22, Moving On To 23

I feel sleepy even as I’m about to write this, but I promised myself I would share a story with you on my 23rd birthday. There’s a previous draft, but I had to dump it. It felt forced.

I want to share how the past year has been for me. It has been a beautiful and delightful ride. A lot happened that I am grateful for, but I'm glad I'm stepping into a new year now.

Love and Relationships

22 started with love, somehow. I now understand when people say they love somebody and stay away. I'm not just talking about romantic relationships, but about friendships and relationships in general.

The heart (our emotions) can put us in the worst possible scenarios if we let it lead. But I don't believe humans were created to just feel and move by our feelings. We were created as " thinking beings" with a brain for choosing and making the right choices for ourselves. It's why logic exists.

Where am I going with this? Sometimes, the best thing to do in friendships and relationships may be to let them go. If it gives you unrest and makes you question a whole deal about yourself, it may be best to let them go (regardless of whether you love or care for them or not). You can do the caring from a distance. Lol.

Serving my Fatherland, Nigeria

“Youths obey the clarion call,

Let us lift our nation high

Under the sun or in the rain

With dedication and selflessness

Nigeria's ours

Nigeria we serve."

That's the first stanza of the NYSC anthem, and within the three weeks at Keffi Orientation Camp, I had mastered every line. That didn't mean I sang every line whenever we had to recite it. Most days, I would keep quiet when we got to the "under the sun or in the rain" line.

So let's backtrack a bit.

I spent a major part of my 22nd year serving my country, Nigeria. I was dying to go for the mandatory one year NYSC because I was tired of sitting at home waiting for that callup letter. I graduated from the University of Benin in December 2019, and from that moment, I was anticipated leaving the Southern part of Nigeria. I wanted to experience a little of the North, and I got my desire.

Imagine my "semi-happiness" when my call-up letter said I was posted to Nasarawa State. (I initially wanted to go to Kano, and Nasarawa was just a second choice) I immediately visited Google wanting to know more about the state.

Three to four weeks after receiving my call-up letter saw myself reporting at Dalhatu Araf Specialist Hospital, Lafia. Yes, that's where my place of primary assignment was.

My unit of posting was the Social Welfare Unit, where I was a Patient Welfare Staff. It was an enlightening period as I interacted with indigenes and learnt a little of the Hausa language. I also saw the importance of social workers in the hospital. My time there exposed me to hospital practices, and made me more appreciative of good health.

Community Development Services (CDS)

According to NYSC, CDS is a significant part of one's service year. While leaving Delta for Nasarawa, I told myself I would leave my shell. On getting to Lafia, I found myself in the Medical Community Health CDS group where I served as the Financial Secretary. This helped develop my people skills because I'm very sure if I wasn't a part of the executive body, I would have been a somewhat passive member of the group.

Trust me when I say youths love excitement.

I discovered something about myself during this period as a Fin. Sec., that I love sincere people; people who keep to their word. There's nothing beautiful as meeting a person who has previously promised to pay their monthly due on a specific date, and when you meet them, they respond.

Another thing that was of concern to me during that period was the behavior of humans. How can an aassociation, of which you are a member, come to an agreement, and when asked to honour your end of the arrangement, you start making trouble?

I'm an advocate of if you can't do it, don't promise to do it. If you won't obey the rules and regulations of a body, don't bother joining.

Medical outreaches; there were a few outreaches the CDS group organized. They were so wonderful, and I ensured I participated in them all. NYSC introduced me to outreaches, and I'd love to attend some more even after now.

I'd be passing out of the NYSC scheme on the 28th of April, a day after my birthday, and honestly, I enjoyed my service year. You can read more about it in the article I'll be publishing tomorrow.

Freelancing

For those who do not know, I'm a writer. I remember writing novels and short stories in my primary and secondary school days. It was pure leisure, in my spare time. After reading a thousand and one fictions, I would write my stories on paper and share them with my siblings to get their opinions. Some were nice, while others were pure trash - I'm just being honest.

The first time I earned from writing was in 2018, and my friend had outsourced an article to me. I was ecstatic,

"So I don't have to write a novel before I can earn from writing?" I thought.

Back to NYSC and freelancing…

I decided to return to freelance writing when I got to Lafia because I realized the 33k allowance from the federal government wasn't going to do anything. Clients via freelance sites were not forthcoming, so I decided to stick to accepting gigs from the 'middlemen.'

A quick message to someone about to start their service year; 33k won't and can never be enough. Find a side hustle or get a second source of income so that you don't suffer for no reason. Your PPA may overwork you and pay you peanuts, or you may be underworked and still be paid nothing.

Friendships

22 taught me I couldn't do life alone. Think you're smart and you can do it? Alright then. Go for it!

I remember arriving in Lafia, Nasarawa, and wondering how I would survive so far away from family and friends, but people helped me. With God's help and that of my friends, I settled in. I wouldn't consider myself sociable, but making good friends wasn't so difficult. I'm glad I met some of the most amazing people via NYSC.

Meanwhile, who else has online friends? I've had a few and met some physically over the years. The best part about friendships is how you can meet some of the most important people in your life in the most unconventional way.

Life is beautiful.

Today, I clock 23, and I'm grateful to be alive and that you got to read this. Cheers to remarkable strides in life, not just for me but for you too.

P.S: Here's me unashamedly putting it out there. This girl is open to internship and entry-level content marketing and writing opportunities. Have a few pointers on how to get 'em? Please shoot me a mail at rukevweonoshirie@gmail