Just when you think you have everything under control, life finds a way to shake the ground beneath you.
Akutu was beginning to feel a sense of rhythm in her life. The doubts weren't gone, but they weren't as loud anymore. She had started speaking up more in class, engaging with new ideas, and even considering opportunities beyond her studies.
Then, life happened.
The first blow came when her father fell ill back home.
Her mother called late at night, her voice heavy with worry.
"He's stable, but the doctors say he needs long-term treatment," she said.
Akutu's heart clenched. She wanted to be there. She wanted to help.
But she was thousands of miles away, stuck between her education and her family's struggles.
The second challenge came from academics.
A difficult group project tested her patience. She had always preferred working alone, but this assignment required teamwork.
One of her teammates, Daniel, was unreliable—missing meetings, submitting rushed work, and making excuses.
Akutu tried to manage, but frustration built up.
"Daniel, we need everyone to pull their weight," she finally said one evening.
He shrugged. "Relax, we'll figure it out."
She clenched her fists. I am figuring it out. You're not.
She had to choose—carry the entire project alone or confront the issue head-on.
The third challenge was financial.
Her father's illness meant that money was tight.
She noticed it first when her mother sent a smaller allowance than usual. Then, when she had to rethink buying certain things—books, better food, even small comforts like coffee.
For the first time, she wondered—should I get a job?
Balancing work and studies would be tough, but what choice did she have?
As she sat on her bed, overwhelmed, she realized something.
Challenges weren't just obstacles.
They were tests—measuring her strength, her resilience, her ability to adapt.
And if she wanted to succeed, she couldn't run from them.
She had to face them.
The pulleys of life had shifted once again.