I thought 2024 was my year
But I was wrong. Will 2025 be different?
*brace yourselves kidssss. This letter will be long but that’s just because it’s my first one and it’s a detailed review of the previous year.
I still remember the moment vividly: it was February, and I was sitting in my room with my Company law materials scattered everywhere. I had just come back from a faculty event where people told me how much my work inspired them. Yet, I sat there feeling like I was failing at everything. My grades felt shaky, my health was deteriorating, and the weight of graduating with a first-class was crushing me. I had plans, BIG PLANS but life, as it often does, had its own way of humbling me.
2024 was the year I learned to show up for myself. It wasn’t perfect, and it wasn’t always pretty, but it was the year I embraced the highs and lows, the wins and losses, and found joy in small, unexpected places. I’m going to divide the year into three quarters because that’s how it felt to live it: seasons of growth, struggle, and rediscovery.
So, if you’ve ever felt stuck, overwhelmed, or like you’re not quite where you thought you’d be, this is for you. Here’s my story of navigating 2024, the wins, the losses, and the lessons I’m taking with me into the new year.
Q1: Burnout, Ill Health and Schoolwork
The year started with so much zeal. I had big plans, to be consistent from the very beginning, create content that would guide others in their professional journey, and document my final year in school. My goal was to share my final year journey and create a community that was interested in my last days in school. Everybody loves a good story, everyone wants to say ‘oh I started following that creator before they even graduated’, and many people want to see themselves in your story. Unfortunately, I couldn’t keep up with posting consistently and I quickly realized I was focused on sprinting rather than pacing myself for the journey.
By mid-January, I was burnt out. I hadn’t put much out but I overthought, overplanned everything. I didn’t know what I was doing, no one really does tbh. My enthusiasm turned into self-doubt, and I stopped. Right now, I still wish I documented my final year, because that phase of my life has passed now, and I’ll never get it back. But hey, no regrets right? I didn’t just stop posting entirely, I also retreated from people, and faced the growing fear that I might not graduate with a first-class degree. That weight was heavy, and I withdrew into my shell.
February brought a mix of responsibilities and personal struggles. I was invited as a speaker to an event and realized how much my past initiatives had influenced others. I noticed that some faculties were replicating a project I had started as my faculty’s Vice President, this was heartwarming. BUT, I was sick throughout this month, and life became more real. I kept chasing the goal of getting a first class, covering my grades, trying to psych myself up, but it seemed that the more I chased it, the more it slipped through my palms, so with ill health and reality setting in, I gave up. It DAWNED on me, like the way you feel when you’ve just seen a dead body. goosebumps* It felt like I had failed, but I had to accept it long before the final results came out.
March was tough but monumental. My final exams and my project consumed me. I cried a lot over my chosen topic, which I thought would challenge me but it instead broke me. Because why choose something hard especially when you have a choice? Also, when our final exams ended, I didn’t feel the joy of finishing school immediately. I was numb. In this month, I learned that sometimes, happiness doesn’t always come naturally, you have to create it. Two days later, I eventually celebrated with cake, food and a small circle of friends.
April marked my official graduation and project defense. I started working as an Executive Assistant and earned my first 100k. I also struggled with the idea of not attending my final year dinner, and battled health issues that drained me physically and financially. Yet, amidst all this, I launched a student club I had dreamed of starting since 2022 - The Energy Law Society, UNN. The month wasn’t all bad, despite the chaos, I actually ate well and remained grateful for the little victories.
lesson 1: burnout is real, but so is resilience. but showing up even when life is hard is part of adulting. also, the moments we fear the most often hold our biggest lessons.
Q2: Work, Growth, and Self-Care
May brought new beginnings. I got my first physical job as a graduate a week after graduation. I traveled by air for the first time, and visited my mother’s village for the first time as well. I took a work trip to Abuja, courtesy of the Presidential Fiscal Reforms and Tax Policy Committee, where I’m a student secretariat member and I networked with top tax experts in the country. I also started paying attention to self-care (more like I could finally afford to). I’m talking doing my nails, getting my hair done, eating what I want and stuff. It felt like a turning point.
June had its highs and lows. I got my first presenting job, returned to creating on YouTube, and was thrilled to explore new facets of myself. In this month, I had a keke accident, it was crazy because I could see that we were going to crash and I trusted that the rider could see it too, unfortunately we did crash and since then, I don’t trust any driver. It turns out the man was sleeping on the steering. This incident reminded me of how fragile life is. It shook me because it’s been months now and I still get jumpy when I’m inside Keke or even a car.
In July, I officially graduated with a 4.22 CGPA. It wasn’t the first-class I had aimed for, but it was something to celebrate. I also showed off my skills in PR and content direction at a work event. I particularly found joy in handling the PR boxes.
By August, I began changing my wardrobe, embracing a new phase of adulthood. Guys, power issues in my lodge made life frustrating and this lasted for about two months, but I kept pushing. I took mobile photography jobs to build my portfolio and found myself obsessed with simple joys like Fab biscuit. Guys, I was obsessed!. It was also a month of reflection, especially when I stumbled on old pictures of myself from my first year (no, I’m not sharing them, they are hideous!😭)
lesson 2: that growth often comes in small, quiet moments. celebrate them. embrace new experiences, even when life feels chaotic.
Q3: Confusion, Pain, and Rediscovery
September was a mix of love, pain, and creativity. I visited the hospital again. I began rethinking my Instagram layout, explored mood boards and came up with a creativity process. I also directed more video content for work. Then, I visited Abuja again for a work trip. I also experienced severe ear pain during the flight (my second time flying by air). But something beautiful happened this month, I found love.
October felt like a new chapter. I quit my job, celebrated my birthday in a quiet way (for the first time), and found clarity in my path. The power issues that had plagued my lodge since August were finally resolved (on my birthday!). I also began to see things clearly again. It also dawned on me that along the way, I formed a beautiful female friendship.
November was a month of reconnection. After seven years in school and two years away from my family, I was finally home. I reunited with them, registered for law school, and started my LinkedIn series for Executive Assistants, a dream I had for a while. I also joined my church’s media team and this gave me a sense of belonging.
December felt like closure. I visited Southern Nigeria for the first time and tried their food - loved it! I earned my first lump sum as a video editor, flew home just in time for Christmas, and celebrated with my family for the first time in years. Convocation was also the highlight of the month, things didn’t go as planned (I wanted to do a photoshoot but the drama of getting a gown was too much) so I just used that day to reflect on my student journey. Plus I had a deadline for a video client!
lesson 3: life can be chaotic, but there’s always beauty in rediscovery. also, embrace change, even when it feels uncomfortable. you also have to be patient with yourself, as healing and growth take time.
TAKEAWAY
In summary, 2024 was a year of resilience, growth, and rediscovery. It taught me that life is rarely a straight line, it’s filled with twists, setbacks, and unexpected moments of joy. Burnout, ill health, self-doubt, and moments of confusion were a lot.
Through it all, I learned to show up, even when it was hard, and to trust the process. If there’s one thing I’ll carry into 2025, it’s this: create your own joy. celebrate the small wins. and never stop believing in the power of your story, it’s still being written.
HAPPY NEW YEAR.
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