You're always a stone throw away!

Today I’m going to share with you a little humble flex that I achieved. It is a long one, but I promise you it is necessary so, sit down, take a moment and read.

4 years ago it was results day and I was so excited when I found out that I could go to my chosen university. Prior to this, I had applied for university and student finance just like every other student, but the application came with a grey area, which became a major downfall for me. The question mark at the time hung around my nationality. I had lived half my life in the UK after migrating from Nigeria in 2007–– so by all laws, I was eligible and entitled to the financial support that student finance offered… but in fear, I did all checks with student finance and I was assured that I will receive finance. Out of my 5 choices, 5/5 considered me an international student, and through multiple stages of reassessments, only 1/5 reconsidered their decision.

That was the deciding factor– I was going to De Montfort University.

Helpless but hopeful– I embarked on the Journey of going to university. I hoped that the advice I was given by student finance will pull through, so I found accommodation. I settled for something far, and cheap to cut costs, as along the way to finding the right place I lost 4k on a crooked landlord and deposits. Nonetheless, I had made it. I moved in on the last Friday of freshers week with 2 days to spare before the semester began.

On that Friday night, there was a party. I can’t remember what it was called but damn, there was no way I was missing it, it was impossible! I remember I was in such a hurry that my boy helped me get all my things from the car… I chucked them in my room, put on my sweet boy fit, and ran out to go and live my best life.

I knew in my heart that this year may not be easy as I thought, so I made a conscious decision to enjoy everything as much as possible... and I did. I mean you already know your boy was on the dance floor doing his thangggg!

Dw I’m going somewhere...

I went home that night, satisfied at the night, and so so so, excited at the new beginning.... but I struggled to sleep. This was my first time living alone. So I laid there, in the dark… Thinking.

Now as mentioned above, my entry to uni wasn’t without problems, so there was an essence of nervousness in my spine. I remember going to my induction, scared that they will deny me from starting my course. Nonetheless, I made it and began my course.

At the time I truly loved learning, so I was excited. I made friends quickly, attended every 9 am lecture and quickly became the guy that everyone knew. Along the way, I became acquainted with a guy called Manny Ade. Funnily enough, he had moved in, into the room I was meant to move into, in another accommodation so this was spooky but cool. He was also Nigerian and was fighting student finance too. So I mean apart from the fact that we both had a splash of crackhead in our personalities, we fit just like two peas in a pod.

To save you a super long story, I battled the next few months fighting and eventually losing the battle to student finance. I was quickly kicked out, treated with little respect and truly I felt dehumanised.

To summarise some of the pain I had experienced, I had been offered 3 scholarships and had them withdrawn, I pitched a business idea to the university in which I later saw being utilised without my permission. Through the whole panic and constant misinformation with student finance, I had begun to experience severe levels of low moods, and anxiety. I stopped sleeping and I often roamed the streets late each night. I remember going to see a councillor as I was truly so depressed, but I was quickly dismissed with the heart-wrenching sentence... “You look like a strong lad, I’m sure you’re fine”.

The words rang painfully in my head. I felt helpless, marginalised and useless. I later was pushed into such deep angst, that I admitted myself to the hospital. I had experienced my first uncomplicated heart attack, otherwise known as a minor heart attack.

This all persisted from September till April, where I had funds raised for my studies, but my experience of university was cut short due to insufficient time and funds.

I can imagine that this is super long to read for a Monday morning, so I will go straight to the value...

Within the chaotic times, I had chosen to be intentional in a few areas.
At the time, I had wanted to build a platform to support young athletes like myself, I needed money and I wanted to make this experience worthwhile.

In a quest to do so, Manny and I decided to go to every motive, be nice to people and we made sure we were the life of the party. This decision became the catalyst to many of the things you all know me for.

I had gone to so many events that I became bored. I mean unlike everyone around me, I didn’t drink or smoke so everything eventually felt the same. Don't get me wrong it was great hearing the mixes, and catching the whines, however, it didn't make sense to me. I mean I still didn’t have a loan, I, unfortunately, couldn't get support from my parents as they themselves were paying extortionate amounts in fees as international students too.

I was truly alone in this situation... So I had to think quickly.

This is where everything began.

One night at a party, one of the organisers was asking around for a photographer. I had taken a photo before for a blog that I was writing for the athletes, so I quickly said answered the call and replied with “I’m a photographer”. Truly I wasn’t, but at that moment I had done incredibly quick maths. If an average week in Leicester had 7-10 motives and I can charge £100 for each then you do the maths. Cha ching!

So that’s where ’Noir visuals' was born. The parties now had a purpose, no more paying for the fun, now I had the free entry and money coming to me. Some would have said I was lucky, however, funnily enough, I had prepared for the possibility of a moment like this. I had earlier found a loaning service in my university in a quest to create short films for athletes, so it made even more sense to try photography.

I later partnered with a friend and created a platform for athletes. Eager to grow an audience for the platform... I created a YouTube channel. Upon meeting the friend, we then decided to create a separate channel to share our short films– YoungAthleteTV was Born. However, I was still left with this YouTube account, with nothing to do with it.

I had a friend called princess, who had a YouTube channel. She vlogged and just generally did fun things with her friends and I remember one day picking her camera up and jumping on her vlog. She jokingly said “Na you should start YouTube... You’d be good you know” I laughed about it but later on realised... She had successfully planted the idea in my head.

I quickly shared the idea with her and she supported me in the move and taught me the YouTube trade, so utilised the channel and began doing Hood rat ish with my boys–– Mr200m as you know it... was born.

Now that scholarship...

Desperately trying to figure out a way to out of the mess student finance had created for me, I had taken a business idea directly to the owner of the university. I pitched the idea to him, he loved the idea and offered me the 3 scholarships. As mentioned I painfully got those scholarships pulled from underneath me, and in the heat of the hopeless situation I was in, it hurt, but I ended up being with a Job role created just for me, with a budget in the millions–– to produce something, (They also stole my idea but that's a different story for a different day)

I mean I can share more of the painful moments that I experienced, and truly I suffered at the hands of the system, however, I made a decision in every moment, to shift my perception to the greater side.

That was it.

With every strain I experienced, I decided to see it as tension added to the catapult–– and I had chosen to be the stone. There was simply no other way than for me to fly, even if I ended up hitting Goliath.

Maybe one day I will share more, but I want you to see– in my life, that difficulties will present themselves. It’s inevitable, however...How we respond is what defines our excellence.

You're always a stone throw away!

I know at this moment, you may have a burden you’re carrying or a hurdle you’re struggling to see past, but please believe me when I say you are in the right place. The beauty of the stone is that even when it lands, it will always be where it’s meant to be– on the earth where it was placed.

So you right now... are in the right place. Your circumstances may tell you otherwise but respond with happiness. respond with Joy and respond with everything you think you don’t have (Hope) and watch it become all that you have. Where I received every no, I reconstructed the words to ''Not right now..". I had successfully wired my brain to spark upon resistance.

...The harder you struck me, the bluer my flame sparked.

From no’s to please, I birthed all the things I didn’t even know I had in me. Imagine a young kid from Nigeria, speaking to Royalty, Institutions, Corporations and Government. Now imagine that happened… Because it did.

Amongst all the hardship, and movement, I graduated with a 2:1 in my field, I led one in a lifetime projects, I worked with amazing minds, I created incredible stories, I worked with all my favourite brands and created life-changing opportunities for others like myself, I partnered with companies and people like myself, and I won the battle with student finance, whilst tackling a systematic issue that unfolded.

I once couldn't see the finish line, now I look back at it, still with heavy shoulders, but now from the weight of the medals on my neck.

I mean if you’re still in doubt of your capacity then let me remind you of this...

The Sun and the Earth that you so depend on for your livelihood… Simply began with a spark. (Gen 1:3)

How impossible does it seem now?

This week is a new opportunity. Try again!

Josiah Hyacinth
5 More Mins W/