At the age of 16, I began searching for a source of income to ease the burden on my parents while applying for various university programs. I tried different ways to make money online, but no matter what I attempted, I couldn’t find a job that suited me. It’s not easy to find work when you’re under the age of 18, have little to no experience, and come from the western part of Africa.

The first thing I tried was mining cryptocurrency and NFTs, because both were popular in 2023. Being new to the online world, I had the idea that making money online would be quick and easy, especially with the constant hype surrounding cryptocurrency. I put a lot of effort into these projects, but in the end, most of them didn’t launch at a favorable price. For the ones that did, I had either started mining too late or not taken them seriously from the beginning of the project. I barely made any money at all. This was disappointing, but it helped me understand a little more about how earning money really works.

A few months later, I had to start my sophomore year at university. My initial plan of resuming school with a steady income had failed, so I was forced to find another way to achieve my goal. I searched online for jobs that required no experience, little effort, were open to anyone worldwide, and allowed under-18 applicants. Most of the jobs I came across, including online surveys, affiliate marketing, and dropshipping, didn’t turn out as I expected. The opportunities that came close either required an absurd amount of time to earn any profit, demanded skills I didn’t have, had age restrictions, were limited to certain regions, or turned out to be outright scams.

The content I was seeing on social media only made things worse. Many influencers claimed that making money online was quick and easy, often promoting a “side hustle” just to sell their own courses. While some may have been truthful, most had already painted a bad image of themselves before my eyes. Seeing these disappointing results every day drained my spirit and made me lose hope. I eventually abandoned the search and focused on my academic work instead, convincing myself that it would be better to finish school before looking for a steady income.

With this mindset, I paid more attention in class, and learning became easier. Schoolwork no longer felt as taxing since it was the only thing on my mind. However, over time, the rising costs of food and school supplies began to catch up with me. My limited funds could no longer cover all my needs as a university student.

In the end, I returned to the job hunt, but this time with a new approach. Instead of chasing “get-rich-quick” opportunities, I decided to look for work in a field I genuinely loved, something that would feel fulfilling while still supporting me financially. This meant I had to manage my time carefully to maintain good academic performance, but that was a sacrifice I was more than willing to take. 

I decided that the best option was to take my time to advance my skills in work sectors like writing, editing and videography, which I have a huge passion for. Currently, I have shifted my focus to learning and understanding the little tricks to aid mastery of my craft, and I plan to find another entry-level job I can do in the meantime. I may not have my dream job right now, but sometimes it's best to thoroughly understand the field of work you intended to go into so you can have a higher skill level when you start. 

I know my experience isn’t unique to me alone. Many students around the world face the same challenges. The best advice I can give is this: whatever you decide to do, invest your time, effort, and commitment. Success may not come instantly, but persistence will always bring you closer to your goals.