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A Nigerian woman seemed to have everything she had worked for. She held a prestigious position in the American tech industry, lived in a comfortable apartment, earned a six-figure income, and regularly supported her family in Nigeria.
Despite her impressive success, life was far from perfect. In a social media post that struck a chord with thousands, she revealed the stress, anxiety, and exhaustion that ultimately led her to walk away from it all.
In a post on X, Primzy recounted her journey of leaving a successful engineering job behind and pursuing a career as a professional photographer.
'I was making $180K a year'
Sharing her experience, she wrote in the caption, “I was making $180K a year in America and crying almost every night because I hated my life.”
She shared that her journey from Nigeria was driven by the desire for a brighter future, and she ultimately accomplished many goals that are often considered markers of success.
“I got everything they said I should want: an engineering degree, a good tech job, a nice apartment in Dallas, and the ability to send money home every month.”
Even after achieving what many consider success, she said she struggled with deep unhappiness. “To everyone back home, I was the one who made it. My parents were so proud. But inside, I was drowning.”
'Worked 70 hours a week'
She further revealed in her post that she regularly worked 70-hour weeks while dealing with anxiety and an ongoing feeling of emptiness. When she informed her mother about her plans to quit and pursue photography, the response was not supportive. “After everything we sacrificed? Don't be stupid,” her mother told her.
She remained in the role for another year before finally reaching her limit. “I had a breakdown. I couldn't get out of bed. That was when I made the scary decision.”
The woman said she resigned without securing an alternative path, and her family initially struggled to support the decision.
“My parents were disappointed and stopped calling for months,” she wrote.
Photography career over a high-paying tech job
Things gradually improved as she built a successful photography career, taking on weddings, portraits, and commercial projects. Within a year, she flew her parents to the United States for her debut solo exhibition.
She recalled her father’s reaction in the post, writing, “When my dad saw strangers praising my work and buying prints, he stood quietly for a long time. Then he hugged me and said, ‘I thought success was only money and titles. I was wrong.’”
Social media reactions
Her post sparked an emotional response across social media platforms.
One user wrote, “Happiness over $180k? Bold. But when the photography money dries up, those village 'proud posts' will turn to 'when are you sending money again?' Real life ain't Instagram.”
Another individual said, “Money can upgrade your life, but it doesn’t automatically improve your mental health. If you’re surviving on the outside but breaking on the inside, something has to change.”
A third user reacted, “90 hours a week is just wild. Not everyone is bold enough to make a major change in their lives. You gotta be proud of yourself. It all worked out.”
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