Retracing the bumpy academic journey of Dr. Blasius Ogola
I started my university education at JOOUST in the year 2013 when I was admitted to pursue a bachelors degree in Education Science (Mathematics and Biology with IT). During my first year of undergraduate studies I was very active in the SAJOOUST politics. My life as an undergraduate student was riddled with financial hiccups and therefore I had to do some menial jobs to keep afloat. My daily routine commenced with waking up at 3am to allow me cover the long distance between Bondo town and Osieko beach and be back in time for my classes. I cycled to Osieko beach and supplyed Safaricom credit cards along Osieko beach, Nyenye beach, Anyanga, Usenge, Uhanya, Misori, Nyamonye, Kambajo, and koyucho market and made it back to my house by 7:30am. After which I prepared to attend lectures from 8am. In the evening after the lectures, I had to dash back, on my motorcycle, to the shops where I had earlier supplied the cards, collect the cash part of which I had to surrender to the Safaricom office in Bondo as I collected the stock for the following day. Sometimes, over the weekends, I used to work as a bodaboda operator or a car wash attendant to augment my unsteady financial sources. .
Working and studying at the same time was arduous but I had to juggle both for my survival. Interestingly, though I worked during my avenue hours, I always posted good grades in my undergraduate units. While in my second year of study, I started harbouring the dream of becoming a lecturer of Pure Mathematics. . I was motivated by my lecturers Prof. Benard Okelo, Prof. Omolo Ongati and Dr. Bonyo. After sitting for my second year second semester's exams, I approached Prof. Okelo and Prof. Ongati and shared with them my dream. They took it positively and advised me accordingly. Thereafter, they became my mentors. After my fourth year second semester's exams, I went and confirm to them that my dream was still alive and only waiting for the graduation. On 17/05/2017, I graduated with a second class upper division degree. A week after the graduation, I visited the school of Mathematics to check with them if I could apply for a master of science in pure mathematics. Coincidentally, they were waiting for one student in order to meet the required quorum and they gave me a go ahead straight away. .
Meanwhile, I persistently applied for teaching jobs overseas to be able to find sources of funding my post graduate studies. After several applications to different countries I was offered a chance in Seychelles as an IGCSE high school mathematics teacher. My quest to be a lecturer did not stop even after obtaining this vacancy. I traveled home every school holiday to be physically available in the university in order to finish the class work and write all the exams as required by the university.
My course work was soon followed by my proposal writing in topology (Normality and Compactness of Dense Topological Subspaces).. After a successful oral defense of the proposal, I was allowed to work on my thesis. Under proper supervision of Prof. Okelo and Prof. Ongati, I worked tirelessly on my thesis, successfully defended before graduating on 1/11/2019 with a Master of Science in Pure Mathematics.
In January 2020, I applied for admission to pursue my PhD in pure mathematics. Before my master graduation I had started working on the PhD topic (Continuity and Separability in Bitopological Spaces) and as soon as I was admitted I defended my concept paper. Due to COVID-19 pandemic most universities, JOOUST included, accepted online presentations for the post graduate students. This was a blessing in disguise for me since I could conduct all my proposal, monthly progress, mock and final defenses online, I was faced with a lot of challenges but my supervisors were always ready to offer me proper guidance. I graduated with a doctorate degree in pure mathematics on 3/03/2023.
Working and studying especially while based in a foreign country is very cumbersome. I had to attend to all my duties as a teacher every working day and use most of my night times and weekends (Saturdays and Sundays after church) to carry out my research work. Currently, I am still nursing my dream of becoming a lecturer of pure mathematics since the Almighty God Has enabled me to acquire the required qualification for the same.
The knowledge I have gannered from JOOUST has prepared me to thrive in the field of mathematics both locally and globally right from elementary to university. . I am very grateful to JOOUST fraternity more particularly to my undergraduate and post graduate lecturers and course mates for their noble support throughout my academic journey. God bless them abundantly!
