Before going for Gulder Ultimate Search, Rachael did not have plans she was looking forward to. She was running a business but it stopped after her shop got demolished. Then there was the plan to travel out of the country with her friends, but it did not work out.
“I was surfing the internet that day wondering what I was going to do next when I saw the advert that Gulder Ultimate Search was back. It was a show I followed as a young person and it piqued my interest and I put in for it.”
Rachael told Netng that she was known as a fun-loving person who did not like to engage in strenuous tasks. It, therefore, came as a surprise to her family members when she told them she was going for the show.
“I informed only my brother at first because I was not sure I would even be selected to go into the jungle. It was when we got to Sea School that I informed them. They were all surprised.”
The first night in the jungle was a rude awakening for Rachael who struggled with the insects and had to sleep on a stiff board. She woke up nursing pain in her hips.
“I realised that I needed to put in my best. The jungle taught me how to live with people of different backgrounds, experiences and attitudes. I am now wiser than the Rachael that entered the jungle.”
The jungle life was more difficult than Rachael anticipated. Apart from the lack of a proper bed and having to contend with insects, she found the food unsatisfying.
“In my life, I haven’t been in a situation where I had to manage a slice of yam to eat. I don’t even want to talk about the water.”
Despite the difficulty that the jungle presented, Rachael is still grateful for the opportunity as it gave her a new outlook on life
“When I came out of the jungle, members of my family were very proud of me. My dad looked at me and said he would not have believed that I would successfully go through all that. Despite not winning, I would say it was a success.”
Since participating in Gulder Ultimate Search, Rachael now has a new direction about what she wants to do with her life. She is considering going into Nollywood and establishing a career in modelling. People recognise her now and she is hoping to make the best use of the opportunity.
