Adaeze's Journey: From Village Girl to Software Engineer
Growing up in Enugu, I never imagined I'd one day work as a software engineer in Lagos. My parents are farmers, and when I finished secondary school with excellent results, we all knew university was out of reach financially. I spent nearly two years helping at home and doing small business, watching my classmates move ahead while I stayed behind.
A cousin told me about TryCeed during one of my lowest moments. At first, I didn't believe strangers would care about my story. But I had nothing to lose, so I created my campaign, explaining my situation honestly - how I needed help with school fees, accommodation, and books to study Computer Science at UNILAG.
What happened next changed everything. Within weeks, people started donating. Some sent ₦5,000, others ₦50,000. They left messages saying they believed in me. One woman in Abuja who donated said she once struggled the same way. That meant more to me than the money itself.
University was hard - balancing studies with part-time work to contribute. But whenever I felt overwhelmed, I'd remember the people who invested in me. After graduating last year with Second Class Upper, I got hired by a fintech startup. My first month's salary, I donated to two students on TryCeed. It's my way of continuing the cycle.
"TryCeed showed me that Nigerians genuinely care about each other's success. I'm proof that with a little help and a lot of determination, dreams can come true."