1/2 I promised to share my journey once I get the chance, i broke it down into two different posts.

I have done all sorts of jobs to pay my bills and tuition. To give you context, my tuition is roughly $3500 for a 4-credit course and I need at least 52 credits to graduate.

I even took 2 different classes separate from the 52 required credits because of my non-Computer Science background.

My first job was at a factory, I worked so freaking hard . I worked between 60-70 hours weekly @ $10/hr. As menial and stressful as that job was, I was so happy to have it.

I was saving for my tuition; I had not even started applying to schools at the time.

I worked there for about 3 months before I met someone who told me of a hotel cleaning job that paid $13/hr. Omo! I felt I had hammered, 3 whole extra dollars per hour�. I immediately applied for the hotel job and quit the factory one.

I came back from work one day and the people (biologically related people) I lived with refused to open the door for me. I was paying rent and utility bills at this place, but they felt they could throw me out to teach me a lesson because we had a misunderstanding (gist for another day).
I called aunties I was close to so they would help me talk to them to let me take a few things but they refused to let me into the house.

I contemplated calling the police but changed my mind, I didn't want to get anyone into unnecessary trouble.

I sat outside that house till midnight, when it became obvious they would not let me in, I left.

A friend from my old factory job housed me for the night, her house was 1hour drive away from Chicago and 2 hours away by bus. The next morning, I was on the bus for 2 hours to my hotel job.

I did it for 3 days and got tired, I knew it wasn't sustainable. I talked to a friend from my hotel job (She lives in Chicago) and she agreed to house me till I found a house.

I aggressively started looking for a house as I didn't want to inconvenience my host. I was freaking scared as living by myself meant more bills, it meant that I wouldn't save as much for my masters. But what other choice is there, I resolved to work extra hours if need be.

I got a house within a week, signed the lease, and moved in. I didn't even care what the house looked like, I had roof over my head, so I was happy.

That hotel cleaning job bleeped up my body, my body didn't agree with all that bending, cleaning, and dusting. Yet I did the job diligently, so much that my manager offered to increase my pay to $15 when I wanted to quit.

I turned down the offered because my body couldn't take it any longer, plus I heard from someone that doing Door Dash(food delivery) paid much more.

I had resolved to try Door Dash, but I didn't have a car nor a driving license. I took some of the money I had saved for my tuition to buy a small old car. You should have seen me that day, I was so happy and proud of my car.

A friend taught me how to drive and in less than a month, I applied for my driving license and got it on my first attempt.

I decided to test run Door Dash to ensure it paid as much as I had heard. I was still working at the hotel then, after my 8-5 shift, I would do food delivery from 5/6-9. I did it for like a month and it indeed paid better than my cleaning job.

I quit the hotel cleaning job and focused on the food delivery. I started researching about other food delivery companies, I wanted to know if they paid more. I discovered Uber and Grubhub. I signed up for them and started alternating between the three different companies.

At this point , I had saved enough to start school, so I went back to all of Omotoyosi Ogunbanwo 's Data science posts I had saved.

- China Agwubuo

2/2 My partner and I started discussing on what I would study. We had prior discussions about my change of career, but no final decisions were made.

I approached Ty, after our conversations, I decided on Data Science.

I made my research and decided on DePaul University.

I was still working as a food delivery driver. I did it almost every day.

I would study from 8/9am to 2/3pm and then drive from 5pm to 1am on most days.

I would take my books in my car, whenever the orders were delaying from coming in from the delivery companies, I would read my book in my car.

Multiple times I would break down and cry bitterly, I would ask God why I had to suffer so much. I am a freaking graduate, a Second-class upper graduate, yet here I am delivering food to people in America.

I could easily apply for another job, but none of those would pay me the money I made from doing deliveries or give me the flexibility the job offered.

Most of the people I did deliveries with upgraded their cars, but I couldn't cause all my money went to tuition and bills. I hated that car, but wetin man go do?

My back and shoulders started hurting more than it used to (A prior domestic accident is responsible for the initial pain) due to long driving hours. My doctor said I had to slow down both on driving and the long hours I spent studying.

I did not have a life, if I wasn't studying, I was doing deliveries. To make sure I wasn't wasting money on unnecessary things, I learnt to make my own hair as your girl wanted to still slay��.

See eh, not everyone will understand your journey and that’s fine. Certain ex friends would make silly jokes about how I was being too frugal. I got tired of explaining that I was sponsoring myself through school(not like they didn't know).

As part of my master’s completion requirement, I needed to do an analytical internship, take a class or complete a project.

I chose to do an internship. I dm-ed Ty to tell her all about it.I didn't think I was ready because I had only taken a few classes at the time. Ty said bullshit! Apply baby girl.

I started applying, omo rejection left, right and center. I finally got one, but it wasn't an analytical internship, it was a Machine learning internship.

I took it to harness my skills and went right back to searching for an analytical internship.

Facebook approached me for an internship, I was thrilled, I ran to Ty and told her. I think she was even more thrilled than I was. I have never met anyone who gets so happy at someone's success like Ty.

She helped prep me for the interview, unfortunately I didn't get it.

I reconnected with the younger sister of my childhood friend, she read about my Machine learning internship and reached out to me. We got talking and she promised to help me get a job.

Ha Amaka, a whole job���, please na internship I want.

I had become very intentional about the friends I keep at this time, if you aren’t in tech or inspirational, I wasn't interested�

Amaka helped me revamp my resume and posted it on different job sites. She also sent my resume to all the recruiters she had previously worked with. The interview calls started coming in, with a few rejections of cause.lol.

I got my first Data analyst job; I was so emotional. I did not know that was just the beginning.

A couple more interviews and I landed a Data Analytical Internship at a fortune 500 company and a Data management consultant role at a fortune 100 company.

All of this was happening at the same time, I was so overwhelmed. I even had to reschedule the Google interview I had.

I ran between Amaka, Ty and my partner. I didn't know which to accept or reject.

While still on that, my school sent me a nomination to join the Upsilon Pi Epsilon Honor society.

My life has changed so much in just 3 days. My younger sister called me a few days ago to congratulate me and I started crying.

I still cry from time to time because it still feels like a dream.

I have to get used to this, used to living the life I worked so hard for, living the life I dreamt of!

Your dreams are valid!

- China Agwubuo

My God,

This mental and physical strength is commendable, Ma’am!

God bless your hustle, please remember your people back home

B

kudos... we are coming to join you

that honda face, dey vex...........

Inspirational.

Thank you for sharing sis,

Every great man or woman started from somewhere. That Hosp job can be very stressing sha (as in eh, person body go just sour after night shift+overtime)

I key into your success

Cityboyy:
2/2 My partner and I started discussing on what I would study. We had prior discussions about my change of career, but no final decisions were made.

I approached Ty, after our conversations, I decided on Data Science.

I made my research and decided on DePaul University.

I was still working as a food delivery driver. I did it almost every day.

I would study from 8/9am to 2/3pm and then drive from 5pm to 1am on most days.

I would take my books in my car, whenever the orders were delaying from coming in from the delivery companies, I would read my book in my car.

Multiple times I would break down and cry bitterly, I would ask God why I had to suffer so much. I am a freaking graduate, a Second-class upper graduate, yet here I am delivering food to people in America.

I could easily apply for another job, but none of those would pay me the money I made from doing deliveries or give me the flexibility the job offered.

Most of the people I did deliveries with upgraded their cars, but I couldn't cause all my money went to tuition and bills. I hated that car, but wetin man go do?

My back and shoulders started hurting more than it used to (A prior domestic accident is responsible for the initial pain) due to long driving hours. My doctor said I had to slow down both on driving and the long hours I spent studying.

I did not have a life, if I wasn't studying, I was doing deliveries. To make sure I wasn't wasting money on unnecessary things, I learnt to make my own hair as your girl wanted to still slay��.

See eh, not everyone will understand your journey and that’s fine. Certain ex friends would make silly jokes about how I was being too frugal. I got tired of explaining that I was sponsoring myself through school(not like they didn't know).

As part of my master’s completion requirement, I needed to do an analytical internship, take a class or complete a project.

I chose to do an internship. I dm-ed Ty to tell her all about it.I didn't think I was ready because I had only taken a few classes at the time. Ty said bullshit! Apply baby girl.

I started applying, omo rejection left, right and center. I finally got one, but it wasn't an analytical internship, it was a Machine learning internship.

I took it to harness my skills and went right back to searching for an analytical internship.

Facebook approached me for an internship, I was thrilled, I ran to Ty and told her. I think she was even more thrilled than I was. I have never met anyone who gets so happy at someone's success like Ty.

She helped prep me for the interview, unfortunately I didn't get it.

I reconnected with the younger sister of my childhood friend, she read about my Machine learning internship and reached out to me. We got talking and she promised to help me get a job.

Ha Amaka, a whole job���, please na internship I want.

I had become very intentional about the friends I keep at this time, if you aren’t in tech or inspirational, I wasn't interested�

Amaka helped me revamp my resume and posted it on different job sites. She also sent my resume to all the recruiters she had previously worked with. The interview calls started coming in, with a few rejections of cause.lol.

I got my first Data analyst job; I was so emotional. I did not know that was just the beginning.

A couple more interviews and I landed a Data Analytical Internship at a fortune 500 company and a Data management consultant role at a fortune 100 company.

All of this was happening at the same time, I was so overwhelmed. I even had to reschedule the Google interview I had.

I ran between Amaka, Ty and my partner. I didn't know which to accept or reject.

While still on that, my school sent me a nomination to join the Upsilon Pi Epsilon Honor society.

My life has changed so much in just 3 days. My younger sister called me a few days ago to congratulate me and I started crying.

I still cry from time to time because it still feels like a dream.

I have to get used to this, used to living the life I worked so hard for, living the life I dreamt of!

Your dreams are valid!

- China Agwubuo

Congratulations, you have something to show for. higher u go and for us in 9ja too.

Congratulations. Great story indeed. Depaul is a very good school. Though expensive because it's a private school. Completed a programming certification program there some donkey years ago! Plenty of job opportunities in the Chicagoland area. Welcome to Chicago!

Bossman:
Congratulations. Great story indeed. Depaul is a very good school. Though expensive because it's a private school. Completed a programming certification program there some donkey years ago! Plenty of job opportunities in the Chicagoland area. Welcome to Chicago!

high crime rate?

youngsahito:
Congratulations, you have something to show for. higher u go and for us in 9ja too.

Must you Quote the whole write up
Why you come suffer me na?? E no good oooo

lordally:


Must you Quote the whole write up
Why you come suffer me na?? E no good oooo

how? cos I don't understand sha.

jesmond3945:
high crime rate?

Are you also living in the state?

Something about this sounds fake. I apologize if it's not.

You lost me at Google, Facebook and Fortune 500 companies. How are they inviting you for interviews with no experience in Data analytics? Data Analytics!!!!
Ha! God works in mysterious ways.

Childofthelord:
You lost me at Google, Facebook and Fortune 500 companies. How are they inviting you for interviews with no experience in Data analytics? Data Analytics!!!!
Ha! God works in mysterious ways.

They invited her for an “internship”. The purpose of internship is to gain experience. Haven’t you heard of people doing internships in Facebook and Google or Big companies? Dumb Nigerians. Always want to show themselves. Just congratulate her and go away

Says who? Yes, some parts of Chicago, just like any other BIG city in the US.

jesmond3945:
high crime rate?

See as person dey change job monthly like say nah akara , Thats one beauty about a working country. Imagine , You Paying school fees , and rent just for doing deliveries. Who dear does that in the fucki n g hole country. We all go get there sha one day .

slimanyd:
See as person dey change job monthly like say nah akara , Thats one beauty about a working country. Imagine , You Paying school fees , and rent just for doing deliveries. Who dear does that in the fucki n g hole country. We all go get there sha one day .

You can gross $5k per month ($60k per annum) doing food deliveries (DoorDash, Ubereats) working 11am to 9pm (with a 1 hour break and several down times in between ), 5 days a week (work Saturday, Sunday and take any 2 days off during the week) if you locate a good area to do the deliveries.

Nothing concern me with her "success story". My own is she has a very big brezz

This is just an ad to convince people to drive for these companies. I've noticed more ads lately.

They also mixed in a STEM job they don't want to pay a proper salary for, so they're trying to saturate the market.

If people were making good money doing deliveries, they wouldn't have to advertise so aggressively.

If the money is decent, maybe they have high turnover because it's not consistent, or it's a stressful pace (or very long hours). If that's not true, then they want more drivers, so they can pay less and treat drivers worse.

Cousin9999:
This is just an ad to convince people to drive for these companies. I've noticed more ads lately.

They also mixed in a STEM job they don't want to pay a proper salary for, so they're trying to saturate the market.

Furthermore, she bought a car when she didn't know how to drive and within a month she had a driving license. I have my doubts on this timeline.

If people were making good money doing deliveries, they wouldn't have to advertise so aggressively.

If the money is decent, maybe they have high turnover because it's not consistent, or it's a stressful pace (or very long hours). If that's not true, then they want more drivers, so they can pay less and treat drivers worse.

After checking previous posts of op on nairaland,
I came to the conclusion that you may be right.

Furthermore, she bought a car when she didn't know how to drive and within a month she had a driving license. I have my doubts on this timeline.

I can never advise anyone to work full time and go to school full time simultaneously.
This will have a negative impact on the grades

sharpman1:


You can gross $5k per month (60k per annum) doing food deliveries (DoorDash, Ubereats) working 11am to 9pm (with a 1 hour break and several down times in between ), 5 days a week (work Saturday, Sunday and take any 2 days off during the week) if you locate a good area to do the deliveries.

Haaaa, oluwa mi o. Oya ,do wonders

wow

such my kind of woman, nothing do you, it's just a school, u will surely graduate from it

more success and less stress ahead sis

RESPECT HUSTLE!!!

Happy for her.

Bossman:
Congratulations. Great story indeed. Depaul is a very good school. Though expensive because it's a private school. Completed a programming certification program there some donkey years ago! Plenty of job opportunities in the Chicagoland area. Welcome to Chicago!

Chiraq? I rather go back to naija than live in that hell city.

TheCongo2:
I can never advise anyone to work full time and go to school full time simultaneously.
This will have a negative impact on the grades

I work full time and study full time with 3 kids and my grades are top notch. It depends on how resilient you are and of course my supportive hubby that takes over the home front when it gets too hectic.

oknee:


I work full time and study full time with 3 kids and my grades are top notch. It depends on how resilient you are and of course my supportive hubby that takes over the home front when it gets too hectic.

That means you are one in a million.
But then again, what is your definition of top notch. Is that straight A's ?

I have done it and my overall average was a B. I could have done way better than that.
I will never advise anyone to repeat my experience.

oknee:


I work full time and study full time with 3 kids and my grades are top notch. It depends on how resilient you are and of course my supportive hubby that takes over the home front when it gets too hectic.

It also depends on the classes you take and the type of job you do. With jobs like front desk security, all you do is to seat on a chair and watch the door entrance. This would give you plenty of time to study. And there are many jobs like that.

Manufacturer jobs are the type to avoid if you go to school full time.