A Twist for a Turn

So remember how I told you I am betting on myself and needed to do that in Liberia instead of Ghana? If you are new here, start here. The truth is, earlier in 2025, I applied for a scholarship, but it didn’t come through. Not because I wasn’t qualified. It was more so incomplete documentation from my university (I was waiting for graduation). I also needed to be in Liberia for the process. So that explains it. That was the start of my hunger for furthering my studies. The more I faced obstacles, the more I wanted it. So instead of letting that one experience define me, I decided to pick more lemons (if you know you know, wink).

Taking Actions

I did more research about master’s admissions. I had already spoken to my mom and uncle about it. We agreed that Australia should be the destination since family is there. Well, so much of that “we” made up my mom’s, my uncle’s, and his wife’s decision, then mine. But it was logical, so I let them have it. The UK was also a study destination I shortlisted for personal preference. In fact, I take that back because the reality that hit me wasn’t expected. I did my cost analysis and shortlisted schools from both countries, and soon I got started. I took the IELTS and got a C1 CEFR after my graduation. Not to brag or anything (I mean to brag though, wink); I didn’t study for it. But the mark seems impressive, right? Well, it wasn’t for most universities in Australia. Well, I kind of didn’t complete my writing section, so I got a 6.5 band for writing (below the requirement for most master’s programs in Australia.)

The Application Process

During the application process, I was told to apply through an education agent for Australia. I felt a type of way, but I had no choice. Especially when you have trust issues, panic kicks in, and it is not cute. So I contacted an agency, and they were happy to assist me. For Australia, I shortlisted 3 schools as my top 3, and I got rejected back-to-back, and it was alarming. If you want to know why that happened, you will have to wait for the next post. So with that, I wanted to try again at those universities, and I could only do that after 3 months. I decided to submit my application to the UK while I wait. The UK was a smooth process. I applied to 4 universities in 2 days by myself. When I tell you universities in the UK responded faster and earlier than my mom waking up for work, I mean it. I started getting responses in less than a week. I got 4 admissions, all with scholarships, and I thought I was who I think I am. But then reality hit me: the UK was expensive. From housing, even with scholarship, fees were still on the higher end. I just wasn’t ready to allow my parents to put all their savings towards my studies, so I prayed for a miracle. Well, it was answered because I am writing this today, aren’t I?

Immigration Nightmare

Three months later, I tried for Australia again, and my rejections came running like a running nose. My flab was gasted. I was annoyed, and you will find out why in another post. So the agency convinced me to apply for different schools. Luckily, I got acceptance from the 3 universities that I applied to, with scholarships as well. This time, it felt real. I really thought I was moving to Sydney, or Wollongong, or, hell, to Perth. I even imagined vacationing in Melbourne with my cousins. Then immigration happened. I was supposed to sit this one out because immigration didn’t come to play. Immigration 1, Sametta 0, that was the score.

The new financial requirements hit me so hard that my brain reset 5 times. “You or your de facto partner should have x amount if they are sponsoring you.” “Your parents should have x amount or make x amount yearly if they are sponsoring you.” What do you mean I need twenty-nine thousand plus AUD added to my fifty-two thousand AUD fees sitting in a bank account for at least 6 months? Just to school in Australia? You have got to be kidding me. Please keep in mind, requirements vary for countries. Writing this is annoying me right now, so check those requirements here. I was like, even Australians don’t have that much just sitting around in their accounts. It was then and there I realized that hard work wins over talent and gifts anytime. The goal was to use my uncle as an affidavit, but again, immigration wasn’t having it (Immigration 2, Sametta 0). So I kind of gave up.

Giving It All Up to Go All In

I had to give up 7 admissions. Who does that? Well, me, of course. I got depressed for a while because in that moment, I felt like I wasn’t good enough. I felt like I didn’t belong. I would lock myself in my apartment to protect myself from society. The anxiety was real. But soon enough, things changed. I started working on admissions for two different countries again. And that process led me to Liberia when it wasn’t planned. Remember how I told you I do not take no for an answer? I am still working on getting a better answer.

Thereafter

Please go into the next post sitting beside a wall with popcorn because you are going to gasp for air and reach for anything you can grab. The twists and turns are real. Keep the lemons far away because you might end up squeezing them because of the cliffhangers. You don’t want to do that because we are trying to sell them. Keep in mind, when life gives us lemons, we pick more and sell them, not squeeze them.

Well, thank you for coming on this journey with me.

Until next read, XO