Find Her

Untapped dreams

Mr Oluwa was impressed with how his business was going. Things were picking up and he managed to buy a piece of land in the town. He was so happy with how is life was turning. If not the determination to succeed and to provide for his children, his life would have been a wasted one. It was a great pain that his wife left him but he was grateful for the lessons that the situation had taught him. His life became uncomfortable and this prompted him to wake up from his dreams and get his life together. Since he had nothing to rely on, he had no one to wash his clothes, no one to cook for him, no one to tidy up the house, it dawned on him that he needed to stop drinking and get his life on track.

He thought it was impossible for him , he thought it was over for him, he thought he had come to the end of his life, he thought there was no hope for him again.

There were no friends that he could turn to for help because most of his friends were the cause of his downfall and he knew they had no good intention for him and he cannot trust them again. He could also not turn to any family member for help because they despised him.

He just did not know where or how to begin. The thought of suicide came to him severely. He almost ended his life but the thought of leaving his children behind saved him. He thought of who will take care of his children, how they will survive and decided not to commit suicide.

He lost his job because of a decision he made which was a mistake and he regretted. He did not know that the effect of his mistake will extend this far and almost consume his life.

He slacked because he knew his wife was there so he did not care so much about the effect. At least he had someone in his life who was ready to help no matter the mess he was in. He drank his life out because he knew his wife will come pick him up somehow, at least feed him and even change his clothes. He knew he had a place to lay his head and there was someone to take care of the house.

He knew he was doing the wrong things of which he had to quit and take responsibility for his life but for some strange reason, he was just not ready.

Many neighbors have advised him but he did not heed to their advice. He was just not ready. He made decisions that affected his future greatly. He was not so a rich man but if he had made judicious use of his life and also maintained his job, his life would have been a fulfilling one.

He was a very intelligent, smart, handsome man. While he had his job, his superiors really liked him because he was very diligent and performed excellently. He made sure he was up to his task without any trace of error. He was just hardworking.

But after he lost his job he was not able to make decisions that could change his life positively. He could not plan well for his family. And due to the frustration of his inability to find a suitable job, he took to drinking even though his wife advised him to just start with something. Even if it was a small business so that they can make it grow. He did not listen because he could not understand why a man of his stature will descend so low. He wanted something big compared to the job he had. With this stubbornness, he allowed many opportunities to pass him by and go waste. He was just too proud to see those opportunities.

Many years after he had almost destroyed his life, he decided to make a change and reconciled his life. He finally realized that should he continue that way, he would become more useless that people thought. The thought of his children and how he had disappointed them. He thought of how their life would have been perfect and comfortable if he had made the right decisions. He then saw the trauma and pain he had created for his children and he was ready to make amends.

He then decided to stop the drinking and start his own business. He did not find the decision a comfortable one but he was determined to make it work. He needed to prove to his friends that with or without them, he was still useful and can make it. He needed to prove his relatives wrong.

He needed to wipe out the tag of a drunkard and gain his respect back. He became strong spirited and very determined to create that positive image. He did not listen to the naysayers but was focused on winning the trust of his family (children) again.

He was able to transform his thoughts from perceiving himself as a failure, useless and good for nothing to someone who can make it. There was no one to lead him through this process but all he got was himself. He encouraged himself and he used his children as his point of focus. He started the book shop and was determined to make it work even though he knew that it would be a difficult one for him. Many months after his decision to start the business, he saw that he was busy daily for the right course, he was able to put his mind to work again. The knowledge that he once used at the work place many years ago was now relevant in his own business. This made him very happy as he found himself useful again and did not give up.

He got back from work one evening very tired and sat to take a nap in the chair on the verandah. He began to reflect on his life and as he remembered all that had happened to him, he could not hold back his tears.

Back at school Tasha found the company of Joan more comfortable. She was not as mean as the other class mates. Tasha was always told she was stupid or good for nothing by others. She was trying her best to perform well in her academics but it was difficult because of what keeps playing back in her head. She wants to move from the stage of always getting the last or second to last position in the class. She wants to also be among the excellent ones but the voices in her head kept telling her, she was dumb and cannot.

Tasha convince her dad that she was not comfortable with Mr Mark. She just did not want to see him and was devising all means so that her dad can terminate his contract. She knew what Mr Mark did to her was wrong and does not want anything of that sort to repeat itself. She may look dumb in the eyes of others but she was a very wise girl who always wants to avoid trouble. She told her dad that Mr Mark does not really teach her anything. He was lazy and always arrives at her home late. She was able to convince her dad and painted a negative image about her tutor, Mark without telling her dad the real reason. Mr Oluwa trusted his daughter and will always do anything for her. So he finally terminated the contract of Mr Mark and started the search for a new person. She was finally relieved because the more she sees, him the more she remembers the painful experience.

Three weeks into the new academic calendar, there was an external program that was organized by an NGO. This program was mostly organized every two years. The program always made the students very happy and competitive and they always look forward to it. This program was arranged in a way the even the poorest student can also have the chance to benefit. The organizers of this program were from the welfare and human right department.

The program was meant for those in the upper forms of one happens to be Tasha's class. It was a form of exchange program where the NGO sponsors students from less privileged schools to interact with other students in the top notch schools for a period of one month. The organization facilitates the programs and pays for all expenses.

Previously, the organization focused on the three most intelligent students from all the 3 upper form classes. These saw the best students getting the opportunity to visit good schools in the cities.

But the institution changed it's strategies so that others could also benefit. Their aim was to give opportunity to all students without limiting it to only the intelligent ones. Because the previous selection process brought some form of fear, intimidation and discouragement to some of the students especially the ones that were not academically inclined, there was a call for change in strategy.

Most of the students were happy when they heard the news because most of them were eagerly waiting for the opportunity. But this was new to the students who gained admission into the school two years or less. This did not really make Tasha happy because she had no idea how the program had gone all these while neither was she even among the top 3 brilliant students, therefore she was not really bothered.

After close of school, she told her mother about the program but neither she nor her mother was in anticipation of anything because they knew it was not within their circle. Ms Betty was not even bothered by it because she knew her daughter was not even qualified.

The new selection strategy was not revealed to the students. The NGO just came to the school to remind them that it was time for the program and they will return to the school after a week to announce the new terms.

Opam academy was the name of Tasha's school, it was named after the founder Mrs Opam. It was the only private school in the town of Akati because it was a school that began as a club. It was founded by a lady from the town who happened to work with some NGO's in the city. She retired and got back to the village and she realized that a lot of young people in her hometown cannot read or write even though they were attending the public school. So she took it upon herself to help some of them, especially the girls. She began to form small reading clubs in her house where the children visit usually on weekends to learn how to read and write. That was how the school began and she registered it formally and made it a full flesh school.

Therefore it was a school that was adopted by the NGO she worked with after she died many years ago. This made it possible for the school to enjoy some form of assistance in the form of grants and other facilities.

Most of the students who knew about this program became anxious especially the ones who had been waiting for the opportunity so they could be chosen. Almost everyone was looking serious all of a sudden.

The following week, the NGO visited the school again to announce the criteria by which the students will be selected and everyone was in an expectant mode. At least the ones that thought they were intelligent.

The new criteria for the selection was a random one. This time around it will not be an automatic selection for the brilliant students but there will be a form of a raffle. And if a student happens to pick the paper with the inscription 'selected' that students will be able to participate in the program.

Tensions were really high as there was a sudden deviation from the norm. Even the teachers were shocked. This criteria was very simple but the winner had to depend on luck. And instead of selecting three student from of the three classes, the number had been increased to four students from each class.

The bowl was passed around with the various pieces of papers in it and were folded so no one can see what was written and each student from each class picked one. When everyone was done picking, they would be asked to open and those who had "selected" written on their piece of paper would come forward. The process went on simultaneously in all the classes to avoid doubts and discrepancies. Everyone was done picking and were asked to open. They were all nervous because only four students would be picked from a class of about twenty five population size and who would be the lucky one. They opened and by some strange luck, Tasha found "selected" written on her paper. For a moment she was confused because she does not know whether she did not understand the process or she was not seeing the writings well. She just could not believe her eyes. The other three lucky students were boys and she was the only girl and they were asked to come forward, show to the class what was written on their piece of papers.

There was absolute surprise and shock on the faces of the students and Tasha's class teacher was dumbfounded. They could not believe that someone like Tasha who was among the first three worse performing students academically could be a lucky participant.

Tasha herself before the selection was not bothered about it. She had written herself off, she knew there was not even a chance for her and she just was not even interested because her first thought was that, her mother would not even agree that she travels to a different school in the city far away just for a program. She was so happy that finally she also got the chance to be selected for something.

Abena and some of her friends were really jealous of Tasha and they hated her more. They just did not understand why someone like her would be a lucky winner.

After everything was done, their details were taken and the program managers would pay a visit to the family of the participants and will discuss it with them. But if a parent or guardian of a selected participant did not agree that their ward should go through the exchange program, that participant would be withdrawn and the opportunity would be given to another student.

Tasha was extremely happy but she was also scared that her mother might reject the offer. When she got home from school, she did not know how to break the news to her mother, even though the program managers would visit and explain things better. She quickly rushed to do her house chores without her mother telling her to. She tried to put up the best behavior that day because she knew she can only win the heart of her mother through obedience.

A thought came to her to inform her dad first but she did not know how she will do that without her mother knowing. She waited patiently for her mother to enter the bathroom to take her bath and she sneaked into her room. She quickly dialed her dad's number and placed the call. The call went through twice but no one picked. She was so nervous because if her dad did not pick up now and called later, her mother would know she was the one who used her phone and this will be bad for the agenda she was trying the set up.

Luckily after the third round, Mr Oluwa picked up. She was excited and she broke the news to her dad. Mr Oluwa was extremely happy to her the news. He was happy for her achievement and promised to talk to her mother about it. So Tasha could not break the news to her mother that day.

She woke up early the next day and prepared for school. She woke up early so she would not be late for school and get her mother upset that morning. She finished on time and her mother was surprised at this new attitude.

In the afternoon, Ms Betty received a call from Mr Oluwa. They spoke at length and Mr Oluwa broke the news to her. She was happy for her daughter.

When Tasha got back from school, she asked her why she did not break the news to her and Tasha confessed that she was afraid her mother would reject the offer.

Ms Betty felt a bit sad that her daughter sees her as a monster that does not want any good thing to happen to her.

Ms Betty warned her daughter not to disclose the issue with anyone not even her friend Nuna or her siblings.

The other students from the village who goes to school with Tasha were not aware of what went on. They were very little and belonged to the lower forms therefore this project does not concern them.

Tasha sat quietly at the back of their house trying to digest what had happened in the school, two days ago. He just could not believe how a dumb student like her would have the opportunity to visit a top notch school and stay there for a month. For a moment she also got scared and asked herself; what if the students in those schools did not like her? What if they were mean like Abena and her mates? What if they despise her? And for a moment she felt like giving up on the program because she knew this program was not meant for her and she just happened to be lucky, as her classmates have told her. As she pondered over these questions, she could not hold back her tears because this was an untapped dream, something she never thought would happen to her.

She got up and went straight into her room. She stood in front of her mirror to look at her deformed jaw. She was just afraid and wondered if these new students will accept her and not laugh at her and also call her "ugly".

Mr Oluwa was so happy that his daughter now got the opportunity to experience the world that he should have created for her. Tasha was scared at the same time very excited. She had always wished to visit the city. She had always wanted to leave the village of Agasa for a moment because it was boring and the workload at home was stressful. She wanted freedom and the freedom finally came. But her fear was that she knew nobody in her new environment which will make it difficult for her to adjust, she thought.

The team sponsoring the exchange program paid a visit to Tasha's home. They wrote a letter previously to Ms Betty informing her of their visit. They came to Agasa on Friday after close of school as they promised in the letter. They made some enquiries from Ms Betty as they also told her of the reason for their visit. They had a short discussion. Ms Betty agreed to the idea of her daughter participating in the program. She told them she had to also seek the concern of Tasha's father. The team immediately called Mr Oluwa on phone and they spoke. He also endorsed the idea. So the team officially made it known to Tasha that her parents have concerted to the idea and she was now eligible to participate. She was really overjoyed and thanked her mother for granting her the opportunity.

The program was expected to commence within two weeks after the official agreements have been signed with the parents and guardians.

The two weeks felt like two years in the sight on Tasha. She just could not wait to leave the village. All these while she had not told any of her friends in the village about the good news, not even her siblings.

The NGO responsible for the program made provision for almost everything for the participants. They had sporting attires and special T-shirts for other programs. The program was mostly a learning one but they made room for fun and entertainments. So the participants go there to learn from the teachers and students, also visit tourist sites, play games, have competitions and also make new friends.

The last Saturday before the students will depart to the city, they were all invited to the school campus and were taken through some training. The school they were visiting in the city was a boarding school so they will spend the one month being housed within the school premises and Opam academy was not a boarding school. Therefore they needed to learn how to eat with the cutlery set and other petty things. This was to help them familiarise themselves with these things so they do not get embarrassed in the mist of others.