The easiest way out for broke/poor student

The lifestyle of students across the varying
campuses in Nigeria depicts a close to perfect
picture of the gap between the haves and the
have-nots in the country.
Students from rich homes often appear to have
no worries, they look ‘cleaner’, use the latest
phones, eat at the best eateries and always
have money to buy all the required study
materials and textbooks.
On the other hand, the broke (poor/not
financially strong) students struggle through
every semester especially at month ends; often
not having enough cash, so they only buy
study materials for courses that are ‘life-
threatening’.
Now, what should be the proper response of
broke students? Should broke students attempt
to alter their financial state or just endure and
struggle their way through school? (Have in
mind that your financial condition might not
change even after graduation).
From personal experience, the only way out
for broke students in Nigerian Tertiary
Institutions is this:
Do Something.
Students who hate being broke must stop
wishing, dreaming or even praying for a better
student life (in terms of their finances) while
folding their arms.
Do something today to initiate change or do
nothing and remain the same.
How do you ‘Do Something’?
As a student, the main reason for which you
are in school is to study and not to hustle.
Therefore, you must not neglect your books in
pursuit of money- this is something student-
hustlers must understand. There has got to be
balance.
Having said that, here is how you can ‘Do
Something’ in your quest to stop being broke:
1. Start with your mindset
Winning any ‘battle’ begins in the mind.
Adapt the mindset of winners; say to yourself:
“I can do anything I set my mind to do”.
Accept that your broke student-life can be fixed
and that whatever you will do MUST NOT
negatively affect your academics.
2. Appraise yourself and identify any skill
you have – any skill at all
Do you have any skill? Can you style hair? Can
you sew? Is there anything or something you
know how to do?
Can you teach?
3. Monetize your skill
No one should answer ‘No’ to the last question
in point number 2.
Someone who printed and made photocopies of
a notice that read: “Get a Home Lesson
Teacher for your Precious Kids. Call
080xxxxxxxx (his phone number)” and pasted
them around the senior staff quarters.
Count 2 weeks later, he had started helping 8
primary school pupils with their assignments.
He worked 3 hours every working day at the
rate of 5,000 naira per month for each child.
What will you do with an extra 8 x
5,000=40,000 naira every month?
Please note that our aim at this point is not to
be as rich as Dangote but to stop being broke:
to be able to buy handouts, textbooks and eat
well; because we need those in order to
graduate well.