I was a victim of career stereotype– Aduragbemi Adebiola

Aduragbemi Adebiola hails from Okitipupa,  Ondo state. She studied Accounting  from Wesley University Ondo and has just completed her National Youth Service Programme. She’s currently working  as a Client Consultant at Waponi Consulting where they deal with Professional Accounting Advisory, Tax and Corporate Reporting. When she’s not being an accountant, Aduragbemi loves to interact with people. She’s a lover of music and an ardent child of God. She takes pride in the fact that she cannot tolerate nonsense, in terms of dishonesty and injustice.

GBA: Can we meet you?

Guest: My name is Aduragbemi Grace. I am an accounting graduate from Wesley University, Ondo. I hail from Okitipupa, Ondo state. I work with a financial consulting firm where I handle accounting services. Above all, I am a child of God.

GBA: Can you tell us something interesting about you?

Guest: I’m the fun type. I definitely got that from my parents. I’m a very playful person and I talk a lot too sometimes. I really do enjoy making people laugh and I love travelling -trust me on this; I can tour 4 states in 2 days.

GBA: What CGPA did you graduate with from Wesley University Ondo?

Guest: I graduated with a CGPA of 3.82 on a 4.0 scale.

GBA: A B.Sc in Accounting, has it always been what you wanted to study and why?

Guest: Yes, it has always been accounting. Although it wasn’t always, from the start because of the general career stereotypes placed on us as children. So my mum wanted me to be a doctor, most especially because I was brilliant but on getting to Senior Secondary School 1 (SS.1), I just knew I wasn’t going to study medicine. Yes, I loved caring for people especially when they’re sick, and I still do, but I knew I didn’t want it as a career path. There was the option of Mass Communication because I love to talk but still, I knew I wanted more. I chose accounting because it matches my personality. I love transparency and honesty and that is what accounting means to me. It is an opportunity for me to depict honesty and transparency in matters relating to finance, and I find fun doing just that. If I am entrusted with anything about money, I will try to be as transparent as possible with it.

GBA: Can you describe your academic journey in few words?

Guest: My academic journey was full of grace. Pardon me for sounding spiritual, but honestly, it is what it is. I’ve always come out top of my class from primary school, although I dropped at some point, I was resilient enough to get back up. Other words to describe my academic journey will be that it was fun, although sometimes annoying. It was tasking and challenging as well; I didn’t always find it easy.

GBA: Did you face challenges in your academic journey and how did you overcome them?

So as I earlier mentioned, there were challenges in my academic journey. I didn’t always find it easy, especially because of some of the principles and standards I had set for myself. You know, I remember being in the exam hall several times, not knowing what to write but I also couldn’t cheat. I’d look to my left and right and find people cheating, I won’t lie that I wasn’t tempted but I just couldn’t bring myself to do it. I’d just write what I know and according to the popular saying, leave the rest for God. Maybe now, you’d understand why I said my academic journey was full of grace; coming out top despite such circumstances is one I can’t entirely explain no matter how hard I try.

I also faced the challenge of several confrontations because of some of my principles. At such times, it became hard to stick with those principles but I remained undaunted either way.

GBA: How did you graduate with First Class honours?

Guest: For me, I’d say it was God. Also, on getting to Wesley University, I was determined to graduate not just with a First Class but the top of my class because of my dad. Education meant a lot to my dad, and it still does, and seeing the sacrifice he had put in to send me to a private university, I wasn’t going to let him down; I was willing to give him the very best. So being determined from the beginning helped and that was a strong motivation for me.

GBA: As a fellowship president, how were you able to balance fellowship activities with your academics?

Guest: You know sometimes I don’t understand when people say they are balancing this with that because to me, I wasn’t trying to balance anything. I was simply living my life. My connection to God flows from some of these activities so I could not imagine just missing out because of my academics. I’d say God also helped me because I never had tough situations where I had to choose between a test maybe and an important fellowship activity, but basically, I never had an issue with balancing and the fellowship activities didn’t affect my academics.

GBA: What advice can you give to others still in school?

Guest: I must tell you that the secret to success, especially in Wesley University is God. You know, I noticed that most of the best graduating students were individuals who were sold out to the work of God on campus. Rely on God, not on others and He will definitely show up for you.

Another thing is that I’ve noticed this habit in students where they assume for themselves questions the lecturer cannot set in the exam. This is very funny because I wonder if they are the ones setting the exam questions. So they skip those parts and don’t read them well because according to them, this part is too technical or simple for the lecturer to ask. Please and please, I’d tell you to cultivate the habit of reading wide. Read to know everything you can know or should know about your course.

GBA: Any last words?

Guest: Permit me to use an economic term but I think that every student in school should learn to adopt the standard official statutory scale of preference. Your primary assignment in school is your book, followed by spiritual activities and then social or fun activities. You didn’t gain admission into the university to earn a degree in fire revival or friendship making but rather to earn a Bachelor’s degree, so please earn it first. I’ve seen this misplacement of priorities occur too many times and I just thought it’s important for me to say that.

Another thing is that students should learn to keep a good relationship with staff and other students as well. I see no reason why you should be fighting your lecturer as a student, try as much as possible to follow peace. Have a good reputation and you’d see people standing up for you even in your absence.

GBA: Thank you, Adura. That’s some nuggets right there, readers. The secret to success is God. Are there lessons you’ve learnt from this, please drop them in the comment section.