#CareerTruth: Her Mom Wanted Her To be a Doctor, Her Dad Wanted Her To Be A Finance Girl. Guess What She Chose?

A lot of people studied courses that their parents wanted them to study. Some other people didn't get the course they applied for and ended up studying something else. Some people are not practicing what they studied. Are you doing what you planned to do when you were a child? Is your present career better than what you planned to do? Every week we'll be sharing stories of people and their Career Truth.

This week we have Victoria, a Broadcast Journalist. Who had to choose between her Mother and her Father's choice but eventually chose herself. She says she’s happy and fulfilled.

What did you want to study?

The truth is, I didn’t know what exactly I wanted to study.

Let me just give you a brief story before we get there. I’ve always known that I wanted to be on TV reading the news. Growing up as a child, I used to be very obsessed with Tokunbo Ajayi. I felt she was so smart. Then I didn’t know there was anything like TelePrompTer. I felt everything she was saying on NTA News was from her head. Haha.

I was just fascinated by anything that had to do with the news. That for me was what I wanted to do. I didn’t know what it was called. I didn’t know what it was about.

Oh wait! How old were you?

I was about 4 or 5 years. I remember then, 9 o'clock was bed time and that was the same time for NTA News. So instead of going upstairs to sleep, I’ll hide behind the staircase, just so I can peep and watch the news. That was my childhood fantasy. That was what I wanted to do.

Fast forward primary school, I remember after Junior WAEC in secondary school, I went home for the break and my mom was telling me about studying Medicine. I was like “why are these people trying to confuse me?”. She went on to say she wanted me to be a doctor. So I joined science class in senior secondary school.

Oh wow!

Yeah. Until one day momsy came for visitation. I was in SS2. I told her “you know what, I am going to leave science class” and as you’ll guess, we fought. She asked me why, I said I’m not enjoying it, besides it’s hard. I loved physics but I hated chemistry. I said it was really hard and I couldn’t cope. She said “no, you have to try, put effort. When you come home for holidays, we’ll get you a teacher. You have to do Medicine. You have to be a Doctor”.

So what did you do?

Somehow, we got talking to my guidance and counselor teacher and she said if I didn’t want to be in science class, my mom shouldn’t force me to be there. She advised her to let me do what I wanted. So I went ahead to join commercial class the next term.

Nice. No more fights?

Well, I finished secondary school and my dad came with his own wahala again. He said “You have to do Finance”. At this point, I said what’s going on? Can they just let me figure out what I wanted for myself?

Haha. So what did you study eventually?

I went with my dad’s decision. I studied Finance and Banking at the University of Port Harcourt. In my third year, I had my Eureka moment.

Oh! What happened?

I had friends in Mass Communications Department. I had a friend that was doing her Industrial Training (I.T) at the time. She came to my room one day and said she had something to record at A.I.T. and I should escort her.

I followed her to the studio. She had a script she was working with but she was struggling with it, so I said “let me just help you” and I got into the recording booth and killed it! haha. I did it well. Really well and the guy there asked me for my own script. I said I didn’t have any script and that I was just helping my friend. Then he said, I even did it more than the person that owned the assignment.

That thing stuck. In the cab, on my way back to school I kept thinking about it. I kept asking myself if I was sure I was doing what I wanted.

I knew it wasn’t what I wanted but I couldn’t imagine starting over - writing jamb and trying to get another admission. It was a no-go area for me. So I said I was going to continue struggling with Finance - because I was basically struggling.

The struggle was to do well in school and not waste my father’s money by graduating with a Third Class. At most, a good 2:2 and just give him the certificate.

When I graduated in 2011, he said I should go and do my Masters. I said “Oga, it won’t work o”

Hahaha

I told him I was an adult and it was time for me to make my own decisions. For me, that was when I decided to follow my passion. 

Great! So what are you doing now?

Right now, I’m a Broadcast Journalist. I work with a Radio station. And I believe it’s the best decision I have made in my adult life because I know if I had continued in the path of finance, I would have been working in some bank or an insurance company.

I would have been miserable. This job gives me fulfillment. I wake up everyday happy, that I’m going to do what I love. What I enjoy.

How about your parents? What do they think about your new career path? You know they both wanted different things for you. Are they happy?

Well... when I started going to radio school my mom had her doubts. She asked me if I was sure but when she saw I wasn’t backing down and no amount of talk was going to make me change my mind, she gave me her support.

But for my dad it was different. He felt disrespected at first but now everyone has come to accept it and I believe they are proud of me and the decisions I have made. So yeah, we are in a good place

Do you have any plans? Like going back to school?

Yes, because I don’t have a communications background besides radio school. For my masters I intend doing something in media and communications.

When do you plan to do that?

I wanted to do it this year but I had other things to do, so I am looking at next year.

I can see that you are happy and fulfilled. Not sure there’s any need in asking if you plan to change career.

Fulfillment... well... I am a very ambitious person. Haha.

I have done Radio. This is my 7th year. Right now, I am making plans to finally... you know TV has always been the big apple. That’s where this whole stuff and love for what I am doing now came from. So I’m making plans to eventually switch to TV. Hopefully, that works out.

Oh, that sounds really cool. I hope it works out

Yeah. Thank you! Hopefully, my story will inspire someone to live their dream.

Victoria Long-John is a seasoned newscaster and voice over artiste.

A product of the University of Port Harcourt and trained at the Federal Radio Corporation o Nigeria (FRCN). She has worked with reputable organisations such as Rhythm FM Port Harcourt and AIT.

She is presently the news anchor on The Beat 99.9 FM Port Harcourt. Join her on the headline news on The Beat 99.9 FM Port Harcourt every 2 hours and on major bulletins at 6:30am and 5:00pm, Mondays through Fridays.

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