Unfortunately, I'm not even fully back in a way to be consistently consistent in enjoying and benefiting from the domain. Here's why.
whatever I'd have put down here would've in truth been an excuse, if not a flimsy one but it's valid when you think about it. Then when you think deeper you'll see it's something that would warrant a "well, if you're serious, you can find a way around it". 🙄 yes yes, you're good at managing your time well, I'm trying to master the art, gimme a break.
Anyhoo, let me spill the beans. I've left it in the bag for so long and frankly, it limits my freedom of speech on here. I'm the limiting factor all by myself. I do know how to deviate huh! Heads up. Sorry.
The Beans
For the past 8 months, I've felt like I have no purpose. Relax, it's not that deep, I'll start at the beginning.
For you, the readers who do not know, there's something called ASUU strike in Nigeria. Of course you know what a strike is; ASUU on the other hand is a union of academic staff in universities which most Nigerian universities belong to. As a result of the unfortunate fact that our government, both federal and some states', do not value education or are hardly even educated (yeah believe it or not), this union of university lecturers quite often declare strike actions to protest several months' salaries being owed, failure to revitalise the institutions or provide funds to that end, failure to improve the lives of these staff, etc.
For you, the readers who are familiar with this "concept", hehe you know the drill.
Here's how I come in. I'm a 26 year old girl?, lady?, woman?, female? She/her? LOL, take your pick, and I'm a 4th year student of Law. I'm also a graduate of Human Anatomy if you recall from my intro., but that's just paper. Well, plus the basic knowledge of it but still paper.
The phalanges, and a bit of the radius and ulna bones of the upper limb.
I remember telling you that my mum is fanatical, well my dad is delusional. What a combo! Guilty many a time of building castles in the air. Example, you gotta study Medicine and Surgery, that way you become rich fast and get top notch marraige suitors 🤦🏾♀️. 🤡. For you readers who do not know, it's unfortunately the ultimate goal here, study a professional course to marry a rich high ranking man. Getting rich quick by studying that course is not an easily obtainable goal per se down here though.
For you readers who know, you know the drill.
Obviously, I declined, took up the reigns of Human Anatomy since I already was a science student in high-school, and went with these sayings pushing me to finish;
No knowledge is a waste.
Anything worth doing, is worth doing well.
Genuis quotes, who said them?
One day, I'll tell you who don't know, how we used to choose or be selected into arts or science class and how it is now. My pops literally forced me to be a science student.
Moving on, I got my cerfiticate from the University I attended and went ahead to obtain an admission to study Law at another university. My dream come true 😩.
Who knew this dream would drag on and keep being a dream beyond when I was supposed to have woken up from the dream. The strikes (there's been two (plus COVID) since I gained admission) drag on for months and further push this dream farther from being a reality.
During every period of the strike, I work with my existing qualifications, pretending not to be a student. For you readers, who do not know, students don't even bother applying for jobs cause they won't get it. The unemployment rate is so high, people with "big" certificates go get job first now abi¿ before person wey no get.
For you readers who know, you know the drill.
So on my part, it was almost always not full disclosure. I've worked as a private tutor time and again, as the manager of a fashion house, as a paralegal, as an NGO board member only as a programme officer, as a school teacher, as a writer of research work, sometimes two at the same time. Ah! the diversity of my work though, one would call me confused. But it's really just things I love to do combined with things I could do just to make money and not, never, stay idle.
The most recent strike action took place on Valentine's day of 2022. That day, students were sent home and 8 months later, are still at home. During the period, I was a school teacher, a writer and a human rights advocate. Still am a school teacher and just when I'm settled into the jobs, not worried anymore that the strike might get called off this year, they go ahead and call it off. Did 2days ago. Don't get me wrong, I'm uh not unhappy that it has ended, I mean notwithstanding the fact that my graduation year was 2022 but that's now in past tense 😭, it's just bad timing you know. I've made some commitments with the jobs I'm doing and I'd feel terrible if I just up and left and so I won't. Now I have to combine the two jobs and a school exam plus thesis which has been long overdue.
See? How can I do all this and still consistently come on here to read and read. I'm doing so much reading in the physical world already, involuntary or otherwise. Help!
😥
I'll be lawyer one year later than planned but it's fine, delayed not denied huh!
See you when I see you, an hour a day maybe.
Any questions? 😀😉
PS I'll be immensely grateful if you suggested a topic for my thesis so interesting but not stressful 🙃.
Gracias!
Note: pictures that aren't sourced are obviously mine.
The sentence in italics means, "people who have certification would get employed first right? Before students are considered". That's Nigeria for you, oh me 😭.
Life stories wouldn't let me use images that aren't mine so...