Nobody prepares you for how many doors close before one finally opens during NYSC.

My first posting letter took me to a place that took one look at my Physics education background and said "we don't need a Physics teacher here." Straight rejection, no long talk. I packed my documents and left the same way I came.

Second attempt, different school entirely. I sat down, explained my qualifications, even mentioned my customer service background thinking it might help somewhere in their admin. Still no. They already had someone "handling" the sciences, whatever that meant.

By the time I got to Living Word Comprehensive College, Uyo, I wasn't even hopeful anymore. I just wanted somewhere that would accept my letter and let me start counting down the months. They said yes. Just like that, after two rejections that had me questioning if Physics Education was even a real course to some of these schools.

Looking back now, each rejection taught me something. First one taught me not to take it personal, schools have their own internal politics I know nothing about. Second one taught me to always have a backup explanation ready for why my skills matter beyond just the subject on paper. And this one, the one that finally said yes, taught me that persistence during NYSC isn't optional, it's the whole job description before the actual job even start

One acceptance that changed how I see doors closing in my face now, temporary, not final.