🎓Congratulations Okoli Ebuka Miracle, Uniport Best Graduating Male Student and 2nd Overall Best Graduating Student at the 35th Convocation Ceremony. [In his words Okoli Ebuka ] 📩 Dear friends, I’ve wanted to write to you for a long time. But each time, I hesitated, to lost in my thoughts. I read other graduates’ write-ups, and instead of finding clarity, I got more confused. At first, I wanted to write the usual — tell you how I come from a single-parent home with average means, and how I had to push against every odd. I wanted to share how I was told not to bother applying to university, but still found my way in. Then I thought I’d talk about my academic journey, the struggles, the late nights, the moments I studied not because I wanted to, but because I needed to silence the noise in my head. There were days I felt like quitting. Financial stress. Emotional breakdowns. And disappointment from people I expected would stand with me. I cried, more than once. I lost interest in things I used to love. I ran errands for classmates, even the “small” ones, just to gather something to sort out one or two things. But I did it all with a straight face. You’d never know I wasn’t the ‘perfect’ student everyone assumed I was. I thought maybe I should write something motivational, something that would inspire others. But sitting here tonight, just before convocation, I’ve come to a different realization. There’s nothing I’ve been through that others haven’t faced in their own way. Nothing about my story is more special than yours. When I got into this university, after missing out on UNIZIK even with a 270 JAMB score, I never thought graduating with a first class was even possible. Whenever the topic came up, I stayed quiet. I knew what I was carrying. So this letter isn’t just about me. It’s for you, anyone who’s had to fight through something. Whether you learned a skill, pushed through school despite financial stress, or are still figuring it out, you’re doing well. You’re already winning. Don’t let anyone’s success make you forget your own hard work. Behind every celebrated face, there are others who fought harder battles and still go unseen. This isn’t a letter to show off achievements. It’s a reminder that what you put your heart to is possible. And as Psalm 20:4 says, “May He give you the desire of your heart and make all your plans succeed.” In the end, we are all first class in our own spaces, in our own ways. Yours sincerely Okoli, Ebuka Miracle BSc Sociology, UNIPORT CGPA: 4.88 / 5.0 Best Graduating Student, Department of Sociology (2023 Session) Best Graduating Student, Department of Sociology (2022/2023 Combined Session) Best Graduating Student, Faculty of Social Sciences (2023 Session) Best Graduating Student, Faculty of Social Sciences (2022/2023 Session) 2nd Overall Best Graduating Student, University of Port Harcourt Best Graduating Male Student, University of Port Harcourt _____________________________________________ _____________________________________________ #UniqueStoary #Uniport #ABetterUniport #Uniportat50 #ProudlyUniport #35thconvocationceremony #GoldenJubilee #UniportCelebrates #Campus #CampusGist #CampusLife