The Big Move

…having waited over two hours at the airport waiting section for the driver, my phone went off. As if being disconnected physically from my family wasn’t enough price for my dreams, I was out of the ”global village too”! How do I reach the school’s driving team and inform my family about my arrival?🤦

I took the leap of faith, stepped out, and then I felt the chilling breeze: WELCOME TO AMERICA🤗☺️

For me, Computer Science has always been a course I admired a lot, and I silently waited for the opportunity to study it. As a young girl growing up somewhere in the mega-city of Nigeria, I fell in love with my father’s desktop computer. Mavins Beacon teaches typing used to be my favorite application, and it made me wonder what and how these things showing on the screen come into being. But then, my senior🫡(as I fondly called my Dad) warned me not to even imagine opening the desktop monitor as I’ve done with virtually all the other electronics in the house. As an obedient “somebori”🥹, I didn’t open the system at that time, but I eventually did when it developed some faults, after all, curiosity kills the cat. Trust me🙈, I have no hand in the desktop getting faulty in the first place.

So, when I got accepted into the graduate school Degree in Computer Science, the butterflies in my tummy could be visibly seen. I did some necessary preparations, got carried away by some, and forgot some. It is not like I forgot them; let’s just say watching your “dream come true” can make you forget to prepare for “living your dream.” It is similar to being more concerned with the container than the content.

Hey! Be a little kind with scolding me😩, I’m only human and have learned from my mistake. That’s why I’m sharing so you and yours don’t make the same mistake right?

While preparing my luggage, documents, and other necessities, I didn’t take the time to skim through some courses or related academic papers. “Why do I need to read?” You may ask. Unless you just finished your Bachelor's a month into graduate school, it is advised that you add reading to your pre-relocation plans. For those of us who have spent over one year outside the walls of a classroom, the experience isn’t the same. You need to start training your mind and body on the “student life” before starting graduate school. I am not disputing the fact that there are some people with superpowers, but my dear, if you do not belong to the “some,” then START READING. Read a paper, a review, or just anything related to your major. That way, you are not an entire novice on some topics. Also, you won’t get overwhelmed or experience difficulties adapting to this new phase of life. I didn’t take too much time to adapt because I had done some online-related courses to my current major, but I met a colleague who took almost a month to adapt. Trust me, you don’t want to add studies to the issues of adapting to the weather and food in your new home. Remember, everyone learns at different paces, so when you know yours, you prepare ahead.

I resumed at the University of Michigan-Flint, USA to pursue a Master’s Degree in Computer Science and Information Systems with a major in Computer Science and a minor in Artificial Intelligence.

Awesome right? I know, thanks for the good wishes

Now, my life as a graduate student begins; with a family behind, a dream in hand, and a glorious future ahead. I am excited about this new phase of life that finds me doing what I have always wanted to do. With the support of my faculty and fellow students, I know it’s going to be a worthwhile journey.

..what area exactly did I find confusing at first? How did I adapt to the environment? How about the bad days?

I’ll answer those questions and more but for now, I have an NLP problem set to solve. I'll see you on the next one.

Until then, ụdọ dịrị unu✌️ (peace be unto you all)