At age 16, a few months after I had graduated from secondary school I applied to work as an attendant in a nursery school. I didn't wish to sit around the house playing home girl having seen that I wasn't able to scale through the requirements to further my education as regarding the cut off mark demands of the examination body and the institution I desired to attend and there were other hurdles of financial constraint and mental unpreparedness.
I wasn't called for an interview until about 10-11 months later which is obviously almost a year, imagine that! For the period I had to wait I was merely a really naive wanderer. Moving around town with other teenage girls and forming unnecessary cliques- typical of high school girls.
Having successfully secured a job for the first time in life though at underage because I was 17 years and 5 months old and the institution could have decided not to employ me but they did.
Desired Job Turned Nightmare
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Two weeks into the job I began to look like a shadow of myself. I was worn out and exhausted from having to wake up early everyday and cook for the house then be at the bus stop before 6am for the school bus to pick me up. While other staff retired for the day after school sessions, I always had to join the school bus to drop off all the students as well before returning home.
In the morning after arriving at school, I had to be in the classroom assisting the main class teacher in marking books, supervising lessons, cleaning up children's mess and just fixing things.
The vice principal academics would always come around to supervise and would get mad if I was sitting down, I was not to sit except during break periods. I equally didn't have a break period as I was assisting in the nursery class and I had to feed some of the children during break.
This isn't the job I desired, this was a nightmare!
The Excitement Of My First Paycheck And The Discouragements
I had already made a mental note of how much I'll save for my education from the moment I got the job and discussed my salary. It wasn't much, just 19.25USD which is 8,000 in my local currency. It seemed huge to me because on a normal day I don't have anyone giving me such an amount when I'm seated at home. I was excited and proud of myself.
At the end of the first month I requested for an increment in my salary and after a review of the responsibility I shouldered my salary was increased to N10,000. I was happy about it though I felt I deserved better but I was thankful because I had no degree, I was an underage but I got the job other graduates couldn't get because they didn't even make it past the written interview.
The job took a toll on my physical appearance. I was losing weight and I looked worn out and tired every time. People talked and asked if I was sick and some suggested I quit.
Thinking Critically
I thought about how I've relieved my parents of the burden of catering for my basic needs and managing other financial affairs of the household. They'd already gotten used to me not bothering them and I imagined how stressed they'll be all over again.
I figured the people who were advising me to quit wouldn't feed me or assist me financially and so I ignored the discouragements.
Hunger Fuelled My Determination
I figured life had given me a rare opportunity and I was determined to make something out of it. While working there, I kept applying to study Law in the university. I had taken the exam three times yet I wasn't admitted so I kept staying in my nightmare job.
I knew what losing the job would mean to me. I knew I'd be hungry and depressed and so I stayed. In my course of working there, my passion changed from wanting to be a supreme court judge to passing down intellectual values to the young and ignorant minds.
I became hungry for knowledge as well. I wanted to be more than a bus attendant, a cleaner and a class attendant. I also wanted to make extra money by tutoring some children privately so I needed to show I knew what to do if given the opportunity. In the course of assisting the professional teachers, I understudied them and I learnt how to become one.
The Advantages
At the end of 2½ years my patience and determination paid off. I was an attendant per excellence. I became the secretary for the press club in school. I reviewed and edited articles which were submitted for publication in the school's magazine. I was a substitute for any teacher who didn't make it to school irrespective of the class and subject (I taught in the secondary school as well). I took up extra personal lessons with some students whose parents requested that I did and I generated more income for myself and helped improve academic performances of most of the students I taught.
The greatest value was a change in the course I wanted to study. Being an English Education student is easier for me because I have a practical experience of what the course entails. My performances in class presentations are always good too.
Determine To Create Something Out Of Unfortunate Situations
The years of working made me realise how much one can gain if he is determined. I certainly did encounter a lot of challenges but I don't wish to go into that. My experience made me realise anyone could turn any uncomfortable situation into a worthwhile experience if only we can just decide to. I'm not sure anyone would like to work from 6am to 6pm with such responsibilities for just 10,000 with no increment for 2½ years but I figured I had other lifetime advantages I could gain from the opportunity and so I stayed.
While there, there were circumstances that created more hunger in me to advance in knowledge and skills so I could be worthy of bigger opportunities and it's going well for me.
Never Forget
Others always have an opinion different from what you may really want. It's okay to listen to them but not okay to act on those opinions because someone said so. Weigh your cost, see the opportunities, think of the aftermath and if it's worth it then delve into it.
It's easier to succeed if the drive comes from within us and of course if you have a focus and a purpose in mind. In everything you do, ask yourself what you want and why. If you have the right answers for these then scaling through won't be too much of a tedious task.
Note: I was already writing this post before I noticed the topic for w11e1 contest so this post is a merge of my personal experience and my participation in the contest.
Thank you for reading.