Aisha Ahmed Girei is a 16-year-old student of Pen Resource Academy Gombe. She is arguably the top scorer from Gombe State in this year’s Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) results recently released by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB). In this interview, the SS3 student spoke on the secret behind her success despite mass failure recorded in the exams nationwide and her future plans.
Tell us a bit about yourself
My name is Aisha Ahmed Girei. I am 16 years old, a student of Pen Resource Academy Gombe and an indigene of Adamawa State, but living in Gombe. I attended Pen Resource Academy Gombe for my nursery, primary, as well as secondary school education.
You scored 333 in your UTME. How were you able to achieve this feat despite the massive failure recorded this year?
Actually, the school started to prepare us for the JAMB examination immediately after we entered SS3 in September 2024. Initially, I didn’t take it seriously because I thought that the exam was still very far away. It was around January or February this year that I became serious because I realised that the UTME was indeed very close. And from that time, I sat up and studied hard. I created a timetable and planned a routine for studying both at home and at school. Though I did not start early, I used the little time I had wisely and I think it was what made the difference.
Did you set a target point that you wanted to achieve?
Well, I didn’t particularly aim to score 333 points, but I had a very high target because the course I want to study is very competitive. And Gombe State University, where I applied, pegged 200 as its cut-off point, so my aim was to score at least 300 or 320 points to stand a chance.
Were you pressured by your father to study medicine?
Not actually; though my father is a medical doctor, he neither asked me nor put pressure on me to study medicine and surgery. I was just inspired by the way he is helping people with his profession. And from when I was a child, I developed an interest and wanted to also become a medical doctor and help people.
Aside from medicine, which other course do you think you can study?
I can study software engineering; it is another area I have interest in and I believe I can do very well.
What is your reading pattern like?
In my school, the SS3 students report to school by 7am and close by 5.30pm. When I get back home, I study for like two hours and sleep by 10pm. I wake up around 2am or 3am and study till dawn. I also study during any free time I find and in any environment that I know I can comprehend. So, basically, I study round the clock. But I mostly read during the night, from like 3am to 7am.
Are you saying you shunned all forms of social life, like watching television and using smartphones?
Yes, I cut off totally from social media and also greatly minimised my television time, as well as other stuff that would consume time and distract me from studying.
What role did your parents play in your success?
My parents are my biggest inspiration, especially my dad, who always advises and encourages me, telling me that I could do it. My mum also helps by putting me through; she guides me and always ensures that I am consistent with my studies.
How do you feel that your efforts have paid off?
Alhamdulillah! I feel grateful that all my hard work, efforts and sacrifices of secluding myself from all social life and enjoyment were not in vain. I am very happy that all the efforts I have put into studying have finally paid off.
Were you always ahead in your class, or were you just an average student?
I used to top the class but not all the time, though most of the time I was on top. Nevertheless, I never allowed that to deceive me. I have always tried to improve on my previous feats and aim for more success.
Apart from studying Medicine & Surgery, what are your other plans?
I want to venture into entrepreneurship, running small businesses like catering in order to be self-reliant. Though there are high demands for medical doctors, I believe that in this age, one should not rely too much on one source of income or white-collar job. Even though I know that studying medicine and surgery is very demanding, I still want to learn catering in my spare time.
How many hours did you read daily?
It depends on the day and my schedules, but on average I studied for about six hours daily, or more than that if I have a lot to cover. However, sometimes it was less if I am very tired. What mattered to me most was consistency and understanding what I was reading.
What do you do in your free time?
I enjoy spending time with my family, it helps me relax, especially after spending much time reading and I also like watching educational videos, it also helps me to learn new things and sometimes I just like lying down quietly to rest, it enables me to recharge.
What advice would you give to other students?
My advice to fellow students is to believe in themselves. They should stay focused and don’t wait until it is too late to start preparing for the examination. They should use their time wisely and ask questions when they don’t understand what they were taught or are being taught. Above all, they should put their trust in Allah and pray hard. They should also be consistent with reading, because a small effort done every day makes a difference.
