sense of control.

Now that school is officially behind me, it feels surreal. No more classes, assignments, group projects, or exams — the routine I’ve known for so long is gone. It’s exciting, but also a little scary. I’ve been looking forward to this moment for a long time, but now that it’s here, I’m left wondering, “So what now?”

We all talk about life after school, but it’s one of those things that feels distant until it’s right in front of you. In school, there’s a pattern — you know what’s expected, semester by semester, exam by exam, and even if it’s stressful, it’s familiar. But now, everything feels wide open, and that can be both liberating and overwhelming. The predictability of student life is gone, and suddenly, every decision feels like it carries so much weight. It’s like being thrown into the real world—oh, wait! That’s exactly what it is.

The transition from student life to whatever comes next has actually been more challenging than I expected. On one hand, there’s the freedom to choose my own path, but on the other, there’s the reality that I don’t know exactly what that path should be. It’s easy to feel like I should have everything figured out already, but I’m starting to realize that’s not how life works. Relax, Esther, Life after school is a journey in itself.

I am reminding myself that it’s okay not to have all the answers immediately. The important thing is to keep moving forward, even if the steps are small. This is a time to embrace uncertainty; even though it might be challenging, I am trying to take time to explore, to try new things, and to figure out who I am outside of the four walls of academia. The uncertainty is scary, but it’s also where growth happens.

Life after school is where your real story begins—no more syllabus, just a blank page ready for you to fill with whatever comes next.

After finishing my final exam on July 23rd, I didn’t waste any time. By the next day, my CV was polished and ready to go. I was too eager to just sit around, so I started sending out cold emails to companies I had carefully researched before my exams. I knew exactly the kind of company I wanted to work for, and I even said a few prayers, hoping the process would go smoothly. But I was disappointed, lol; most of the companies didn’t even respond. It was hard not to feel a bit discouraged, but I kept reaching out to more companies because, honestly, I know my worth—I'm a hot cake and a huge asset o!

Out of all the companies I reached out to, only one got back to me. I ended up landing the job, and it wasn’t just by chance — one of my friends really came through for me. I’m so grateful for her; I truly believe she was the key that opened this door for me.

Leaving Ile-Ife in August was an emotional experience. The night before I left, I had this strange mix of excitement and anxiety. Lagos is a whole different place, and I wasn’t sure if I was ready for it. I kept asking myself if I had a good reason to go so early. Maybe I should just stay back and wait a bit? But deep down, I knew I had to take that step; my feelings aren’t valid this time.

As I packed my bags, my memories as a student came flooding back—the first day I stepped my feet in Ile-Ife, the overnight readings, the times I spent with friends, and the comfort of my bed, where I had spent countless nights dreaming, planning, and even crying. Saying goodbye was harder than I expected. I knew I’d miss my friends, who had been with me through thick and thin, and even my bed, where I had found comfort and solace.

But as much as I was leaving behind, I knew I was stepping into something new. Lagos, with all its chaos, was waiting for me. It’s a city full of opportunities, but it’s also overwhelming. I wasn’t sure what to expect, and I kept wondering, “Am I really ready for this? What if I can’t handle Lagos?” But deep down, I knew I couldn’t stay back. So, I said to myself, “Lagos, here I come.”

I’ve only been in Lagos for a week, and honestly, I’m already thinking about running away. Guys, I was out here speaking English with drivers and conductors—can you imagine? It’s wild to think I actually grew up in Lagos because why am I doing like JJC? Every time I step out, I am always asking people for directions, like I’ve never been to Lagos before.

And to top it all off, today, the 31st of August, I was almost robbed. If you’re reading this, please, I’m begging you—DO NOT come to Lagos. I am a soft girl, and I deserve better.

August wasn’t just about the move to Lagos. I also met Kosemani for the first time—we had gotten so close that we often forgot we hadn’t met before. Meeting her was such a highlight, and we’re already planning to hang out again soon, and I can’t wait (even though I am waiting).

And then, out of nowhere, I had three speaking engagements this month! I’m still trying to wrap my head around it—three times, people saw something in me worth sharing and invited me to speak about it. I almost never saw this happening, knowing that others see value in what I have to say. This year was the first time I ever tried public speaking, and now I’ve done it eight times! I’m definitely adding “public speaker” to my bio ASAP. So, if you’re looking for someone to speak, invite me—I have so much value to share 🤭. Let’s start doing paid engagements now 🥹.