Sometimes in life, we take risks not because we are certain of the outcome, but because there is no other choice. Motivational speakers would tell you that to succeed in life, you have to take risks. While I agree with them, what many fail to mention is what taking risks entails. Picture yourself in the middle of a long road. You can’t go backwards because you are certain that the back is filled with thorns and obstacles. You are not sure whether the front is also filled with the same thorns, but regardless, you go all in because you have no other option. It’s either you go back, to the place where you are certain that you would hurt yourself or to risk it all and go forward. For me, 2025 was filled with such moments; risk taking moments.
Today’s Hive Learners’ prompt is One Big Risk. What was the biggest risk you took in 2025 and how did it play out for you? For me, the biggest risk I took in 2025 was traveling to the northern part of my country. Over the years, the rate of insecurity in my country, particularly in the northern part has been overly alarming. Every now and then, we hear news of school children being kidnapped, churches being burnt down, bombings and all sorts. This made me dread the north. I often pictured the north as a no-go area. I vowed not to ever go there. Well, interestingly, life had other plans for me.
After I graduated from university, life threw me to the north. In my country, we have this thing called NYSC. Basically, Nigerian youths serve their country by helping in various fields. The whole thing starts from camp. Graduates are posted to different camps across the country. If you're from the eastern part of the country, they'll post you to the west, north, or south, and vice versa. Surprisingly, they posted me to the north! Lord! I checked my portal and saw the news at midnight. I had to wake my parents up, and my mom started crying.
The north? According to the news, the rate of insecurity has gotten higher over the past months and it is now this particular time that life decided to throw me there? So unfair! It could have waited till another time. My parents didn’t know what to do. Everyone was confused and the tension at home kept skyrocketing. I had no other choice but to go to the north. I decided to take the big risk and in the end, was it worth it?
Initially, the plan was to board a plane to get to the north to avoid any issues, but that part didn’t work out too well. Although I boarded a plane, I still ended up traveling by road for more than 10 hours before I got to my destination. And honestly, taking that risk wasn’t so bad.
I’ve never had a friend who is from the north and there, I met so many good people who I shared my stories and opinions with. I found out that the northerners who are educated speak fluently and beautifully. The friends I made there treated me like an insider, not an outsider which is something I found very interesting. Where I grew up, people treat the northerners as outsiders, they don’t have a say in whatever is going on. They are treated like foreigners. However, I wasn’t treated like that in the north. It was as if I enjoyed extra privileges for being an outsider.
I got to clear so many misconceptions about the northerners.
If I find myself in that situation, will I still take the same risk? When I got to the north, the people I met there said the rate of insecurity isn’t as bad as the news puts it, at least not in the part where I camped, but I’m not sure I want to take that risk. That’s like tempting the devil. However, I would definitely love to visit nice places in the north once the rate of insecurity decreases completely or at least to a certain point.
The Images used in this post are mine.
Thanks for reading.
