I was an SHS graduate for twelve years until just recently when I entered the university with the help of my fiancé. I didn’t get to continue my education after SHS because my family was against it. They were against me continuing.

After WASSCE, I had some bad grades. Not all, but some. And because of that, I couldn’t get into the university for the course I wanted. I know why I failed. Consistently, I was falling ill when I was in school. I would be sick, and when I returned home to Accra, I would just be fine. Up till now, I do not understand what it was all about, but it greatly affected my WASSCE grades.

Then, I started trying my hand at NOVDEC. Several times I registered, and every time I failed. I just would not get the required grades to get me admitted into the university. So it explained why my parents gave up on me at a point. Because what if I went and failed again?

Then I met my fiancé, and he promised heaven and earth that he would do everything to get me back to school. I was close to thirty, and I was afraid of it all. I felt old. I felt my time had passed. I felt it was not worth it, that it was too late. What should a thirty-year-old be doing in the same class as twenty-year-olds? Also, I had taken up teaching and was enjoying it. I was earning, so I didn’t see any need to go back. But he, my then-boyfriend, now fiancé, was relentless.

One day, he told me he had registered me into senior high school again, to start afresh, and that I should get ready. Ladies and gentlemen, I started SHS Form One all over again. And guess who passed with flying colours? Me. I did.

When it was time for me to go after my degree, my parents disagreed. They said I was growing old, and to pass the time, I could just go in for one of these certificate courses instead and be done with it. But I refused. Now I had the chance, and I wasn’t going to throw it all away. Plus, my fiancé was willing to sponsor and help me. So it went on and on for three years. Only then could I finally convince my parents, but even then, they refused to help pay my fees. They left the burden on my fiancé. They said that since he had come for my hand in marriage and was going to be responsible for me now, he might as well take up the responsibility. In essence, they laid two choices before me: I should choose between marriage and school.

I chose both.

My fiancé didn’t refuse. He took care of it all, and today, I am enrolled in the university, pursuing my dream career even in my thirties. We will be getting married this year, too.

Thriving In A Relationship When The Man Doesn’t Have Money

I am so grateful to have such a great and wonderful man in my life, who pushed me to levels I didn’t know I could reach and helped me climb the educational ladder. God bless him.

When I read the story about the man who truly understood marriage when he had to help his wife read and write, I knew it was my turn to also share. I wanted to tell everyone that your dream is valid and that there are good men out there for you, too.

—Seyram

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