Doubt and procrastination took the dream away.
The lack of knowledge will cause you to miss so many opportunities, and until you humble yourself and decide to learn and follow people who know more than you do, you will continue to miss out on life changing opportunities. Experience is not the best teacher; it leaves you scarred, it leaves you in regret and wishing you did the other thing instead of what you did, and it leaves you wishing you could turn the hands of time so you can act right and make the right choice. We have all made wrong choices and wish for a second chance, and it's funny how we got none.
When I gained admission to college, I was opportuned to meet a lot of great people. The knowledge some people had at the time left me in awe. Sometimes when they talk, I ask myself questions like, "I thought we were all learning how to live life; how do you know all of these?" I also met Albert and two other guys, but I was closer with Albert than the other guys, but they were all into the same thing. When we first moved into the hostel, they were always on their phones and laptops, clicking on links and filling them up with their personal details. I watched from afar until I could not hold back, and I decided to ask what exactly the clicking of links was all about.
"Hey bro, what is this link you guys are always clicking on all about? Is filling up your personal details online like that not risky?" I asked Albert.
"Ohhh, this links, I have a group where scholarship links are sent to. You can fill out your personal details, and if you meet the requirements, you can be offered a fully funded scholarship to study abroad." Albert responded.
Where I come from, you are always given a physical form to fill out for you to be offered a scholarship. I did not know you can actually fill out the same forms online, and I have heard a lot about scams online too, and I fear putting my details online like that, but these guys did not mind at all.
"Bro, is that not a scam? How does filling out forms online get you a scholarship? Don't you think you are exposing yourself to danger by disclosing your details to a site you don't even know who is behind it?" I asked to discourage Albert.
"No doubt that there are scams, but I have a sure plug, and some of my friends from home are studying abroad today because they kept filling out forms online, and I have a strong belief that one day I too will go abroad to study." Albert responded.
"Hehehe." I laughed at him. "Just don't get scammed, and no one should steal your personal information and try to use it to scam me ooo." I warned
Despite what I said, it felt like it served as motivation to keep going instead of discouragement; they started filling and submitting their personal details to multiple online platforms in a single day. They used to do just one or two, but after what I said, it increased to four or five a day.
"Kachi, join us. Studying in Nigeria from start to finish can be traumatizing." One of Albert's friends advised me.
I felt like it was a scam since all the people I know who got a scholarship were actually given a paper form; they had a location where they went to even write an exam, and only those with good scores were given scholarships. I did not know technology had advanced to the point where you can fill out and even write exams online. They kept trying to persuade me, but I was not humble enough to learn until it was too late.
"I sent you a scholarship link on WhatsApp; try to fill that one out. I have a good feeling about it." Albert said to me he did not even wait for me to leave the bed.
The way they took it seriously was starting to get me convinced, but then I still had my doubts. I kept procrastinating about when to fill it; I was slow to take action, and I missed the boat. To date, I regret it and wish for a second chance, but since then I have gotten none at all.
"Hey Kachi, hope you have submitted your application using that link I sent you." Albert asked me, smiling sheepishly, as he could not hold back his excitement and joy.
"No, bro, not yet, but why are you smiling like someone in love?" I asked him with a look on my face.
"That link I sent you offered everyone that filled out and submitted a fully funded scholarship in Canada; they will sponsor everything, bro. All we need to do on our part is to have a certain amount of money in our bank account, and we are good to go." Albert said as he jumped on the bed and moved his legs and hands like someone swimming out of excitement.
Immediately I picked up my phone to see if I stood a chance, but it was at that moment I realized that I had missed the boat; my disbelief in getting a scholarship online and procrastination cost me everything.
Good one from that perspective. Missing the boat is not losing your life. Opportunities may be lost for the present time, but it is not forever. An interesting one.
You had to endure a very bitter disappointment. These situations teach us lessons for the future.
Thanks for sharing your experience with us.
Good day.
What happened is sad. But no one can blame you for being cautions about sharing your personal details like that. I mean, who fills four different forms a day all in the name of scholarship, even I would have thought it scam. But it doesn't change the fact that you missed such an opportunity. That doesn't mean that all hop is lost. One opportunity lost is never the end