A young Nigerian woman has sparked widespread conversation online after publicly celebrating her acceptance into a medical school in the United Kingdom. This achievement comes after she faced rejection twice in her attempts to gain admission to study medicine in Nigeria.
From Nigerian Rejection to UK Acceptance
The medical student, who uses the TikTok handle @fortunate611, shared her success story in a video posted on the platform. In the clip, she is seen interacting with someone off-camera before turning to smile at the viewers. Text overlays on the video revealed the core of her journey: "I failed to get into medical school twice in Nigeria... But got in 1st attempt in the UK."
When asked what changed, her candid answer was simple: "I was lazy!!!" She elaborated that her previous attempts in Nigeria were hampered by a lack of sufficient effort. The student emphasized the non-negotiable requirement of hard work, especially for a demanding field like medicine, writing in her post: "You must put in the work!" Her admission to the UK institution was confirmed on her very first application attempt abroad.
Mixed Reactions Trail the Viral TikTok Post
The celebratory post did not go unnoticed, triggering a flood of mixed reactions from Nigerian netizens. While some users agreed with her self-assessment and pointed to the notoriously high standards and competitive nature of Nigerian medical schools, others offered different perspectives.
The comments section became a forum for broader discussion. One user, @??????.?, commented, "Nigeria go whine you and you go panic," suggesting the local system's intensity serves as a unique motivator. Another, @Michelle Evans5272, questioned the validity with, "Fraud. Uk is making people redo the tests and withdrawing visas."
Some comments highlighted the universal challenge, with @user3712797369034 noting, "Hardwork and discipline but it still isn’t guaranteed." Others shared similar success stories of academic redemption abroad, like @Claire who wrote, "Yes my stepson can't pass a dam think in nigeria he came to ireland and is now in second year of engineering." A more cynical view came from @3012025, who simply stated, "No dearest.....MONEY SPEAKS ALL LANGUAGES..."
A Story of Perseverance in Nigerian Academia
This incident touches on a familiar narrative within the Nigerian education landscape, where limited university slots, particularly for professional courses like medicine, lead to intense competition. The story resonates with the experiences of many students who seek educational opportunities overseas after facing hurdles at home.
In a related report, the resilience of Nigerian students was further highlighted by the story of another lady who gained admission to study medicine on her sixth attempt. After initial failures at ages 16 and 17, she pursued biomedical science but persistently reapplied until she achieved her dream at age 22, later excelling in cancer research.
The viral TikTok post from @fortunate611, published on December 4, 2025, continues to serve as a point of reflection on personal accountability, systemic pressures, and the global pursuit of academic dreams.
