10 THINGS MY PARENTS NEVER DID FOR ME AND WHY THAT MADE ME STRONGER

10 THINGS MY PARENTS NEVER DID FOR ME AND WHY THAT MADE ME STRONGER  

1.  My First Bank Account: At 12, an uncle gifted me cash. While others teens might have bought clothes, I walked into First Bank alone and opened my first account. My parents never knew.  

2.  Learning to Drive: Working full-time Job then (8am–6pm), I found a driving school nearby. For 3 months, I saved every extra naira. Then, for 30 straight days, I left home at 5:30am for 7am lessons still making it to work by 8am.  

3.  My International Passport: Armed with just my small China phone back then, I researched the process, cut back on comforts, saved relentlessly, and walked into the Immigration office at Suka to secure my first passport.  

4.  Buying Stocks: When the "Senator wear" trend tempted me some few years back, I saved for an outfit. One morning, I woke up and redirected that money into my first America S&P 500 shares instead.  

5.  Career Connections: I never had parental referrals. I embraced humility, faced countless rejections, fought my limitations, and carved my own path one resilient step at a time.  

6.  Building Assets: Did I inherit property? Yes. But 100% stay off it and focused on building my own legacy. My first investment, A small local plot at a community. Sold it, reinvested, and now I’m steadily acquiring lands in low-cost estates all while renting a small Hamlet with pride in my growing family.  

7.  Tech Skills: My first computer was an old Toshiba laptop in early 2000s. I taught myself typing via Alisbecon. By 2009, I joined peers at Zone3 Neighborhood Center, mastering IT basics then advanced to databases, cloud software, and coding through online courses.  

8.  Handwork Mastery: No one enrolled me in vocational training. I learned countless skills independently sometimes to the point of distraction and I’m still hungry to learn more.  

9.  University Education: My father only gave ₦50k; an aunt contributed ₦30k doing my registration. I paid every other fee, bought every book, and earned very degree through sheer will.  

10. My Wedding: My marriage was fully self-funded. I saved, budgeted, and took complete financial responsibility for this sacred commitment.  

Having parental support is a blessing. But when  absence, that’s where your power awakens. Your life’s design rests in your hands and your faith not in anyone’s shadow. Blaming others dims your light.

Own your journey. Fuel it with grit, hope, and prayer. Your greatness wasn’t handed to you it was forged by you. And that makes it unbreakable. 

You don’t owe the world explanations. You owe yourself the relentless pursuit of your potential.

Now rise and build.

Until the moment when will shall dance in white Greater Grace.

Oyugbo Osagie Jonah