Creating my hive account was a breeze – easy peasy, I must say. Little did I know that it was just the beginning of my challenges. One of the major hurdles I faced after creating my hive account was finding the time to explore, discover communities that aligned with my interests, and create content. You might wonder, "How could that be a challenge?" Well, at the time, I was in my final year of high school and preparing for a significant examination, the "WAEC."
The preparation and lessons consumed nearly all of my available time. My school schedule demanded attendance from Monday to Saturday, yes, you heard that right. I had to be at school as early as 7:00 AM and didn't return home until 5:00 PM. However, my responsibilities didn't end there. As the only remaining female child at home, I had to take on household chores, including cooking and washing dishes. Most days, I would finish these tasks late in the evening, feeling exhausted and drained. I had no choice but to retire to bed early, knowing that I needed to wake up at 2:00 AM to study. This routine persisted for approximately two months until I finally completed my exams and high school, officially graduating.
during my high school graduation
Graduating doesn't necessarily mean I'll remain active on Hive. After graduating, I initially had all the free time in the world to be active, but I encountered a significant challenge. My mobile phone was in terrible condition, to the point where it seemed to operate on its own. Often, I would leave it untouched for days out of fear that it might send messages to people. Back then, I didn't have a laptop or a desktop, and it was incredibly frustrating.
Fast forward to when I began my graphics lessons. My big brother came to the rescue and got me a desktop computer, which I needed for practice at home. Did that solve the problem? It did help to some extent, but there was another major challenge – unreliable power supply and the exorbitant cost of petrol in my area. To use the desktop, you need to plug it in, right? Well, due to the unstable power supply in my area and the high fuel prices, it felt like the desktop was almost useless.
I could have decided to take the desktop to my big brother's office, where there was a steady power supply. However, I was still actively taking graphics lessons, attending classes from Monday to Friday starting at 8:00 AM and returning home sometimes by 2 or 3 PM to rest and tend to chores. This routine continued for about four months until I finally finished my graphics lessons.
However, as soon as I started going to the office, it seemed like my village had a special fondness for me. We began experiencing unstable power supply there as well. When we managed to purchase costly fuel, we'd turn on the generator, but it didn't last long. I was managing, but crafting a single post usually took me about three days to complete. It was incredibly challenging and frustrating.
New devices
Finally, my big brother stepped in and solved another problem by replacing my troublesome phone and providing me with a laptop and an uninterruptible power supply (UPS). Now, you could say I had all the necessary tools to start creating content. However, I still faced the challenge of finding the right community and figuring out what to write about. It was frustrating, and some terms used on Hive seemed alien to me at the time – terms like "resource credit," "reputation," "LPUD," and others. I couldn't understand how these terms related to publishing a post.
I also felt like I couldn't do it, but I persevered. I searched from one community to another, seeking guidance. Finally, my brother taught me about these terms and helped me understand that growing on Hive wasn't just about writing and publishing; there were other aspects to consider. I can now say that I'm beginning to grasp how things work here on Hive.
These challenges have taught me valuable lessons. First, no matter how significant our problems may seem, there is always a solution. From dealing with bad devices to obtaining better ones, I learned the importance of perseverance. Second, I've learned to put in extra effort and manage my time efficiently. Although I am the only remaining female child at home, I have organized myself so that I don't spend the entire day on chores or complain about having too little time. Instead, I now have ample time for myself and for Hive. Lastly, I've learned the importance of staying focused and not giving up. While I may not be an expert yet, I can confidently say that I am better than I was in the past months when I was inactive.
And if you're someone like my old self that's always busy with activities and thinks there's no time to write, I tell you there's time. Just carefully consider your daily activities and how much time you waste on social media apps doing nothing meaningful, you'll indeed see that you have ample time.
