MY IDOL, MY OFFICER

Chapter One: Hot Afternoon

What I did not know was that my quiet routine was about to change. I thought my biggest challenge that week would be my coursework. I had no idea that a notification on my phone would soon give me something completely different to think about.

I had plans for my future too. I wanted a career that connected technology with healthcare, a field where I could use what I learned to make a practical difference. I knew the journey would not always be easy, but I was willing to work for it. At twenty-three, I still had many questions about life, but I believed I was slowly finding my direction.

My friends often laughed at how seriously I took my watermelon juice. To me, it was more than a drink. It was a little ritual that helped me reset whenever university assignments, work, and family responsibilities became overwhelming. I liked adding fresh mint because it gave the juice a clean, refreshing taste.

The afternoon heat made the streets shimmer, and every passing vehicle seemed to carry another wave of warm air with it. I checked the time and smiled when I realized I still had a few minutes before I had to return to work. I took another sip of my juice and watched people moving along the road. Accra could be noisy and demanding, but I had grown used to finding small peaceful moments inside the chaos.

It was a bright afternoon in the suburbs of Accra, where I was enjoying a glass of watermelon juice during my afternoon shift. I love watermelon so much that I often turn it into juice. Sometimes, I take three bottles of watermelon juice with some mint to work. Luckily, my workplace has a fridge, so I keep them there to chill. Having a cold glass of watermelon juice during a hot afternoon eases all the stress of the day.

By the way, I’m Vivian. I’m a university student studying Applied Informatics, and I want to become a Health Informatics Officer.

I live with my mom, Hannah, and my little brother, William. And please, don’t ask about my dad, because I don’t know where he is.

Yeah, that’s me.

Oops, I almost forgot to tell you my age. I’m twenty-three years old.