Tiara twilight treat- THE SELF MADE!

   I made it, the day I stood up for myself and my family.

Born into a very poor family that works so hard to get all the essentials of life.

All my parent asked for, was just cloth, shelter, food and better education for me.

My parent aren’t lazy, infact they work so hard, I think they should have been a millionaire, if hard work had actually paid in a country like this; a country that doesn’t value certificate or experience. A country where only the rich eats the gains of the sweat of the serfs. These gains they call ‘the national cake’ in their circle.

            It’s just so hard not to digress when I remember the state of my father land, Nigeria. Now back to business!

            You could say we live off on rich neighbor if food remnant and used cloths could compete with good standard of living. Mr. and Mrs. Owen- influential, rich and a popular politician lives just a couple of blocks away. They had a girl child, same age as mine; we practically became friend, because my parent and hers are. Things Owen family could not use again were passed directly to us. My family was just like a dumping ground, just like my country was. After junior certificate exam, I was given scholarship by the examination council and was immediately enrolled to Faith Academy. It was the same school Iyitade Owen attends.

            Though it was awkward the first day in school, being the poorest child amidst the affluence kids. If I could remember clearly, my appearance the first day in Faith Academy earned me enemies more than friends. They could not talk to the riff-raff, would they?

            The student’s demeanor towards me did not get to me actually, because it was the same at home.

            The Adele family was so different from other. My family had always been shunned and rejected by all. Yet I still lived through all the rejections, though Iyi’s rejection and pretence got to me a little. The gap between the rich and the poor was just too much. After some months in school, I gave up trying to make friends and kept my distance from the spoilt, rich girls. They are just all the same, I thought atimes. Even the ones who seem nice couldn’t make friends with me; hence their image might get tarnished. Iyitade however, secretly give me things like old sandals and Uniforms, though this favors I must not divulge to anybody. Through it all, I graduated from the college with an excellent result.

            However, I made the resolution to never be weak again. Being poor makes you weak and powerless. So I told my parent to never collect hand me downs or any gift from anybody even the Owens. I vowed to them that I will make them proud.

            I will not forget my father’s exact word that day I gained admission into University of Lagos. He said that being rich or poor is determined by the state of mind. My Mummy while waving me goodbye with tears in her eyes told me, ‘‘you are who I think I am’’.

            And as fate will have it, the Owens’s girl also gained admission into Unilag after failed attempt to be admitted in an Oversea University. Yeah! A university environment is dynamic, so I met people who are just like me. People who are trying to make ends meet. Students who works after school and still study hard. I got the encouragement to go further without looking back.

The event that led me to success today happened during my last year in Unilag. An initiative programme was set up by an abroad based company. Every student was urged to participate, though the expensive fee for application forms drove students away.

Even if I worked ten jobs at a time, I wouldn’t still meet up with the fee. So I went back on my word by seeking Mr. and Mrs. Owens’ help.

I was given an appointed time to meet the duo. I was punctual and got to the Owens’s home at the exact time. I was nervous and my nervousness sky rocketed as I was made to sit for hours before being attended to. After the duo made their appearance, I explained my situation, and crave their indulgence towards the issue. However, I was dazed by their reply afterward. Though they would give me the money, still the duo asked me not to apply for the programme, in other to give their daughter the chance at excelling in the competition. It was a hard slap on my face as the duo went ahead, promising to help me and my parent gets a better job later in the future.

Saying No to them, means saying No to a better life, and accepting their proposition means a bleak future -Future of despair and dependency.

That day I stood up for myself and my family. Though I could not apply for the initiative; a good opportunity to be a better person. But I became so determined; more focus and set towards achieving my dream.

And here I am today, on top of my game. I am an entrepreneur who makes planned events, a reality! I could not settle for less or let myself be trampled upon. I fought hard and I was wounded, but I healed. I believe I can be whatever I wanted to be, because who you are can only be determined by you. Poverty is only a state of mind.