BOOK REVIEW
Title: Diary Of A Dreamer
Author: Favour Fiyinfoluwa Adeoye
Genre: Comedy, Young Adult Fiction
Format: First-person, narrative, dairy style
Number of page: 11
Published & Edited by: Paul Daniel Chibuike
REVIEW PROPER
The book is segmented into 9 distinct parts
- Where Do I Begin?
- Meet The Fam
- Between The Laughs And Letdowns
- The Night I Showed Up
- Fast Forward 10 Years After
- Entering The Science World
- Becoming A Leader
- Friends And Goodbye's
- Admission Drama
The central idea in Diary of a Dreamer is a deeply personal reflection of a young fictional character David Samuel Adeyemi — a Nigerian navigating life, uncertainty, and ambition. Through a heartfelt, humorous, and brutally honest narrative, Samuel opens up about the many phases of his journey, from childhood dreams and career confusion to family, fear, faith, and growth.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Writing this book has been a journey of self-discovery, healing, and reflection — and I couldn't have done it alone. First and foremost, I thank God Almighty, the author of my destiny and the reason I breathe. Without His grace, none of this would be possible.
To my amazing family — Dad, Mum, and my incredible siblings — thank you for your unwavering support, love, and belief in me, even when I doubted myself. You've been my greatest cheerleaders.
To my friends, both near and far — your encouragement, your feedback, your hype, and sometimes just your presence meant more than words could ever say. Every smile, every conversation, and every late-night chat has left a mark on these pages.
To Chibuike Daniel, my editor and publisher — thank you for stepping in when this dream was still scribbles and uncertainties. Your help in bringing this book to life, and your willingness to share it with the world, means the world to me. And also to Eurica who has been my number 1 support in all the novels I've written I say a big thank you to you. Your support has really meant a lot to me.
And finally, to you, the reader — for choosing to pick up this book and walking through its pages. Whether you laugh, cry, reflect, or see yourself in these words, know that this book was written with you in mind.
This is not just any story.
It's the story of every dreamer who dared to believe.
Thank you for being a part of it
INTRODUCTION
Every dream has a story and mine began long before I knew it was a dream at all.
They call me Samuel David Adeyemi, the boy who refused to stay within the lines life drew for him. In a small town where dreams were traded for survival, I dared to imagine more — not because I was stronger or braver than anyone else, but because something inside me whispered that life had to be more than the walls around me.
This is not a tale of perfection; it is a journey through storms and sunshine, failures and victories, tears and laughter. You will meet my friends, my enemies, and the choices that shaped the man I became.
Some say it's just a story.
I say it's a mirror — reflecting the courage we all have, even when we think it's gone.
So scroll through the pages. Let's talk. Let's laugh. Let's cry. Let's grow.
Welcome to my diary.
Welcome to Diary of a Dreamer.
CHAPTER ONE
So Where Do I Begin?
My name? Well, officially, it's Samuel David Adeyemi. Born on October 24th, 1559.
Okay, calm down — I'm joking. If I were actually that old, I'd probably be writing this on stone tablets. And I know this is already starting to sound like one of those clichè "let me tell you my life story" openings (which basically this is...), But then trust me, I'm not here to bore you with unnecessary history. So yeah... Let's skip that part. The age part... we're skipping that.
But then, if there's one part of my life I can't skip, it's how life decided to play it's own script — completely different from the one I had in mind.
Truth is, things haven't exactly gone the way I planned. Infact, life's been a bit rough... Messy even. Though not always tragic, but far from perfect. And maybe that's because I've never exactly fit in. I mean, in every way possible — size, personality, intelligence, basically everything.
I've always just... Stood out. Not in the superhero kinda way. More like the "What's up with that guy?" Kinda way. And to crown it all, I'm a socially sensitive kinda guy. Put me in a room full of people, and my voice decides to go on a vacation. I'm that person who wants to say something, but ends up keeping quiet because — "What if they laugh?" or "What if I say something weird?" It's not that I enjoy being this way. I actually wish I could walk into a room and own it — you know, the way confident people do. But instead, I'm usually the one blending into the corner of the room like a wallpaper. But hey... I'm working on myself and I can proudly say I'm improving and I'm way better than the way I was 500 years ago —ok, slight exaggeration but main point is I'm getting better. I mean if you had met me before, you'd probably laugh at how reserved I was. But right now?
Well, let's just say I've leveled up.
🎙️MEET THE FAM
I was born into The Adeyemi's — sounds like a royal family, doesn't it? Honestly, I couldn't have asked for a better one. Two siblings who are just amazing, and parents who've always tried to do right by us.
Yeah, yeah, I know this is sounding like a documentary now — "Inside the Life of Adeyemi Samuel" But stick with me. We're just warming up.
💪 BETWEEN THE LAUGHS AND THE LETDOWNS
Now, here's the thing. Life hasn't exactly been a Netflix special with sunshine and happy endings on every episode. I actually wish I could say life has been smooth sailing, but that'd be a lie. I've gone through phases —you know those confusing stages where your life feels like a playlist on shuffle? One minute it's joy. The next, it's "God abeg..."
But don't get me wrong —it's not like I'm living a life full of sorrows and misery. It's true that life has its ups and downs but then... It also comes with it's glory days. So yeah, it's not all doom and gloom. Life may throw punches, but it also hands out trophies. And I've had my fair share of both. But let's not act like I've seen it all —i'm not a 100 years old. I'm still a young boy with a whole lot of life ahead. But before we go on... Let me rewind... And take you to the very beginning...
🌙 The Night I Showed Up
It was a cold Friday night. My parents had just finished eating and were getting ready to hit the bed when my mum suddenly started feeling sharp stomach pains. Not the "I ate too much beans" kind. The real deal. In a flash, my dad bundled her into the car and sped off to the hospital like a Fast & Furious character. When they got there, the doctors confirmed that she was in labour. My dad's heart must've skipped a beat. Every test they'd done before said she was going to have a C-section. He kept praying tiredlessly. My grandma and Aunty arrived at the hospital in a panic. They joined my dad in prayer, hands locked together in prayer like soldiers ready for battle.
And then —boom.
God did it.
No surgery. No complications. No drama. Just me —delivered safe, whole, and healthy. If that's not a miracle, I don't know what is. Honestly, childbirth is wild. A literal life-and-death moment wrapped into a few hours. That's why, sometimes, I just thank God He made me a guy. Girls, I respect you deeply. Because...whew
⏩ Fast-forward 10 Years Later…
...And suddenly, life starts demanding answers I wasn't really ready to give. Top on the list? Career. Choosing one felt less like picking a path... And more like walking through a fog. You know how it goes; Primary two? Wanting to be a pilot until I heard about plane crashes. Next thing, I'm shouting "I want to be a soldier!". Then came doctor — until I realized doctors deal with blood and guts. "Naah, there's no way I'm being a doctor."
Eventually, I found peace in one thing —LAW. I loved arguing. Like deeply. Not the toxic type, but the back-and- forth, fact-vs-fact kind. You know, there's this weird satisfaction that comes with a heated argument. Your voices gets louder, you bring your points, they bring theirs, and both of you just shouting like market women —pure joy. Apparently, reality hit and I soon found out enjoying arguments didn't really mean you'll enjoy studying law.
Government and History classes taught me that. Like why on earth would I be cramming years of events that had happened long even before my great grand parents were born. Honestly, I didn't see any reason to like those two subjects. The fact that they were as boring as hell, and then it was so hard trying to cram all those dates, names and so much boring sh*t into my small brain was just so discouraging. Well, I think Law wasn't really my calling after all.
🧪 ENTERING THE SCIENCE WORLD
While still trying to figure things out, something else started catching my attention...
"Nursing..."
I loved the way they dressed, how caring they can be, and most especially them administring injections to patients. I quickly joined the science class and then I was bound to do the "ALMIGHTY CHEMISTRY" which I disliked a whole lot. Well if there's anything I've learnt from my annoying and wicked chemistry teacher is the adage that quotes "Whether the yam sweet or not the hungry man must still peel and eat it". I didn't really understand what Mr Adajo meant by that adage he gave during one of his boring classes. But then, I guess what he was trying to say was that in life, you mustn't really like what you do. It's not really the matter of you liking it, it's the fact that you have to just do it. It's a necessity.
I carried that mindset — doing what must be done whether I liked it or not — and it helped me a whole lot. It wasn't easy at first.
1st term came and went and I was making very little improvements in my academics (especially in chemistry). My parents sat me down telling me I could do better — and deep down, I knew they were right.
So second term, I pulled myself together. Studied harder, paid more attention in class and tried all my possible best.
The result?
I scored a "C" in chemistry. It wasn't too good but it was progress. Little by little, I kept pushing. And like a slow sunrise, my efforts began to pay off. When the results came out, Omo I couldn't believe my eyes — an "A" in chemistry and in almost every subject wore the same glow." I won't lie, when I saw that "A" in my chemistry, I nearly screamed. I could already feel my head floating like a balloon. I felt like hugging my result slip. Atlas, every sleepless night, the countless hours of being hunched over notes, the endless battles with formulas that refused to stick, the prayers whispered into the silence of midnight. And now? It has all paid off. It really had.
👑 BECOMING A LEADER
I graduated SS2 few months later and when the final term results dropped... Guess who killed it? Me! I didn't just pass, I swept the floor with those grades. Even I myself was shocked.
My parents?
Overjoyed isn't even the word. They were so excited and proud of me, they took me out to thus chilling park — soft breeze, cool vibes, and zero talks of school. And for that moment, life felt like one of those feel-good movies. I just kicked back and soaked it all in. It was one of those rare days where everything felt right...
And just when I thought things couldn't get any worse after that soft park enjoyment, SS3 came knocking and with it, a big surprise. I was chosen to be head boy. Yeah... me. Tiny me. Baby face and all. When I was told, I laughed —like I genuinely laughed. I mean, how would my juniors even take me seriously? I still looked like someone who should be in JSS2, not leading and commanding morning assemblies. So I did what I thought was best... I declined. Looking back now, maybe I was too quick to back out. I thought leadership was about looking or sounding big. I didn't realize then that respect isn't begged for, it's earned. In the way you speak, the way you carry yourself, and the way you let your self esteem high despite all odds.
I wish I had known this earlier.
Maybe I would've stepped up. Been more confident in myself. Maybe things would've been different. But hey, life teaches us in chapters, right?
In the end my friend took the role and to be honest, he did great. As for me? I thanked God quietly cuz I didn't even know if I had the energy for the stress that came with being the head boy. Waking up early just as not to be late for school, running around the school like a town's crier... Naah
Life moved on, and before I knew it, we were counting down to the end. Final year. Final days. Final moments. That's when it hit me... the part nobody prepares you for:
😥 Friends & Goodbyes
We graduated SS3 with love in the air and joy on our faces. The kind of joy that expresses itself all around you. I knew I was going to miss my class mates. They weren't just classmates, they were the only real friends I had ever known. Our laughter still echoes in my head... The silly jokes, the inside gist, the petty quarrels over seats or notes.
And oh..., the arguments. If you've never been in an SS3 classroom fight about whose a better footballer—Ronaldo or Messi—then you haven't truly lived. Honestly I miss all the good old days. But then... As life would have it, friends come and go. Sad truth, but it is what it is.
🎓 Admission Drama
Then came the phase we all dread — waiting for admission. Each Sunday, I dropped "God, please grant me my heart desire and let me get admitted in the University of Lagos..." Into every prayer basket I could find. Every Sunday, same line, same request, same hope.
My classmates were getting admitted left and right. I kept smiling with them, but inside m me? I was breaking. Almost everyone in my set were jubilating over the success of their admission. And they're I was. Still at home. Still waiting. It was just me and a few others, hanging in the balance. Everytime we gathered and the topic of admission popped up, I'd suddenly have something important to scroll through on my phone.
But then I didn't give you hope.
I couldn't.
I held on to hope like a life line, believing that some how, some where, God was still writing my story. And then one Sunny Sunday, He did. I had just returned from church, still half asleep in my Sunday clothes, when my phone buzzed. I picked it up casually, expecting a boring broadcast, a useless MTN message or maybe one of those "send this to 10 people for blessings" kind of messages. But what I saw stopped my breath.
"Dear Samuel, congratulations on your admission to University of Lagos UNILAG..."
I read it once.
Then twice.
Then a third time!!!
I couldn't believe it. I screamed so loud rolling on the floor like a toddler. My parents rushed out thinking something was wrong — well, something was right. Their son just got admitted to the university.
The joy was unexplainable.
The next morning, my dad and I were off to the nearest cafe. I was bouncing like a child on Christmas Eve. I kept saying to myself "This is it. Nursing student things. White coat, stethoscopes and injections. Sharp 😁.
But little did I know... Life had other plans for me.
The cafe smelled faintly of instant coffee and dusty printer paper — the kind of smell that clings to your clothes long after you've left. My heart was pounding so hard, I could hear it in my ears as the guy behind the desk tapped away at the keyboard. Each click felt like a countdown to the rest of my life.
The portal spun for what felt like hours… and then froze on a single, unblinking truth:
COURSE OFFERED: SOCIOLOGY
The word sat there on the screen, flat and unbothered, while my dreams packed their bags and left without saying goodbye.
Nursing. Stethoscopes. White coats. Gone — replaced by a subject I'd never even considered. My chest felt heavy, like someone had quietly switched my oxygen supply for cement.
"Sociology?" I muttered, my heart dropping like a weak signal. My dad turned to me slowly. He saw the disappointment on my face.
Nursing?
To Sociology?
How do you even connect those two??
I wanted to cry. I wanted to scream. I was determined to decline the admission and seat for another JAMB examinations the next year. But then, my parents—God bless them—were calm. They encouraged me, telling me God doesn't make mistakes and He knew the best for me. At first, I didn't believe it. I thought they were trying to console me. But over time... I started to see what they meant. Funny enough, the course I didn't choose became the one I grew to love. Yes, me. Samuel David Adeyemi. Future human researcher and proud.
I'm beginning to see purpose in what I once rejected. And that my dear friend, is where the story begins to change. Just when I thought I was finding peace in the unexpected... Things began to take unexpected turns.
There are parts of my story I haven't told you yet. Parts that are too scary to admit. The university was nothing like I imagined. It wasn't the escape I thought it would be. Neither the freedom I dreamed of. This was when it dawned on me that truly "The uni is a life changer" cuz it changed me in ways I could never had imagined.
This is where one could say; THE DREAMER MET WITH REALITY
Want to know how to university life really turned out for me? How I became my "life changer"...
Stick around.
The journey's just about to begin