Man Who Recieved Scholarship For His PHD To Study At Purdue University USA, Shares Testimony

A man named
Pascal Okoye has shared his amazing journey to PHD on LinkedIn. After encountering several challenges he overcame it all.

He wrote;

Life’s journey…

A drop of rain journeys 2,000 meters to reach the earth and make life beautiful. I took solace in this reality as I journeyed through my academic pursuits.

Today, I am grateful to be admitted into Purdue University to pursue a Ph.D. degree in Biological Science.

Some sixteen years ago, I made up my mind to acquire a university education against all odds. Six years down the line, after working and serving different individuals for money, I gained admission to study Plant Biology and Biotechnology at the University of Benin in 2010.

Five years later, I became the first to hold a Bachelor’s degree in my family. And thankfully with a First Class Honours.

The journey was filled with several moments of travails fueled by indigence. As a self-funded and highly motivated soul, I persevered as I balanced menial work and study. Upon completing the National Youth Service Corps, I proceeded for a master’s degree with all my savings that could only suffice to apply and pay the acceptance fees.

I had no clue how my school fees and living expenses would come. But I perceived life as a beautiful asset and unyieldingly moved to reach my dream.

I got intoxicated by my passion for knowledge, and I neither considered my background nor gazed at impossibilities. I resumed for MSc study without accommodation or hope for funds. Enduring several days of sleeping in classrooms, traveling 142 km to hassle for funds during the weekends, and missing some lectures hours, I pushed through to earn my Master’s degree in Environmental Plant Physiology with a Ph.D. merit from the University of Benin in 2018.

In 2019, God stepped in and granted me the privilege to experience education without stress and hassles for funds. I received the Queen Elizabeth Commonwealth Scholarship that fully funded me for a Master’s degree in Tropical Crop Protection at The University of the West Indies, Trinidad and Tobago, which I completed in Summa Cum Laude grade during the first quarter of 2021. Also, I received EducationUSA Opportunity Funds, which powered my dream to study in the United States. And I have joined the Boilermakers at Purdue University to pursue a fully-funded Ph.D. degree.

I am eternally grateful to all my mentors and teachers in my previous Universities. I achieved this feat while riding on the wings of great support from Prof. Geoffrey Anoliefo, Prof. Beckley Ikhajiagbe, Prof. Duraisamy Saravanakumar, and Prof. Clint Chapple, who offered astute recommendations. I heartily thank my EducationUSA advisors, Mrs. Chinenye Uwadileke and Mrs. Adejumobi Adeola.

Many thanks to the long list of mentors and friends who assisted in making my dream come true. Thank you so much.

I tell my story to encourage someone out there to know that nothing in existence can stop a determined soul. I attest to the saying that what does not kill one makes one stronger. And I am a living TESTIMONY to this fact!

Thank you for perusing my story.

Source: LinkedIn

Email: elora.akpotosevbe@yahoo.com