Student who got straight A’s in WAEC:‘In the beginning, I wasn’t very smart’

How do you feel scoring all A’s in your WAEC examination? I feel happy and excited that I was able to achieve this and made my parents and family very proud of me. The feeling is overwhelming. Did you expect that you would score this high in all your papers? No I did not. I […]

How do you feel scoring all A’s in your WAEC examination?
I feel happy and excited that I was able to achieve this and made my parents and family very proud of me. The feeling is overwhelming.

Did you expect that you would score this high in all your papers?
No I did not. I wanted a minimum of B2. That was my goal. It came as a surprise getting such a result but then I know I worked hard for it.

How hard did you study to achieve what you got?
Well I didn’t start studying recently. I started since when I was in SS1. I read my books for around two hours every day. I don’t read at night because I find it difficult to retain what I have studied. When I was in SS3 my study patterned changed because I started reading a lot more. We also had extra classes and classes here in school.

What is your study pattern?
My study pattern is to read whatever it is that I don’t know. I study more on topics that I don’t understand completely to shed better light on it.

Some students have sleepless nights studying. Was it the same for you?
No. I don’t study at night at all. I don’t like reading at night because I believe the brain needs to sleep and if you read at night, whatever you might study, your brain probably won’t be able to remember it the next day.

What subject gave you the greatest challenge?
English because it is not my strongest subject. I was pretty shocked when I saw I got an A1 in English but as you know hard work leads to success.

What is your favourite subject?
Mathematics because I understand it easily as I don’t really need to study it every day.

How did you handle your classmates who try to get your attention during the examination?
I sat quite close to the invigilator so nobody attempted talking to me.

Were you always this smart or this is one-off result you achieved?
I was a playful kid, when I was in junior secondary school I wasn’t very serious until JSS 3 when I became serious then everything became normal. In SS1 I found it easier to read, I’m somebody that is very quiet. But I wasn’t actually smart when I was young.

What role did you parents and family play in your success?
My parents were encouraging. They promised to buy me an iPhone and they did.

Who was your biggest supporter?
My biggest supporter is my aunty. Her name is Aunty Nafee.

What higher institution do you plan to further your education in?
Well, I’m not yet sure. My dream university is Harvard University but I have applied to a few universities. I also plan on applying for scholarships at some reputable universities abroad too. I applied to Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria as my choice for JAMB.

What is your dream course of study?
Medicine, but as a second degree I’ll like to study Biomedical Engineering.

What advice do you have for students who find it tough to cope with their studies?
Just be yourself, because sometimes when you join the crowd you become lost, everyone is different, don’t compare, when you discover yourself everything will be easy. Be attentive to details, be confident and believe you can do better.