By this time last year I was already planning my travel diary. I don’t just wake up one morning and do something big. I plan. Almost always.
At that time I was planning for just three cities to travel to but when it was time, I ended up visiting five cities and damn! it was amazingly fun as you all can remember, since I shared every experience with you.
Now I’m sitting at home wondering how the world has been turned upside down. How something untouchable can shake the world and withhold the freedom we thought we had wrapped around our fingers.
How a mere going cross cities was no longer an option.
And I’m humbled.
Yet, I wrote down two cities in my journals
Yes! Two cities I’m going to be traveling to this year. It may even increase the list as the spirit leads laughs
But wait!
What were you thinking? That I would give up and leave everything till next year? Hell No!
Its still the peak of the year so why shouldn’t I?
Six full months are still left off of 2020 and a lot can be achieved in this time.
So I’m going to draw up my calendar and plan. I don’t care when they lift up the travel ban but I will keep planning and working towards the goal.
So my question for you is, why have you ruled this year out?
Don’t give me the excuse of a pandemic, recession, lack etc. Its too lame.
There’s more that can be achieved this year. Its not about the year, neither is it about the time. Its wheather you are even working towards the goal or not.
Its if you’re strategically putting everything in place regardless of what month and what year.
As long as your goal is achievable then it can happen if you continue.
Don’t lay it off for next time when you can work it out for right now.
Go back to those plans you’ve put off and please…start executing them.
What are those achievable goals you haven’t given up on? Share them in the comment.
I’m always rooting for you. Thank you for stopping by.
This post is the answer to majority of the questions I got from the last post “How in Gods name did I make such an amount during NYSC?
So sit tight and ride along with me.
After my hunger experience which I shared with y’all in my last post I made a decision never to go hungry.
And for that to happen I needed money.
I went from company to company, I had nothing but zeal and desire. No experience no relations no connections. Just me in an unknown state.
After days of searching I walked into a construction company far from my house and told them I was a copper and I needed a job.
I was fortunate enough to meet the Owner of the business. He asked me a lot of questions about myself. Which I answered with a smile on my face.
Y’all know my smile is contagious laughs
He then went further to ask me, since I was a copper how was I going to properly deliver here. I replied that I only go to my PPA three times a week during the morning hours so by 12 noon I should be at work and the remaining days I’d also resume at the usual time.
I left with the “we’ll get back to you” statement which made me feel less hopeful.
I still went to a mall that day but they said they were full.
The next morning I woke up with a phone call “Come to work now!”. And the call ended.
“Are you kidding me, what kind of person gives someone a job on the phone and asks the person to resume immediately the call ends”. I complained. Obviously irritated.
I rushed out. I can’t remember if I even had my bath that morning haha. I just wanted to find out if it was real or just a prank.
I went and lo and behold it was real.
I had a job.
But…
I never knew it was going to be a very stressful one with…of course, a lot of benefits.
Salary was Ten thousand naira monthly as a copper. Then I was to be given 500 everyday for lunch. And some days I and my colleaque were provided with lunch and much more to eat. My boss was Igbo but the northerners were very hospitable.
I know you’re wondering how it came to a whooping sum of three hundred thousand naira with bills to pay, transport and feeding.
Let me indulge you
I was receiving NYSC allowance of Nineteen thousand, eight hundred niara. Also my salary was Ten thousand niara. For the remaining ten months I never touched my salary and my allowance. So how did I survive?
On my 500 daily lunch money and tips.
I worked under the scorching sun supervising general merchandise. I spent time climbing trucks counting goods. I was always inside the warehouse during offloading and onloading of goods. And if the laborers weren’t around. I did their job and mine. It was gruesome, hard and unimaginable.
No one believed I’ll do the work of a man. But I did it perfectly well. Clients saw this and constantly blessed me. My boss saw this and blessed me once in a while, even though he could be very annoying hahaha Aren’t all bosses that way?
At the end of each day I left work with nothing less than One thousand five hundred, that is if few clients come in. Most days it was between three to five thousand. And it was that money I lived on. It was more than enough and I even had extra change. Do the maths.
I enjoyed myself. There’s nothing sweeter than spending money you worked hard for. So I spent it well. Food was excess. I fed my student once a week. I never lacked my basic amenities. Helped in church. Had fun once in a while since I was a private person. Cooked to my hearts content. I was constantly sending bags of yam and fish to Portharcourt. Life was okay. I saved almost everything I could.
If there’s anything to take home from this story its;
Have multiple streams of income
If I had only depended on allowance I would have left NYSC with nothing. And how would I have survived at home while job hunting?
Word of mouth
Word of mouth is still the most effective form of marketing. Understand your potential and spread the word.
Save to start up, don’t borrow
Save. If you don’t know how to. Learn. Its not as difficult as it seems. Work with a savings calendar. Have an achievable goal. Fix the duration. Fix the amount. No amount is too small. Hundred naira every day for one year can get you two bags of rice for Christmas. One thousand naira every day for a year can get you half plot of land in some cities. Don’t underestimate the power of 1.
Writing this story and reliving its memiries now, has inspired me to rekindle that work fire I once had. Because its clear I’ve lost it. I seriously want to ignite that hustling spirit in me once again and build the kind of life I truly desire.
How was NYSC for you? Are you still serving? what are your thoughts on this post? What have you decided to do positively from now on? What lessons did you learn? Share them in the comments below
“Hi Chika. I know we’ve just been waving at each other but now I really want to get to know you. Can I have your number?”. He asked expectantly. While I just smiled looking at my phone.
“Oh! What’s your Genotype?”. I asked and a weird look appeared on his face.
“What?” He exclaimed in shock probably wondering what his genotype has to do with his feelings. “I’m AS”. He responded finally.
” Oh Sorry. Then you don’t need my number. Goodbye”. I shook my head, hid a smile and left him puzzled.
“Chika baby. You’re a really nice girl. I’d really love to go out with you this weekend. Just to hang out”. He asked shyly.
“First of all, what’s your genotype?” I asked without raising my face to look at him or I would have noticed the strange look on his face.
“Are you seriously asking me that? He asked slightly upset”.
” Yes I am. And I’m waiting for your answer”. I replied nonchalantly.
“I’m AA”. He replied.
“Okay. Cool. I’ll see you then”.
This is the story of my life. I’m Chika Jonah and I’d like to take you back to the reason for all this.
After two years of remarkable friendship and relationship. We were both happy, growing and dreaming. Our days were filled with lots of conversations, dreams and working our ass off to achieve those dreams. And in one of our conversations, we were talking about injections, blood and then we went on to blood groups and genotypes that was when he randomly said ” I’m AS”.
I instantly froze.
“Wh…a…t did you just say?”. I stammered, hoping I had heard wrong.
“That I’m AS. Is anything wrong with that?” He asked confused at the shock he heard in my voice. I just couldn’t say anything. All of a sudden I was sweating profusely.
“Yes. Everything is wrong with that. Everything”. I sobbed into the phone.
“What’s the problem? You’re scaring me. Just tell me”. He pleaded worriedly.
” I’m AS too”. The bomb dropped with my response and everywhere became quiet instantly. It was too big a pill to swallow.
“Are you sure?” He asked with every emotion in him and I nodded. “Then do the test again”. He added sternly. I didn’t want to argue with him I I agreed.
I did the test again and again even when I knew it was going to be the same result. And each time my resolve weakened and I cried all over again.
I was happy with someone I was never going to spend the rest of my life with.
He begged, we cried but somehow he knew I was going to do it. Faith had no chance. I broke it off as quickly and painful as I felt. It was over. All because of a two-letter word so small yet so powerful.
My story is not to make you feel sympathetic towards me but to help you understand this fact;
Don’t be ignorant
It saddens me that even adults in their twenties and thirties don’t know what their genotype is. They walk around, go from one relationship to another without knowing how much of their future they put at risk. Walk to the hospital, give them your
blood samples and wait for your results. If you’re still not satisfied with the result go over to 2 more hospitals and do it all over again. One result may lie, but three results can’t lie. Don’t be careless or you may end up investing everything in a relationship that should never be in the first place
Don’t say it doesn’t concern you because you’re AA.
Stop that thought. That’s selfishness. You are not in this for yourself but for the other person. For the relationship, you want to build. For your peace of mind and for your future. Notice that every time I asked “What’s your genotype?” I didn’t give mine first instead I waited to hear from the other person. That’s how it should be.
Don’t Stay. End it.
I’m sorry but I’m not going to tell you to stay even if you’ve been dating for six years. Not that I doubt your faith but because your faith isn’t practical. Ask yourself this question; Can you watch your child go through the pains and agony that comes with sickle cell? Can you watch your child constantly face death each time? Can you leave with the guilt of putting them through that? Is your faith strong enough to carry you through this ordeal? I’m sure you know the answer already. A broken heart is better than a broken future.
Be Wise
One more thing – I’m probably going to sing my national anthem “What’s your genotype” till I find my man (laughs) so guys bear with my question *winks. And if you are having a crush on me, now you know the next thing…
Be proud of yourself whether you’re SS, AS, AA, AC, SC, CC
Use this picture as a guide.
I’d love to hear from you. Your concerns, your question and your story. Drop a comment or email me. Don’t forget to share this with every young male and female. Educate your family and friends. Love xoxo
