Gratitude: Grateful Sunday ✨

Good morning and Happy Sunday. I hope the previous week was not so hectic for you. If it was, sending lots of love and blessings for the new week ahead.

As you all know, if I think it or feel it I type and post it 😂. This morning I felt an immerse amount gratitude for life general, family, health and friends.

If I use my bad experiences as a yardstick I will probably be a bitter person but I have come to understand that bad things happen and should not diminish the great things we have experienced or are experiencing. I feel blessed🤍.

This post is specifically dedicated to my alma mater, Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University (SMU) formerly Known as Medical University of Southern Africa (MEDUNSA). I cannot begin to share how grateful I am for this institution. They afford me the opportunity to become the Pharmacist I am today.

Let me share a brief summary of how this happened. I completed my matric (final year of high school) in 2011 in which I had applied to various institutions for admission. This was the same year I immigrated to South Africa. So I had to deal with new weather because no winter in Nigeria and also new culture and languages which I have soon learnt/learning and I love. It was definitely a stressful year I must say 😂 but it’s been 11 years since then.

I had a family friend at the university studying pharmacy so it was easier to also opt for the same school. I applied, had aptitude tests and and interview after which I was put on waiting list. This is isn’t a full admission so I had to just make sure I passed my matric exams so I can get into University or my father would kill me!

January 2012 arrived, minister of education had announced pass rate on TV that evening so the next morning myself and my friend Toluwani rushed to garage to buy newspaper to see if we passed well enough for a bachelors degree. Lol yes results are published in newspapers in South Africa🤣. So if your school name and exam number is known then people can see if you passed or not.

I passed! The excitement was beyond anything I had ever experienced. I went to my high school to fetch my Matric certificate and went straight to SMU campus, to the receptionist at the time at the Pharmacy department. I think her name was Louisa.

As soon as I got there I greeted her and showed her my waitlist letter and matric certificate. She agreed that I passed but since it’s a waitlist I had to wait for a possible space that opens. Yoh! I got depressed and I was just sad 😞. This is a norm because I am west African, first preference obviously would be South Africans then students from neighbouring southern African countries then the rest of us from far. Louisa took her time to explain it to me hoping I understand but it just made me even sadder because it’s not like I have crazy number of distinctions in my matric results to help pled my case. I just had to wait.

She could tell I was going to cry so she took me to the Head of student affairs at the time for pharmacy students I forgot what her actually Title was but she basically monitored everything Pharmacy undergraduates student affairs. Her Name is Ma Lindi Mabope. I can never forget that name🤍. She sat me down but basically said the same thing Louisa explained but also added that the school fees for non Southern african students was double the normal fees so most can’t afford it and end up dropping out so they take less number of people as well. It just sounded like things are getting worse.

So then she asked me “do you know Abisola Agoro?” I immediately responded Yes she is my big sister. She was the one I mentioned earlier who studied there. Then she smiled and said “oh really she is a good student she is related to another student who graduate a while back, Tunde. All good students”

Then she tries to comfort me as she see the destress I was in. She said I should call by end of the week to see if anything changes. I went home and I began to fast and pray. Registrations for first year students had started so I needed a fast miracle.

I would call everyday every hour that Louisa would call my name even before i spoke “Babarinde no updates yet” 😂😂😂 Yoh I disturbed the hell out of that woman. Eventually I am called to come to campus with my registration fee to see if I can get in. My fear at this time was being given a course I did not want. It was either dentistry or pharmacy and I never got response from dentistry. I called my dad he We met up in town and we drove to the university.

My dad was worried I would pass out from my fasting he stopped at the garage to get me pie and custard and water 😂.

We arrived and Ma Mabope was going through her list of names. She picked up the phone and called a particular name on the list. From her responses it sounded like the student wanted to take a gap year (a year of to rest or do other things before starting university). Talk about a miracle, this was the spot that got me into the university, I became a first year Bachelor of Pharmacy student class of 2012🥺😭🥳🥳.

So the year went on and my first year and second year fees my dad and mom made sure they paid in time. But as you know how life can be it got though and my third an final year fees because hard to settle. As God would have it my Permanent residency permit was granted in 2013/14 and meant I could pay same fees as a South African. Unfortunately for me the admin manager did not want to update my details, she asked I wait for my ID to be issued and when it was she had other excuses as to why she won’t do it. I cried numerous times and had to consult a lawyer just to be Sure of my rights.

Nothing helped so I went back to Ma Mabope, she said I qualified for some busaries and she applied for me. I was granted R40 000 which was something but didn’t do much to that amount outstanding. The back and forth went on till my finally Year.

So how was I allowed to complete? Firstly every year I went to finance with whatever amount I had from my per time job and pleaded. Secondly Dad deposited certain amounts each year which I used to plead my case. I was lucky enough to have a lecturer go with me to speak on my behalf as well. I had promised to pay up as soon as I get my first job.

By 2019 I had to fight the discrimination I was experiencing to understand why I wasn’t allowed to pay less since I am a permanent residence. My friend Kagiso Mokone who was still completing her masters degree after I had left school for work, would take time to get contacts of superiors. This went on from 2018-2019. She finally managed to get an email address and I send the email with all evidence I had and documents. In less than 72 hours Account was rectified and all I had to do was pay up, which I did. I am really thankful to my friend ❤️.

For many reasons I say no other university would have been as compassionate to a young black child in struggle. The environment wasn’t Porsche or anything but no student would struggle for food or books. Donations were collected, old books were recycled. It was and still is the best university in my opinion for a black child. Unfortunately it is a medical sciences university so not much other courses are offered there. SMU is a safe place for a black child to flourish abundantly and have a fair chance at success.

So today I say thank you God, thank you SMU, thank you Ms Mabope and thank you Kagiso. I am because of them❤️.

What are you most grateful for? Spend time appreciating the things and people you are grateful for this brings peace and more blessings

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Happy Sunday✨

With Love,

Òyè