A Year's Journey 1

A birthday for me is a time to reflect on the last year, ask myself what my goals were, whether or not I achieved them and set a new benchmark for the next 365 days to come. I thank the Almighty God for His mercies and the strength He gave me to see through this last one as I must say it was by far the most challenging one yet. This throwback into the last year aims to encourage and give hope to anyone presently passing through a tough time to never give up but stay focused, the night is truly darkest just before dawn.

The story of the last one year is a story of a Nigerian trained Medical Doctor's path to becoming certified to practice Medicine in the United Kingdom. It is also a story about life 'in the abroad' as my fellow Nigerians would say. This journey had its ups and downs, sharp turns, 'one way streets' and road blocks as one would expect and for my fellow foreign trained Doctors looking to come to the UK I hope it will give you some extra insight.

Leaving Nigeria to go anywhere else was always a pleasant and exciting experience for me in the past, I would always get fully sponsored by my father and it was usually for holidays so when I was called in for a discussion about my proposed relocation to the UK that faithful Sunday morning I had no clue I was in for a shocker. I was expecting the usual 'okay all your expenses have been fully arranged when do you plan to move? 'Instead I received a long,detailed lecture by my Dad explaining to me that since I had completed Medical school now and NYSC I would be left completely on my own to push on with no support whatsoever. So he handed me the last money he would ever give to me (£450) and gave me his blessings.

This does seem fair but one must acknowledge the fact that I had only just completed a year of NYSC(earning almost no income in that period) and the whole relocation process including certification exam costs and other logistics  are all quite expensive, where was I to get the funds from? Although it was a very bitter pill to swallow at the time, today I have very deep admiration and respect for my father for making that decision, I truly learnt a lot from the entire experience.

So I set off, left Nigeria within a week of that time and arrived in the UK with almost nothing in terms of cash at hand. I needed to get a job and quick as I wasn't intending on staying at my relatives' place forever. I took the very first offer I got but it took a lot from me as I was greatly underemployed, I literally went from a young charismatic medical doctor to 'flexible employee' in days! the first few days doing the job were the hardest as I constantly wondered to myself how a fully trained Medical Doctor from a well to do home found himself here doing this! it was quite traumatising mentally but I somehow dug up strength from deep down to push on... Lesson one: No matter  who you are or what you've achieved things can change in an instant, Everyone falls at one point or another its always getting back up that truly matters.


to be continued....