MY JOURNEY SO FAR.

MY JOURNEY SO FAR.

Hello guys,

I’ve been meaning to write about my journey for a while now, but each time I tried, it felt like it wasn’t quite the time. And honestly, even now, I still feel that way. But I’ve realized that if I keep waiting for “the right time,” I may never get to tell it. So, here I am, finally sharing a part of my story.

Let me take you back to where it all began, Ukraine.

Being a medical student in Ukraine was an experience I’ll never forget. I used to be what many would call an “indoors girl.” My life moved in a loop, from school to my room, to the library, and back again. On Wednesdays, we had mid-week service in church, on Fridays, cell meetings and on Sunday, Sunday service. But CE Lviv was more than just a church, it became my spiritual family and my community. I found my people there.

I wasn’t exactly anti-social, but I wasn’t the life of the party either. Maybe “reserved” is the right word. I spoke when I needed to, with all the confidence I could summon. If you met me in one of those moments, you probably wouldn’t guess that I wasn’t naturally a social butterfly. I even anchored church programs and seriously considered starting a YouTube channel. I didn’t, though, instead, I started a podcast.

My friends would probably argue that I’m not shy at all, but I still see myself as a little bit shy. That’s a debate for another day.

In school, I was that student who genuinely loved classes. I’d get tired of long holidays and count down to resumption. Sounds crazy, I know. I wasn’t perfect, but I really tried my best, with God helping me every step of the way. Then things took a wild turn, first COVID-19, then the war. I had to return to Nigeria, then go back to Ukraine, all in the same year. Mentally, I was drained. Emotionally, I was trying to stay afloat. Thank God my younger brother came to Ukraine too, having him there brought some calm to all the chaos.

People who know me know I’m quite selective with food. But one of my ways of having fun in Ukraine was dressing up and going out to try new restaurants, just to explore something different. That was my idea of a good time, no loud noise, just trying something new in my own calm way. It wasn’t until my final year that I went bowling for the first time in my life. It was also that year I visited the amusement park in my city, and other beautiful parks. Moments like that taught me it’s okay to take breaks, to live, to breathe, to do silly fun things without guilt. Please, don’t be like me. Find a balance early. Make space for joy along the journey.

I remember finishing my final licensing exams in Ukraine. KROK 2 came just a week after our OSCEs (Objective Structured Clinical Examination which is a way to test clinical skills using stations with realistic medical situations). I was trembling inside, and outside. I always get those post-exam “anxious vibrations.” My dean asked me how it went, and I couldn’t even find the words. I didn’t cry. I just quietly walked to my dear friend Roselyn, now like a sister, and poured out all my exam anxiety to her. She took me out for some hot chicken biryani. Whether it warmed my heart or just my stomach, I don’t know, but it helped.

When the results came out and I saw I scored around 84%, I was overjoyed. I couldn’t believe how scared I had been. But I get it now, during exams, your body releases adrenaline and cortisol to keep you focused. These hormones sharpen your concentration even when you feel like your brain is mush. That’s why sometimes after exams, you can’t even remember what you wrote, yet somehow, you passed.

My KROK 1 result had been even higher, 96%, but I was still incredibly grateful. I finished medical school with a CGPA of 4.76 out of 5.00. It wasn’t easy. I wrote exams while sick. I pushed myself past what I thought was my breaking point. But God showed up every single time. I’m so thankful that all the school fees, long nights, and my parents’ sacrifices paid off.

Then came the part where I had to leave Ukraine, this time for good. I had to prepare in every way, spiritually, physically, mentally, emotionally, and of course, financially. Shoutout to my parents. They really came through.

I processed my Schengen visa myself, no agent involved. That was a first. I poured everything into that application, prepped all my documents, and wrote a fire cover letter. I love writing, so that was my favourite part.

I traveled to Kyiv for the visa interview. Yes, Kyiv, a city that was and still is under attack. Bombs. Tension. Fear. Yet I went. After submitting my passport, I returned two weeks later to get my passport back and find out if I got the visa or not. While waiting in line outside the embassy, a girl who had just finished told me she saw my passport, and I was rejected. I looked her straight in the eye and said, “God forbid.” I walked in, collected my passport, and was told, “Congratulations.” She was wrong. I had gotten my visa.

I got into a taxi, headed for the bus station, my heart full of so much gratitude, then I heard the bang, it was a bomb not far from where I was. Just like that, joy and sorrow in the same breath. Lives were lost that day. I was smiling one minute, holding back tears the next. That’s what war does. That’s what life sometimes does.

But I thank God for preserving me. It is well.

The journey back home began. I packed my boxes, said my goodbyes. Some of my friends escorted me to the bus station. I left my baby brother and friends behind. Took a bus from Ukraine to Poland because the airspace was still closed. I missed my flight from Poland to France due to long border checks, eight hours long. No refund.

I stayed two days in Poland, then caught the next flight to France, then to Turkey, then finally to Abuja. I stayed two days in Abuja because of unavailable flights, then flew to Port Harcourt. When I arrived, my family was waiting at the gate for me. That moment felt so precious, like light after a storm. It also looked really cute, watching them search for me. Lol.

Now I was back in Naija. What next? Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria exams.

I studied passively for about two months, then actively for another three. I was tired, mentally, emotionally, and even maybe spiritually. But I couldn’t stop.

My friends understood. Even when I didn’t respond to messages, they checked in. Prevail once showed up at my house at 8AM. That meant so much.

I confided in one of my CE pastors about the mental toll it was taking on me, and he spoke peace over me. He encouraged me greatly.

Preparing for MDCN took faith, discipline, consistency, energy, money, clarity of mind, and most of all, Jesus.

The exam was in Kano.

From Port Harcourt, I flew to Abuja, then to Kano. The flight to Kano was delayed, and I arrived past 10PM. First time in Kano. It didn’t feel safe arriving by that time, but God had arranged everything. Family friends picked me up and took me to my hotel.

The exam was a two-day event, CBT first, then OSCE. On Day 1, I was shockingly calm. The usual anxious tremors were gone. The CBT questions were heavily community-health focused, with barely any clinical cases. I was confused, what were they even testing? I was used to an exam system that was balanced across all systems of medicine with clear weightage, but this wasn’t it.

But I came out of the exam hall with no fear in view. I knew it was the Holy Spirit keeping me calm. I couldn’t afford to be rattled, the OSCE was the next day.

I prayed, ate, and went back to practicing OSCEs. If anyone heard me talking to myself, they’d think I wasn’t okay. But I was preparing. Practicing.

The next morning, we arrived early and kept drilling each other.

“Ife, tell me the levels of prevention for meningitis.” I’d time her for 4 minutes 30 seconds, then she’d do the same for me. (Each station was 5 minutes.)

Eventually, it was time. We dropped everything, phones, watches, bags. All we had were our stethoscopes, pen torches, patella hammers, and the pen they gave us.

While waiting, something unexpected happened. My lady in red decided to visit, 13 days early. She had already visited that month, but I guess stress brought her back. I didn’t panic. I spoke to the invigilators. A female security staff took me to a tuck shop. They didn’t have sanitary pads, only pampers. Best believe, I wore one with joy.

I went in and genuinely enjoyed the exam. Ten stations with two rest stations. No stutters. No “umms.” The Holy Spirit was with me every step. It felt smoother than our 8AM practice runs. (My friends and I practiced every morning at 8AM for a month.) When the last examiner said, “You’re done,” I couldn’t believe him. It felt like just ten minutes had passed.

We left the venue around 5PM and grabbed food from a restaurant everyone on our group chat hyped (it wasn’t all that), then went back to our hotel. I couldn’t sleep. The results were coming out that night.

I played worship music. “My Help” by Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir was on repeat Link for Song. I refreshed the MDCN page over and over. Finally, at 2AM, the result dropped. I was a bit afraid, but I searched my name, “Elett.”

I saw 1 of 1. Thank God for my unique name, I knew I was the only Elett writing the exam, I knew it had to be me.

And there it was, Hart Elett Dagogo.

I screamed so loud, “Thank You, Jesus!” Other candidates that lodged in the same hotel as I did screamed too, I could hear them. My friends were just across my room. I ran in barefoot. We held hands, jumping like little girls. Then we sat on the bed, still holding hands, and just prayed, we thanked God for His great help.

Because truly, if not for God’s help, where would I be? Who would I be? How could I even begin to make sense of this journey?

My wallpaper, Psalm 121:3–4, gave me peace during anxious moments, “He won’t let you stumble, your Guardian God won’t fall asleep. Not on your life! Israel’s Guardian will never doze or sleep.”

I believe my life was written by God’s hand long before I was born. Everything, all of it, is part of a story He’s still telling.

And maybe, just maybe, my story will draw someone closer to Him.

So here I am, home. Held and helped by God. Still being carried by the same grace that saw me through every twist and turn.

My story isn’t over yet. Not even close. Next stop, induction into the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria. Licensed, home and abroad. Lol. God did it.

To Him be all the glory. 🩺❤️