BACK IN OCTOBER 2004 when I was in SS3 BLUE at Federal Government College, Nise, I had it all figured out.
At least, so I thought.
The future was looking brighter than ever. I could see it all. I even had my plans written out.
“GET admitted into UNN School of Medicine by next year (2005).”
“Graduate six years later as a doctor (2011).”
“Housemanship in 2012.”
“NYSC in 2013.”
“Work for 2-4 years, then get married in the year 2017….
“….and latest by 2018…… The year 2018…. I should be living abroad with my wife and a kid at least.”
“By 2019, I’m already a resident doctor in Neurosurgery at Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, Maryland, USA (all thanks to the Dr Ben Carson influence) and a MULTIMILLIONAIRE in Naira, at least.”
😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂
“Before the end of 2019, my parents should be living in mansion🏰 I will buy for them somewhere in GRA, Asaba. I will also build a bigger mansion at the villa. Then I will acquire a Toyota Sequioa 🚙- jeep – for my dad (He loves SUVs like mad). All my siblings would have been shipped out to the US or UK for studies, all expenses paid by me!”
“My wife would be the luckiest woman to walk the face of the earth cos I go too spoil am!”
I had it all figured out, just like the “Professor” in La Casa de Papel. I was sure it was gonna fall into place. It just had to. They said “Heaven helps those who help themselves.” And I was always gonna help myself.
How wrong I had been!
😥😥😥😥😥
Reality check was around the corner!
The plan didn’t get off the ground, to begin with, at least not in the way I envisaged it.
I got admitted into UNN in 2005, but not even Medicine. It took another 8 years of intense struggling and weeping before Medicine came through the door.
2017 had come and gone…….and I am still not married. Ordinary babe I never get sef (even in 2020).
2018 came and disappeared and I am not living abroad…and I don’t even have a kid either!
2019 left four months ago, and I was still in Benin City, Nigeria, let alone Johns Hopkins. I am not even a millionaire in Naira, let alone a MULTIMILLIONAIRE.
😪😪😪😪
Now this is 2020. By all standards, I’m running behind schedule, right?
Nada!
In 2020, I’m still alive. Strong. Hale. Hearty. I later became a doc, but that’s a story you know so well.
In 2020, I have grown, made many good friends, become a better person, even though some people my age are dead or very sick.
And I still have the gift of my beautiful, close-knit family. For all of that, I’m thankful to God.
We will keep dreaming and working hard, and one day God will say yes to our prayers and dreams. Like I always tell my parent and siblings, “One day the mansion go come, the cars go come, but e no go be Toyota Sequioa again (dawan na old model now)and all man go dey alright!”
I still plan to spoil my future wife shaa! 😀😀😀
Yes, yesterday (17th April) was my 24th birthday (if you like say it is a lie)….. But though I ain’t anywhere like I expected to be, I am deeply grateful to God for everything. At least, I’m alive.
So WE MOVE!
HAPPY 24TH BIRTHDAY TO ME!
Remember:
+++Impossibility is nothing. Just believe+++
© Caséy Amaefule ’20