Beyond First Class: How Queen-Esther Obayemi Overcame Personal Loss to Become UNIOSUN’s Best Graduating Student

For Queen-Esther Obayemi, graduating with First Class Honours was more than an academic accomplishment. It was the outcome of years of determination, personal sacrifices and an extraordinary journey through some of life’s most difficult moments.

The Linguistics and Communication Studies graduate of Osun State University (UNIOSUN) emerged as the Best Graduating Student in the Faculty of Culture and the third-highest graduating student overall, achieving the feat despite losing both parents during her undergraduate studies.

Her journey offers a powerful reminder of the resilience, determination and potential of young Nigerians who continue to pursue their ambitions despite challenging circumstances.

In an exclusive interview with Youth Index, Obayemi reflected on her academic journey, student leadership experience, personal struggles, the support system that sustained her and the lessons she hopes other young people will take from her experience.

From a Childhood Dream of Medicine to Discovering Her Passion

Born and raised in Ibadan, Oyo State, and an indigene of Ekiti State, Obayemi initially imagined herself pursuing Medicine before her interests gradually shifted towards the humanities during secondary school.

Her growing interest in Government and politics initially made Political Science an attractive option. However, an encounter during a secondary school visit to a higher institution introduced her to Communication and Language Arts, opening her mind to a different academic direction.

She became fascinated by how language shapes human interaction, particularly after a lecturer explained the differences between talking and speaking, hearing and listening, and reading and studying.

That experience eventually influenced her decision to study Linguistics and Communication Studies at UNIOSUN.

Although the programme initially differed from what she had imagined, she gradually developed an interest in the discipline and came to appreciate its relevance to everyday communication.

The Determination Behind Her First Class Achievement

Obayemi said graduating with First Class Honours had been a personal ambition from the beginning of her university journey.

Her determination was partly inspired by the happiness she saw on her mother’s face whenever she achieved something, regardless of how small it appeared.

She admitted that there were moments when she tried to convince herself that graduating with a Second Class Upper would still be a good achievement. However, her ambition continued to push her towards the goal she had initially set.

Her approach to academic work was built around discipline, consistency and understanding her individual learning style.

Rather than depending entirely on group reading, she preferred studying independently, taking notes during lectures, revising lessons after classes and consulting additional materials whenever she encountered difficult subjects.

She also relied on past questions and prioritised understanding classroom explanations before undertaking further reading.

Interestingly, her reading pattern sometimes appeared unconventional to her friends, as she could move between different sections of her materials rather than follow a textbook from beginning to end.

However, she understood what worked for her and remained committed to it.

Balancing Academic Excellence with Student Leadership

Beyond the classroom, Obayemi was actively involved in student leadership, serving as the Vice President of her department.

The position required her to balance academic responsibilities with meetings, administrative duties and other student-related engagements.

There were occasions when she returned home after a demanding day only to receive calls about emergency meetings or other responsibilities requiring her attention.

Despite these demands, she remained committed to her studies and managed to maintain her academic performance.

Her passion for politics and student participation was evident, but she understood the importance of prioritising her long-term ambition.

Although she enjoyed campaigns, debates and the excitement of student politics, she decided against contesting for a higher leadership position in her final year because she did not want additional responsibilities to interfere with her academic goals.

“I love politics and participating in it. The process, the bantering, the feeling of victory, the thrills of the chants, but my primary goal was still to graduate with a first class,” she said.

Her experience demonstrates how young people can combine leadership involvement with personal development while recognising the importance of setting priorities.

Losing Both Parents: The Challenge That Tested Her Resilience

Perhaps the most difficult chapter of Obayemi’s university experience was the loss of both parents.

She lost her father during the second semester of her 100 level, an experience that introduced her to the emotional realities of growing up without a parent.

However, losing her mother during her 300 level became an even more devastating experience.

Her mother had been ill since late 2024, and Obayemi spent much of her December and New Year holidays at the hospital, hoping for her recovery.

Although her mother underwent surgery and initially appeared to be improving, her condition later deteriorated into a life-threatening illness.

The situation became overwhelming, and Obayemi admitted that she considered abandoning her education.

“I wanted to just give up on everything and drop out of school,” she recalled.

She eventually returned to school for the second semester, but her mother died during the first week after her resumption.

The loss left her emotionally devastated and struggling to find the motivation to continue with everyday activities.

Nevertheless, she gradually found the strength to continue, drawing support from friends, relatives, her church community and people who had been close to her mother.

She particularly acknowledged her friends for standing by her during the difficult period, describing their support as one of the things she remained deeply grateful for.

The Responsibility of Being an Outstanding Student

Obayemi’s academic reputation also came with expectations and additional responsibilities.

Alongside her class representative and close friend, Arikeusola, she participated in several class-related activities, including assisting lecturers, handling assignments and organising tutorials for fellow students.

Some of these responsibilities required considerable time and commitment, even after examinations when many students had already left campus.

Despite the pressure, she continued to find ways to balance her academic work with her responsibilities to other students.

Her experience reflects an important aspect of student leadership: academic excellence can coexist with service, collaboration and a willingness to contribute to the development of others.

A First Class Achievement Beyond Her Expectations

Even in her final semester, Obayemi admitted that she experienced moments of self-doubt.

The expectations of friends, coursemates and lecturers sometimes made her worry about falling short of what people believed she could achieve.

She was also dealing with grief and recurring migraines, which occasionally affected her daily activities.

When the results were eventually released, she discovered that she had graduated with First Class Honours.

The achievement brought overwhelming joy, although the absence of her mother remained a painful reminder of the journey she had endured.

The recognition became even more significant when she discovered that she had emerged as the Best Graduating Student in the Faculty of Culture and the third-highest graduating student overall.

She had initially focused only on securing a First Class degree and never expected the additional distinction.

“It all felt like a dream, I must say. Even I couldn’t believe it,” she said.

For Obayemi, the achievement represented more than academic recognition. It was also a testament to her faith, perseverance and the support of the people who helped her navigate difficult moments.

Her Message to Young Nigerians: Do Not Give Up on Yourself

Reflecting on her experience, Obayemi encouraged young people dealing with academic pressure, personal difficulties and uncertainty about their future not to lose confidence in themselves.

She advised students to understand that individual journeys are different and that success does not always follow a straight path.

According to her, consistency, patience and the willingness to seek help are important parts of personal growth.

“Don’t be too hard on yourself. Take things one step at a time, remain consistent and, most importantly, don’t give up on yourself,” she advised.

She also encouraged young people to recognise when they need to take a break, ask for support and rediscover their motivation rather than measure their progress against the achievements of others.

Looking ahead, Obayemi hopes to continue exploring opportunities, challenging herself and making meaningful contributions wherever she finds herself.

Although she does not claim to have every detail of her future figured out, she remains optimistic about the opportunities ahead.

Her journey is a reminder that behind many outstanding achievements are stories of sacrifice, uncertainty, courage and determination.

For young Nigerians navigating their own paths, her message remains clear: difficult seasons do not have to define the rest of your story.

“Keep your eyes open. By God’s grace, I’ll see you at the top.”