The Average African Teen Experience.

I started off as a student of Regina Caeli High school some weeks into October in 2017. I literally joined the school after six weeks of resumption. The following week after I joined was the mid term test. I remember a girl from the class though science department, asking me how I coped. I coped pretty well. I also earned myself the post of the social/games prefect. At some point while going for this post, I wasn't too confident because everybody was already making me feel like I just arrived and I have a lot to be acquainted with before thinking of contesting for the post. Not minding what they said, I continued and eventually, I got the position. I'm a lovable student. I was loved by both teachers and my fellow students. I don't recall having any issues with the school authorities this particular year. A time came that period and it happened that there'll be red cross event and our school will have to represented on this event. Other schools that has a red cross society was also to represented as well. The director of the school picked the senior prefect, a few students she found worthy and I of course as the social prefect to represent the school at this event. The teacher in charge of the red cross society in my school was also to go with us on this function. I got home that Friday in utmost excitement. I was happy that I have finally been given an official function as a prefect. Little did I know that my joy was about to be snatched away. I joyfully told my mom that night of the next big thing happening and she gave no reply. I took her silence to be a that's cool. The next day, which was the main day, was a Saturday. I woke up as early as possible to prepare for the event. I had already washed and ironed my school uniform the night before. I had also polished my shoes. I had just taken my bath when my mom asked where I was going to. At first I found that question really funny. I quickly reminded her about what I told the night before. Then she said "forget about it, you're not going". The last line sounded like a gunshot in my ears. I quickly asked "why?" Her tone changed immediately as she angrily replied saying, "I said forget about it!" Then I started explaining why I just had to attend the event tearfully. She seemed not to care about what I was saying but I kept talking anyways and annoyingly enough, nothing I said changed her mind. My dad had already heard the noise and inquired to know what was going on. I told him all about it hoping to get a yes from him but his reply only broke my heart the more. I wanted to sit and cry but I checked the time and I realized that I had to get moving. So I started preparing to leave for school. When I was done preparing, I left the house using the back door when nobody noticed. I thought I had escaped them for the moment but then I heard my name. I turned and gosh it was my mom. She was calling me to come back. I stood a few kilometers away from her as i refused to return home. When she realized that her efforts to get me have been proved abortive, she left. I stood there crying. I was getting confused at that point. I really wanted to be at the event that day but it was causing me trouble at home. I was beginning to rethink the whole thing. For a minute I did and told myself, "you're doing the right thing". I was about to leave that spot. My eyes were still wet cos I've been crying. I was already already drying up my eyes when this stranger walked up to and asked what the problem was. I told him, "it's nothing". He said, "don't tell me that, I've been watching you and you've been crying". I still told, "it's nothing, I'm fine". Hoping to keep him away but he persisted to know what the problem was and I eventually told him everything. He asked where I live and pointed towards the direction of my house. Then he said he wants to speak with my parents. I agreed and we both walked to my house. I told him I'll be at the gate and he left me at the gate for my parents. I don't know what their conversation was like and what they agreed on but when he was through with them, he met at the gate and told me to go back home. I looked at him from head to toe, asked for the time and left for school. It was showering. The weather was cozy. I didn't mind continuing my journey to school on the rain. I got to school a few minutes past eight. I saw the other students waiting patiently for the assigned teacher. I joined them and pretended like nothing happened. The teacher joined us after about twenty minutes and we were about to leave the school premises. We just had to be sure that we're complete and yes we were complete. The school had arranged a vehicle to convey us to the venue and in no time we got the place. This event was happening in an orphanage home in Holy ghost, Enugu. We got into the place, watched as other students that had already gotten there before us were squirming around and making movements to music playing loudly. Our teacher met one of the organizers in uniform and asked a few questions. After that, we were directed to an empty canopy. The other canopies were already occupied by either a group of adults on uniform or school students. In no time, we were already seated down as we waited for the event to commence. In about thirty minutes, it started and everybody was to follow some of the coordinators to go on a rally. It sounded fun and it was really fun. We matched round with a truck carrying loud speakers and playing songs. Some persons were chanting one or two songs that a proper red cross member should be conversant with. We didn't know any of those songs because we have not received proper training. I enjoyed the program throughout. When we got back from the rally, we heard some good will messages, drama performance from other school students, etc. There was refreshment as well. There was a quiz competition and gift prizes were given out to the students with the best performance. It was a fun and educating program. In fact I would recommend it for every student. I wondered why my parents would restrict me from attending a program such as this. The program has ended. Everybody was leaving in groups as they had come. Our group was about leaving too. It was then that I remembered I had a problem. The problem now was going back home without facing the beating of my life. I was very much disturbed while we were leaving. Our teacher noticed the change but of mood on my face. She inquired to know what the problem was. I brushed off the idea and told her, "I'm fine. I'm just tired, must be headache. I just need to rest a little and I'll be okay. She seemed to have taken my excuse to be true as she seized worrying. The bus was already moving. I still didn't know what to do. I felt like my world was coming to an end. I tried not to freak out to avoid creating attention to myself. I was calm but inside, I felt like I was boiling. I was panicking inside. I decided to drop at another junction. Our teacher and some of my friends wondered why I stopped there cos it's not all that close to my house. I lied to them saying, "I want to run an errand for my mom before heading home". They easily believed me. I got down from the bus. I was at New Heaven junction, Enugu. I didn't know where to go to. I had cousins in New Heaven but I wasn't sure I wanted to go there. I decided to enter a compound. It looked calm and was actually quiet. If there was anything I needed at that point in time, it was a peaceful and quiet place to cry my eyes out and think. I entered the compound. There was a nursery school inside the compound. There was this other building by the side. I was walking into the compound, not sure of the direction I was going to but someone was walking towards me. I stopped and watched as he got close. He asked me some questions like, "who invited you for the program? what's your name? why are you on your school uniform on a Saturday?" I answered all the questions he asked but the one that got me speechless was the first question he asked. I didn't know there was a program going on there but then come to think of it, it's not like I'm ready to go home yet. I mean a church is not a bad place to seek refuge in times like this. So I decided to stay back for the program. I never really knew that the program was going to end late in the night. It was getting dark, I was getting more scared. I couldn't even concentrate in the service. In my mind I was like, if my parents were 40% annoyed with me, by now they will 100% annoyed. The service ended around 9pm. Everybody was leaving. I just sat there, too scared to move. Someone called my name and informed me that my attention is needed in the head Pastor's office. I went up to the head Pastor's office and I greeted him. He asked me what the problem is and I told him. Immediately he requested for my mom's contact and called her. Her told her that I'm safe and that I'll be home soon. He also included that I shouldn't be flogged. That was the most important part for me. The head Pastor made arrangements for me to get home. I was still scared to go home. I got home safe. I saw my dad. He still tried to hit me but my mom restricted him from doing so. I slept that night in fear that my mom or dad will wake me up at midnight and give me the beating of my life but none of that happened. That day alone was a lot. From the story above, one can signify stubbornness on the side of the teenager, lack of orderliness on the side of the school of this teenager and lack of understanding on the side of the parents of this teenager. Therefore, everybody has a role to play in this situation. To resolve this issue, we'll start with the school involved, that is the school of the teenage girl. If the school had informed the parents of the event, they would have easily understood the situation and I doubt all those drama that happened would have happened. Most times, prior information on issues like this matters a lot because most African parents don't easily let their children out. The next part to face is that of the parents. Most African parents find it hard to build a relationship with their children and that's why they don't trust their children. If the parents in the story had a good relationship with their daughter, they'd trust she was going on a school function and let her be. On this note, it's advisable that as a mother or father, you should be your daughter's best friend. This way you're able to trust her and she's likely to tell you everything that is going on in her life. You don't have to threaten her to get your will done because she'll one-day come up with a strategy to over power you. So to avoid stories that touches the heart, learn to build a strong relationship with your daughter/s. The last but not the least part to resolve is that of the teenager. Most teenagers are strong willed. The hate it when they're told what to do. I've been that kind of teenager and I understand how it feels but most times, learning to normalize it and know when to use it best is very much necessary. As a teenager, I think it's also your job to make your parent understand you. They are your parents and they'll understand you. The earlier you start this, the better you and the family as a whole.