From Nobody to Somebody: My University Journey

High school me was the human equivalent of wallpaper. No competitions. No sports. No clubs. Just existing, showing up, going home. I wasn't bullied or anything dramatic—I was just there.

Rock Bottom (Population: Me)

Then university happened. During a global pandemic. In a different country. Living alone for the first time. No pressure, right?

First semester destroyed me. COVID turned campus into a ghost town. My grades tanked. I was drowning, questioning everything—my choices, my capabilities, whether I even belonged there.

The Lightbulb Moment

Somewhere between failed assignments and lonely nights, I had an epiphany:

The problem wasn't the pandemic, the new country, or being alone. The problem was my thinking.

I was stuck in what psychologists call an "external locus of control"—blaming everything around me for how my life was going. But the moment I shifted to an internal locus of control—realizing I had the power to change my situation—everything clicked.

I stopped asking "Why is this happening to me?" and started asking "What can I do about this?"

Game changer.

The Comeback

Second semester? Different beast. My GPA soared. I was studying smarter, working harder, and actually believing I could do it. Confidence isn't something you're born with—it's something you build, one small win at a time.

Then, beginning of second year, I met them—the greatest group of chaotic, brilliant, unhinged humans I've ever known. They'd plan adventures at 2 AM and ace exams the next day. They were fun, smart, adventurous, and they made me realize I could be all those things too.

From Wallpaper to Main Character

With my new mindset and incredible people around me, I stopped sitting on the sidelines:

• Residential Assistant → Helping students navigate university life
• AUSMUN External Relations Officer → Deputy Director → Organizing Model UN conferences
• VP → President of Neuroscience Society → Events, trips to theme parks, making neuroscience fun
• Ecology Representative → Promoting sustainable living in residential halls

And then the big one: Student Council.

The Student Council Campaign

Running for student council? Me? The kid who couldn't even raise his hand in high school was now running for one of the most visible positions on campus? Yeah, I didn't believe it either.

The campaign was insane—late nights, posters everywhere, my face plastered around campus. Election day came.

I lost.

But around one thousand people voted for me. People who believed in what I stood for. People who saw me and said, "Yeah, this guy."

Losing stung. But it taught me: I had a voice. I had influence. I was somebody.

The Real Epiphany

Writing this made me realize something bigger: Nobody is actually a "nobody."

Everyone is already "somebody"—they just don't see it yet. You don't need a title to matter. You don't need to win to have impact.

You just need three things:

• 1.Internal locus of control – Take ownership of your life. You're the author.
• 2.Positive mindset – Real positivity. The kind that says, "This sucks, but I can handle it."
• 3.Good people – Find your tribe. The ones who challenge and support you.

The Takeaway

You are not your circumstances. Mindset is everything. Surround yourself with excellence. Take the leap, even if you might fail.

And remember: You're already somebody. You always were.

Now go be somebody. (Spoiler: you already are.)