There’s a strange alchemy to life. Sometimes, you can send a message into the digital void—a text you label as “silly” or “desperate” in the moment—and it becomes the key that unlocks a door you didn’t even know existed. This isn’t just a story about getting an opportunity; it’s about how one random act of reaching out can make the universe conspire in your favor.

My journey of unexpected blessings began with a personal project—a shot in the dark. Back in February, fueled by nothing but a passion for neurosurgery, I started a LinkedIn newsletter. It was my humble attempt to condense complex research into digestible insights. I had no grand plan, just a hope that someone, somewhere, might find it useful.

That personal project became the seed for everything that followed.

It all blossomed with a major victory. On February 7, 2025, I received the incredible news that I had been selected as a fellow for the mission:BRAIN research fellowship. It was a huge win. But the human spirit is a curious thing—even in moments of achievement, we can yearn for more, for a community, for a way to contribute right now.

That yearning led to a fated night: February 22, 2025, at 7:49 PM in Shenyang, China. I picked up my phone and sent a text to Amzat. There are just some people in life you are meant to meet, whether by chance or by fate. For me, Amzat is that person. I will always remember him as a blessing—one that changed my entire life in a single day.

It was a simple, hopeful ask. “Could I maybe,” I wrote, “just be part of the mission:BRAIN Unilorin by joining the WhatsApp community?”

His response was a roadmap. He told me applications to join various teams were open. That was the nudge I needed. On February 24th, I applied for the Content Team.

Then, on April 12th, I received the confirmation: I was officially selected. But the real magic happened on April 17th during the first phone call with the team. It’s as if that one text signaled to the world that I was ready. By God’s grace, Mubarak (then President of mission:BRAIN Unilorin) and Bashir (the Content Team lead) saw something in my application. They checked out that very LinkedIn newsletter—my shot in the dark—and saw a potential they were willing to bet on.

There was an immediate synergy, a warmth in their voices as they discussed my application and my newsletter. I realized something incredible: they weren’t just impressed; they were genuinely fond of me and my work. The feeling of being not just accepted, but truly wanted, was overwhelming.

I remember the moment the call ended. A wave of pure, unadulterated joy hit me. I was buzzing with energy. Sleep was impossible. In the quiet of the night, that excitement couldn’t be contained. At 4:14 AM, I instinctively reached for my phone and texted my dad, my voice of reason and my Chanakya. The message was not a polished update; it was a raw burst of emotion straight from my heart:

“I’m awake. And famous.”

It was a silly, hyperbolic thing to send in the early hours of the morning, but in that moment, it was the absolute truth. I felt seen. I felt like I had arrived. That text to my dad perfectly captured the surreal shock of realizing your work has resonated and that you belong.

That sense of belonging was just the beginning. The team’s faith in me led to an incredible ask: would I be the Chief Editor of the newsletter for Unilorin?

The momentum became a tidal wave. I was wonderfully, gloriously flooded with purpose:

• Participating in a Hackathon,
• Writing speeches for conferences,
• Diving deep into systematic and narrative reviews,
• Writing articles for the biggest student led neuroscience conference magazine and making to the Editorial board.

Then, on August 4th, at 11:06 AM, a new chapter began. My Research Director, Muili, sent me a message asking me to be his Assistant. That direct ask was an affirmation I will never forget.

It culminated on August 17, 2025, with my official promotion to Assistant Research Director.

It feels surreal to write it all down. A shot-in-the-dark newsletter led to a text that led to a team that felt like family, which led to a directorship. Truly, God has been kind. The blessings have been abundant.

If my story has one core lesson, it’s this: Never, ever be afraid to reach out or to start that “shot in the dark” project.

Your passion project could be your most compelling credential. That awkward text could be your most strategic move. And you might just find yourself awake at 4:14 AM, feeling so loved and seen that your first instinct is to text your dad, “I’m awake. And famous.”

God helps those who help themselves. So, put yourself out there. Start that newsletter. Send that text. Apply for that role. You never know which message will be the one that changes your destiny.

What door will you knock on today?