In this special interview, we feature Genevieve Onuoha, who had 4.75 CGPA in Accounting from Caleb University.
As a first-class graduating student from Caleb University, and the best accounting graduate in her set, Genevieve has demonstrated exceptional dedication, hard work, and a passion for learning. Her impressive academic record is a testament to her commitment to excellence, and we are excited to learn more about her experiences, insights, and advice for young Nigerians.
Genevieve shares her thoughts on her academic journey, her experiences as a student, and her plans for the future. We are confident that her story will inspire and motivate young Nigerians to strive for excellence in their chosen fields.
Table of Contents
Can you tell us a little bit about yourself and your background?
Alright, I’m Onuoha Genevieve, as you all know. I graduated from Caleb University, Lagos. I came from a family of three, where I am the first child. I attended secondary school – I went to a secondary school and then Caleb University. Right from primary school up until JSS1, I had to change school. That was because my parents, while I was in primary school, I was always doing so well, like super well. So, my parents saw the need for me to get more exposure and competition.
I changed school at JSS2 and joined a school. I happened to meet a lot of people, and going from a class of 20 to a class of close to a hundred and something, that was when I faced intense competition. My results significantly dropped due to the fact that I wasn’t used to that, and I constantly struggled to keep up until my SS1, when I picked up again and started doing better. So, that’s a bit about my background academically.
Thank you very much. That is so nice to hear. What motivated you to pursue a degree in accounting, and how does it feel to be the best graduating student?
Alright, so… I feel like I’ve always loved business, right from when I was in SS1. I’ve always loved the idea of doing business, accounting, maths. Even though in my first year in SS1, I wasn’t too good at accounting and maths, I had issues with it because my grades weren’t so high, but I took it upon myself to actually.
That was when my journey began to understanding myself and learning what works for me. I found the motivation, I understood certain things, and that’s when I started doing well.
So, me getting into accounting was just because of passion. I really loved it. I loved the idea of business, from starting a little business in SS1 when I was in senior SS2 precisely, to university. It’s just been something that I resonate strongly with. Is there any other question I missed?
It’s good to know that your passion actually paid off. Can you share with us your most memorable moment during your time at Caleb University?
Hmmm… A memorable moment for me… Okay, yes, it was in my final year when I finally had a 5.00 CGPA. It’s something I really wanted to achieve. No, 5.00 GPA, yes, that was my GPA in my 400 level 2nd semester. It’s something I always wanted to have, but there was this particular course that kept drawing me from my goal.
Either I had a B in that course or something was just pulling me back. That was a memorable moment, and that moment actually stemmed from… That’s why I’m always open to… I’m someone that always encourages people to learn from their failures, from their mistakes.
Back when I was in 300 level second semester, it was a trying time for me. There was a particular course that I got a C in, which I felt like I wasn’t going to get a C in. That course felt like it was drawing me very far from my goals. I felt shattered, I even cried. It was a very heartbreaking moment, but that moment set me up for my 400 level.
I told myself that in 400 level, I’m going to really do my best. I’m going to give it my all because it was from that 400 level that I told myself I was going to graduate as the best accounting student. I noticed a significant increase in my GP.
In my 400 level first semester, I had a 4.98, and finally, in my second semester, I attained the 5.00 point that I always wanted to have. When I look back at everything, I see that achieving that actually came from that little failure I had in 300 level second semester. It really pushed me to give it my best, to do a lot of things that would help me attain what I attained. So, that was a memorable moment for me: attaining the 5.00 GPA, and then CGPA, GPA by the way, and yes, getting the best accounting graduating student.
Thank you very much for sharing that with us. What were some of the biggest challenges you faced during your studies, and how did you overcome them?
Okay, one challenge I faced during my studies was balance, actually. I wasn’t only a student; I also had a side hustle, a business I was doing. I was also involved in the committee in church. In church, I was a worker, so we had meetings.
You know how it is to be a worker in church; we used to have meetings like three to four times a week, and then we had to attend a certain number of services.
You have to be there to coordinate and plan. Balancing all that with attending classes and everything was one thing, even with business. It was something I had to be intentional about balancing. I had to make sure I knew how to prioritize.
I knew I couldn’t miss class, and I knew I needed to do my assignments. I knew the times to read, I knew what worked for me, and many more. Balancing personal life, business, and academics was tasking.