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My Journey
From self-funded struggle to fully funded success
The Beginning
I arrived in the UK with a dream and a massive financial burden. As a self-funded master’s student from Nigeria, I had no scholarships, no family support, and less than £170 to my name. No safety net, just determination and faith.
Reality hit within days. Tuition deadlines loomed, and daily expenses mounted. Yet in this challenging time, I experienced an unexpected miracle: kind souls offered me accommodation for six months without requiring major rent payments. Their generosity gave me breathing room to focus on the immediate challenge- finding work.
That Christmas, I applied for countless care and support positions, convinced they’d be my entry point into the UK job market. Rejection after rejection followed. The irony wasn’t lost on me: here I was, pursuing a master’s degree, unable to secure what many consider the most accessible work in the UK. Lol
This humbling experience taught me a crucial lesson about thriving in the United Kingdom: success depends less on the degrees you hold and more on the skills and experiences you bring to the table.
The Struggle: Working Multiple Jobs
My first job came in December, just before Christmas, and it was cleaning Airbnbs in Liverpool for £10 per hour. The work involved washing dishes, doing laundry, making beds, and every unglamorous task in between. It felt beneath me, but when survival is at stake, pride becomes a luxury one cannot afford.
I quickly became the favorite cleaner, not just because of my cleaning skills, I’d argue, but because I simply couldn’t afford to lose that job. I never stopped searching for “better” opportunities.
January brought a breakthrough: a bank support worker position. Soon after, I secured a care assistant role, though it meant working exclusively night shifts. With two better options in hand, I left the cleaning job behind.
The support worker role offered inconsistent hours, but the real challenge was the care job’s relentless night shifts. They began eroding my mental stability, blurring the lines between day and night, work and rest.
When a stable support worker position opened at a major UK company, I seized it immediately and left the night shifts behind. I balanced this new role with my existing support position, all while managing my studies in Middlesbrough. Some days, sadness would wash over me. Other days, I’d simply shut down, which is my body’s way of coping with the overwhelming demands. It wasn’t easy. This is an understatement that barely captures the reality of those months.
The Turning Point: Discovery
I knew doctoral studies were my next step, but I needed a scholarship. When I asked around in 2023 about my chances, the responses were overwhelmingly discouraging. “Try the USA,” they’d say, “more opportunities there.” But I refused to accept their doubt as my reality.
In August 2023, I began applying for PhD scholarships across the United Kingdom. I had no roadmap, no insider knowledge, just the determination to learn as I went. Over 21 months, I submitted more than 50 applications and collected 47 rejections.
Each “no” taught me something new. Without templates, without mentors, without guidance, I relied on three things: resilience, the wisdom gained from each failure, and unwavering faith in God. Looking back, proper guidance could have shortened this journey significantly. But every rejection refined my approach, sharpened my applications, and strengthened my resolve.
May 2025: The Breakthrough
Everything changed. Not only did I secure a fully funded PhD scholarship, but I was simultaneously being considered for a second one.
From cleaning Airbnbs to becoming a UK PhD Scholar- the transformation was complete.
50+ Applications • 47 Rejections • 1 Life-Changing “Yes”
Today: Paying It Forward
Today, I stand as living proof for those who’ve been told it’s impossible. For those whom society has tried to diminish or define by their circumstances rather than their potential.
I no longer wake up at dawn to clean offices. I wake up to conduct research, attend seminars, and help other international students achieve what I achieved.
This is why I founded “The Growth HQ”, to be the guide I never had, to light the path for others navigating their own breakthrough. Because here’s what I realized: I’m not special. I’m just someone who learned the system and if I can learn it, I can teach it.
Resilience Over Privilege
You don’t need connections or money to succeed. You need strategy, persistence, and the right guidance.
Real Experience, Not Theory
I teach what I lived. Every template, every tip, every strategy comes from my actual journey.
Community Over Competition
Your success doesn’t diminish mine. There are enough opportunities for everyone who’s willing to work for them.
My Mission
To help as many home & international students secure fully funded PhD scholarships through guided mentorship, classes and growth strategies. To support young people to become all that God has designed them to be.
Growth is not convenient but is essential.
“It is God who works in us both to will and to do of His good pleasure.”
— Philippians 2:13
Ready to Start Your Journey?
Let me show you the exact system I used to go from survival mode to fully funded success.