I Lost Everything… And That Was When My Life Finally Started Making Sense

My name is Gabriel Olaleye. I want to start by saying this clearly: I have not figured everything out yet. But I am no longer where I used to be, and that alone means everything to me. This is not a perfect story or a finished one, but it is real. And if it can inspire even one person, then it is worth sharing.

Growing Up Without Much… But With a Determination to Survive

I come from an average home in Oyo State, where life was manageable until things took a turn in 2022 when my parents separated. That moment changed everything for me. My Dad was a bike man, and my Mum cooked for the local secondary school students. After their separation, I had to move and start living with my dad’s sister, and life became significantly harder. The emotional impact was just as heavy as the physical struggle, because I no longer felt the stability or support I once had.

Despite everything, something inside me refused to break. Even in the absence of comfort, I carried a quiet determination to keep moving forward, even when I didn’t fully understand where I was going.

Letting Go of a Dream I Once Believed In

At one point in my life, I wanted to become a medical doctor. I was passionate, focused, and doing well academically, but reality forced me to reconsider that path. I went through a lot of difficulty in class; I was among those who wrote our exams outside under the tree. I didn’t see a problem in it because this was the kind of environment I was brought up in, and I was used to it.

My exam score didn’t meet the required cutoff, and my parents did not have the financial capacity to support such a journey. It was a painful decision, but I had to let that dream go. Not because I didn’t believe in God, but because I had to be honest about my situation. That moment marked the beginning of a new phase in my life, one where I had to rethink everything.

My First Income and the Hunger for More

In 2023, I started teaching, earning ₦7,500 monthly. Over time, it increased slightly to ₦10,000, but even at that level, I knew it wasn’t sustainable for the kind of life I wanted. I spent almost a year there, learning not just how to work, but how to endure.

At the same time, something else was growing in me, a strong interest in graphic design. I didn’t have the tools. I was using a phone that was ‘about to leave the earth’, but I had the curiosity. That curiosity would later become one of the most important turning points in my life.

How I Started Design Without the Right Tools

My design journey began in a very unconventional way. I didn’t have a laptop, so I borrowed my church’s computer just to learn. The first task I was given was to replicate a flyer, and even though it wasn’t perfect, it gave me a sense of possibility I had never felt before.

When I was later denied access to the laptop, it felt like another setback. But I didn’t stop completely. I kept looking for opportunities, joining free trainings, and even paying for some courses in bits when I could afford them. Every step forward required sacrifice, but I kept going because I knew I had found something worth pursuing.

School, Struggles, and Unexpected Help

In 2024, I gained admission into a polytechnic with almost nothing. My dad gave me ₦5,000, and that was all I had to start my academic journey. My mum, who was no longer living with us, had to send support from elsewhere. Before this, I had spent a lot of time praying, asking God specifically for financial help.

Then something unexpected happened, someone I didn’t even know paid my school fees in full. It was a moment I will never forget, because it showed me that even when things seem impossible, help can still come from unexpected places.

However, life did not suddenly become easy. There were still days without food, days without data, and moments where communication with my family was almost impossible. Survival became a daily responsibility.

Trying, Failing, and Learning the Hard Way

I explored different ways to make money, including online platforms, crypto-related activities, and even physically demanding jobs. At one point, I worked with a group that promised high income, but the workload was unbearable, and I had to leave after just a short period.

Each experience taught me something important: not every opportunity is worth pursuing, and not every path leads to growth. I was learning, but I was still searching for direction.

When Everything Fell Apart Again

At some point, I joined a business that seemed very promising. I saw results, committed fully, and eventually started earning. I even got a phone through that process, and for a moment, it felt like things were finally working out.

But everything collapsed suddenly. I lost the phone, the income stopped, and I was left with nothing again. It was one of the lowest moments of my life, because I felt like I had gone back to zero.

Looking back now, I understand something I didn’t understand then: sometimes, everything has to fall apart before it can come together properly.

Starting Again from Nothing

After that phase, I had to rebuild myself completely. I didn’t have a phone, I couldn’t afford data, and I had to depend on others just to stay connected. Eventually, my stepfather gave me a phone, and that small act gave me a chance to start again.

This time, I approached life differently. I became more intentional about learning, not just skills, but also mindset and personal growth.

Meeting Michael ADEBANWO and Finding Direction

I met Micheal Adebanwo, popularly known as ‘Mich Blue‘, in 2025 and started following him for a while before reaching out to him. When I finally did, he introduced me to a mentorship community, which is now under Valuedity. The challenge was that I didn’t have the money to join.

But I didn’t let that stop me. I found a way, raised the money in parts, and joined. That decision marked a major turning point in my life, because for the first time, I had structure, guidance, and clarity.

What Changed for Me Inside Valuedity Premium

Inside the mentorship, everything started to shift. I was no longer just learning design; I was learning how to think, how to position myself, and how to grow intentionally. I attended webinars, studied consistently, and exposed myself to knowledge beyond just technical skills.

That was when things began to align for me. I started understanding what consistency really means and how it directly affects results.

My Breakthrough and Growth

I focused on showing up consistently, especially on Facebook. Within a short time, I grew my page to over 5,000 followers organically. That growth brought visibility, and with it came opportunities.

I got my first serious design job worth ₦8,000, and even though it might seem small, it meant everything to me. It was proof that my effort was beginning to produce results.

In 2025, I got a huge opportunity to work with a foreign client, earning over ₦200,000 per month on a fully remote job without leaving my house.

Where I Am Today

Today, I am still growing, still learning, and still building. I graduated with a distinction (3.67 CGPA), and I have developed skills that are now generating income for me. More importantly, I have developed a mindset that refuses to return to where I came from.

My journey is still in progress, but I am no longer confused about the direction I am heading.

If You Are Reading This

No matter where you are right now, your story is not over. Your current situation does not define your future. I have been in places where I had nothing, no money, no support, no clarity, yet I kept moving.

And that is what matters.

One Decision Can Change Everything

For me, that decision was joining the right mentorship. That decision was Valuedity Premium. It didn’t just teach me skills; it transformed my mindset, gave me direction, and helped me start building a life that makes sense.

This is not the end of my story; it is only the beginning. ~ Gabriel Olaleye