Passing through difficult times is part of life for me because ever since I was little I have been dealing with difficult situations.
I have embraced difficult situations ever since I lost my father so I wouldn't say I haven't been in a difficult situation before. But then, I found myself in one difficult situation that was far from what I could handle, and yet I couldn't give up.
Some years ago I was working in the factory and the main reason why I took the job was to save up for my studies because if I don't do it nobody will pay the school fee for me. I never knew the pay wouldn't be much, if not I would have had another plan on what to do about my studies.
All I was planning then was to save up, and when I had enough money, I would quit the job and face my studies, after graduating I would get a befitting job for myself, some times what we were planning to do might not be what life had for us.
I started working and my first salary was #12,000, I wasn't happy about the money so I asked my sister what was going on and why I got such a small amount of money at the end of the month, she said I should ask the contract staff supervisor because she was a permanent staff and she didn't know anything about contract staff salary.
I did as she instructed me, I asked my supervisor and I was told I earn #400 per day which is #12,000 per month. I couldn't cry because I thought the salary would be much so that I could save up very fast. I couldn't quit the job because I didn't have any alternative, so I decided to apply for a part-time course which was a weekend program.
I got admission and I started going to school every weekend, at first it seemed easy but later, there was a little bit change of rules in the fact that anyone that missed work one day, three days salary will be deducted from their salary and I have to be in school.
I began to struggle with my education and my job at the same time, it was so difficult for me to the extent that sometimes I didn't go home I took some clothes to work so all I did was bathe from the factory and went straight to school.
That wasn't easy for me but I couldn't leave my studies because I had paid all the necessary money I needed to pay and without the job, I can't continue my education.
One day I was coming from school to resume the night shift and while I was about to enter the production floor I felt dizzy and I nearly fell but someone was there, so she quickly grabbed me and I was taken to the factory hospital, meanwhile, they don't treat contract staff, I was given drugs and my supervisor gave me three days off.
After I resumed back, I made up my mind to speak up before the stress took my life away, so I explained myself to my supervisor and he took me to the production manager because he couldn't do anything about the situation.
The production manager shouted at me but still, I told him I couldn't cope with weekend work because I had to be in school. He asked me to tender my school ID for confirmation and I did, after that day I was given the grace to miss work during the weekend without payment. That affects my salary but at least I was at peace that I don't have to run from work to school anymore.
Even though I don't go to work during the weekend I still feel tired for now resting when I was supposed to.
The situation was beyond me but I couldn't give up so I made up my mind to take permission. The lesson I learned was that it is better to speak up rather than cope with a difficult situation that I might end up regretting, assuming I was struggling with the two I might end up losing one out of the two, though the situation affected me so much before I take the decision of taking excuse but I learned a lot from the difficult time.