Nathaniel's journey to the university was not one of privilege or comfort. It was a path paved with hardship, sacrifice, and a relentless drive to overcome the obstacles that life had placed in his way. His story had not been easy, nor was it meant to be. But through it all, Nathaniel had always clung to hope, to faith, and to the belief that with God, he could face anything.
The turning point in Nathaniel's life had come when his father, Emmanuel Smith, had been involved in a horrific accident during his time in the military. It was an accident that had left him the only survivor out of 39 men—a tragedy that haunted him for the rest of his life. The physical toll of the accident had left Emmanuel with injuries that forced him to retire from the army, an event that forever changed the dynamic of the Smith family.With his father's retirement came a sharp decline in the family's financial stability. Emmanuel, once a proud and capable man, was no longer able to provide for his family as he once had. The burden of supporting the household fell to Deomature, Nathaniel's mother. She worked tirelessly to ensure that her children didn't go without, even if it meant sacrificing her own comfort.But for Nathaniel, this period of struggle meant more than just watching his mother struggle—it meant growing up faster than he ever anticipated. He was only a teenager when he began to hustle, doing whatever he could to contribute to the family's survival.He took on menial jobs: serving food at events, washing dishes at restaurants, sweeping floors, and helping in food preparation. The pay was barely enough to cover his own needs, but Nathaniel didn't mind. He used what little money he earned to buy textbooks for school and give his mother some financial relief. Every penny mattered, and every job was an opportunity to learn something new, to push through the exhaustion, and to find a way forward.But Nathaniel's passion lay beyond just surviving. He had always loved being around children, and after finishing secondary school, he found work as a teacher in a nursery and primary school. It was a modest job, but it brought him a sense of fulfillment that no amount of money could match. He found joy in shaping young minds, in nurturing them and teaching them what he had learned along the way.Even though his own upbringing had been tough, Nathaniel knew that education was a powerful tool, a way to break free from the cycle of poverty that had trapped so many in his community. He wanted to pass that on to the next generation.It wasn't just Nathaniel who felt the weight of the family's struggles. After finishing secondary school, Simon and Isaac, Nathaniel's older brothers, also left their father's house, determined to make their own way in the world. Isaac joined James, Nathaniel's half-brother, in his business venture. Nathaniel, however, chose to stay in the town, working and saving as much as he could, all the while dreaming of a future where he could continue his education.But just as he thought things might improve, tragedy struck again. A deadly virus swept through the country, and with it came a nationwide curfew. The virus shut down businesses, schools, and transportation. People were left stranded, with no way to make a living, and Nathaniel, like so many others, found himself struggling to survive. The pressure was immense.There were days when Nathaniel had nothing to eat. His stomach would rumble painfully, but he didn't give up. In those dark moments, when all seemed lost, God always seemed to come through for him. One evening, while walking through the streets, he ran into a friend—a young man he had once helped in the past. This friend, seeing Nathaniel's plight, took him in. He offered Nathaniel a place to stay, allowing him to live in his small room with about ten other boys.Nathaniel and Isaac, who had also been struggling to survive, moved in together with this friend. The room was cramped and uncomfortable, and the boys living there had all come from different walks of life. Some were involved in cults, while others were simply trying to get by. Nathaniel never joined the cults, though. He had seen the destruction they caused, and he knew there was a better way.But even in this new living arrangement, trouble followed Nathaniel. One day, one of the apprentice boys living with them was accused of stealing money. The boy's master, furious and desperate, wrongly believed that Nathaniel was the thief. The accusation stung deeply. Nathaniel knew he was innocent, but the accusation caused the entire room to turn against him. He cried that night, feeling the weight of the false judgment on his shoulders. Worse, he went to bed hungry, having nothing to eat after a long day of stress and struggle.The next morning, his stomach was in knots from hunger. The whisky he had consumed the night before to dull his feelings had only made matters worse. Nathaniel went to a local biscuit vendor and begged for food. The vendor, seeing the pain in his eyes, gave him some biscuits, but after eating, Nathaniel became violently ill. His stomach churned, and he had to find some medicine to settle his body. Despite the harsh reality of the moment, Nathaniel never lost hope. He knew God had been with him in his darkest hours, and he trusted that God would provide once again.Days passed, and eventually, the virus began to subside. The curfew was lifted, and life slowly began to return to normal. Nathaniel resumed his work as a teacher, and Isaac also continued his business. But Nathaniel's resolve had been tested in ways he had never imagined. He had faced hunger, betrayal, and isolation, yet through it all, he had never given up on his dreams.It wasn't long before Nathaniel's hard work and perseverance paid off. He received the news that he had been accepted into the university. It was a long-awaited moment—a dream come true. But it wasn't just his victory. It was a victory for his family, for his mother who had worked so tirelessly to support him, and for all the sacrifices they had made along the way.Isaac, his older brother, had also been accepted into the same university. They both enrolled in the same faculty, and it felt like destiny had brought them together. It was a beautiful moment of unity—two brothers, once separated by circumstance, now standing side by side in the pursuit of a brighter future.The journey to university had not been easy, and the struggles had been many. But Nathaniel had learned something crucial: no matter how tough life became, no matter how many obstacles appeared in his path, he could always rely on God to see him through. Through every trial, he had held onto his faith and his belief that something better was waiting just around the corner.In the university, Nathaniel and James's bond grew stronger than ever. Together, they navigated the challenges of higher education, supporting one another through thick and thin. When it was time for their National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), they once again found themselves serving in the same location, continuing their journey together as brothers and as men who had overcome so much.Nathaniel's story was not just one of survival—it was one of triumph. He had faced the deepest struggles and come out stronger on the other side. And as he looked ahead to the future, he knew that no matter what challenges lay ahead, he was ready to face them, armed with faith, resilience, and the unwavering strength that came from within.