By Efe Onodjae

A graduate of French Language from the University of Lagos (Unilag) Jeremiah Abiola Fasipe, has recounted his rise from failure to become the Student Union President at Sheffield Hallam University (SHU).

In an interview with Vanguard, he shared how failure shaped his personality, offering him the experience to motivate and guide others who may be going through similar struggles.

According to him, his undergraduate lecturer laughed when he mentioned his plans to pursue a master’s degree in the UK after graduation, implying that he couldn’t afford the fees.

The French graduate also noted that after securing admission to Sheffield Hallam University in the UK, he faced further challenges. In his Public Relations modules, out of eight, he ended up failing seven, all capped at 50.

He said: “I was in my final year when I lost my mom. I went to my lecturer’s office to submit my assignment, and he asked about my plans after university. I told him I wanted to pursue a master’s degree in the UK, and then he started laughing. ‘Even though my son got a scholarship, I know how much it costs, and you have no one to support you,’ he said. I smiled, put my assignment on his desk, and left his office. After graduation, I gained admission the following year in 2019, but I couldn’t travel until two years later due to issues with my international passport. Those two years were filled with great struggles and challenges just to retrieve my passport.”

“The passion for my dreams gave me the strength not to relinquish them,” he continued. “When I arrived in the UK, I faced even tougher challenges, including my inability to pay tuition, struggling to understand the mode of teaching, and completing my assessments.”

Reflecting on the challenges he faced at Sheffield Hallam University, Fasipe explained: “The challenges I faced had a negative impact on my studies. I had eight modules in Public Relations, including Crisis Communication. I ended up failing seven, and they were all capped at 50%, meaning I would finish with a grade of 50. To fail a module, you must have two attempts, and since I failed both attempts, it meant I had 14 attempts in total.”

“When I first received admission, my tuition fees were £12,460. However, because I failed most of my modules, I ended up paying £18,485 before I graduated. I was frustrated and exhausted; it felt as if the whole world was against me. I became very depressed, but instead of giving up, I found strength and decided to turn my situation around.”

“I spoke to a friend about my struggles, and he encouraged me, reminding me of how far I had come. He made me realize how strong I truly was. After we spoke, I fell asleep and woke up feeling alive. Before, I had stayed up all night trying to complete my assessments without success, but this time, it was as if a new version of myself had been reborn.”

“Even though the deadline was 3 PM the next day, I researched as if my life depended on it. I managed to submit my work around 2:55 PM. I didn’t even check for plagiarism on Turnitin, but weeks later, I was informed that I had passed the module. That was the first time I passed an assessment.”

“My joy overflowed, and my confidence began to grow. I started to understand everything I read. Though it was still tough, it was much better.”

“Failure shaped my personality and gave me the experience I needed to mentor, motivate, and guide others who may be going through similar challenges. Over time, I took on more responsibilities. I became passionate about leadership and problem-solving, starting with my role as a course representative.”

“My duties included representing students’ thoughts and opinions and collaborating with the university to influence the educational process. I used various methods, such as in-person and online forums, to collect feedback from students about their courses.”

Fasipe, eager to make an impact and contribute to the success of the student body, contested for a position as a National Union of Students (NUS) conference delegate. He explained: “I wanted to make a greater impact at the national level, so I contested to become a National Union of Students conference delegate. Our duties include addressing major issues affecting students, shaping and leading campaigns, and voting on policy, elections, and reports.

“Delegates discuss and vote on motions that will become NUS policy. These policies inform the NUS about the issues that students care about, and the National Executive Council enacts them.

“Even though it was highly competitive, with contestants from various nationalities, I boldly offered my candidacy. I used the public relations skills I learned in class, and in the end, I won.

“I wasn’t satisfied with my position as a student representative, so I worked even harder to vie for the post of Student Union President. It was even tougher because, at that time, I couldn’t afford to pay my tuition, and the deadline coincided with the campaign period. Despite being deep into my preparations, I withdrew my candidacy after some reflection.

“However, my ‘never give up’ spirit led me to apply again the following year. There were eight candidates contesting for the President’s position, and I had already built strong relationships with students, using my language skills to connect with them.

“Everyone had high hopes of winning, and they all gave it their best. Flyers were posted, and students campaigned day and night, missing classes, etc. It was cold, I wasn’t feeling well, and I had no money for more campaigning. On the first day, I didn’t campaign much, and it felt as though I had already lost. I was down at night, but I had no choice but to re-energize. It was my only hope of making an impact and becoming more resourceful.

“I woke up the next day with a new mindset and approach. I told myself that I would never give up, and I worked even harder. Two candidates were disqualified. When the campaign ended, the results party was postponed due to the weather.

“When the day of the results came, I was announced the winner. It was a joyous moment for me and for those who had voted for me. I had finally reached a position where I could make a great impact, take on a wide range of responsibilities, and develop valuable skills.”