In a world where success stories often begin with privilege, Gbemisola Taiwo’s journey is a refreshing and deeply inspiring reminder that grit, resilience, and faith can carry you through life’s most crushing disappointments. During her National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) year in Nigeria, Taiwo made a life-changing decision: she would save every single naira of her monthly allowance to pursue her dream of studying for a master’s degree in the United States. With laser focus, she went beyond just saving her allowance. She also set aside ₦200 monthly from her meager salary to ensure she reached her goal. By the end of the service year, she had saved ₦20,000 — a modest sum to some, but a massive accomplishment for her at the time. That money was carefully used to pay for graduate school application fees, transcripts, and other necessary documents. She poured her heart into the process, certain that her discipline and sacrifice would be rewarded. But when the time came to attend her visa i...