The environment was as colorful as a rainbow as people gathered together in this joyous event.
It is the year's alumni gathering and the event is more than just a meeting of former and current students. It exudes a social, professional, and celebratory nature.
People do and speak about different things, the greatest students ever to have graduated from the prestigious University but one name never skipped their lips. “ Difulewe” who is generally known as ‘Di fool’.
Abu, Nneka, Alabi, and Precious walked towards the framed photographs after their reunion after so many years.
They hugged one another and smiled in awe at the transformation that couldn't be overlooked.
Getting to the picture of the 1900 graduating class, Precious pointed at a young man who was hiding behind others in the picture.
“ I await to meet him again,” she uttered, sipping the cup she held.
“ Di fool,” Alabi replied.
“ Cut it off, we all know his name,” Abu said.
“ The shy genius,” Precious answered and continued.
“ Take it or leave it, he graduated as the overall best student, finishing at the top academic ranking, hope you remember that” she concluded.
“ Yes, I do but everyone also couldn't forget the valedictory speech, how he climbed the podium after his name was announced, and followed by the thunderous applause” Alabi replied.
Abu interrupted, “ he lost his voice even though the microphone stood before him.
Quietly apologized, stepped away from the podium, and left the stage with tears in his eyes”
“ Who does that?" Precious asked jokingly and they all answered together ‘ Difulewe’.
“Now I understand why Precious said she is waiting to meet him again” Nneka pointed out.
“ We all want to see what he has become,” Alabi answered.
It is time for the keynote speech at the event and Difulewe hasn't shown up either.
The giant screen caught everyone's attention by changing its visual effects and what was displayed were the old photographs from University days and laughter filled the room.
One picture showed Difulewe standing behind his classmates with half of his face hidden.
Another showed him looking down while everyone else smiled at the camera.
Then came the graduation photograph, the day he could not give his speech.
The audience fell silent as the suspense was directed to one person.
The master of the ceremony smiled and said, “Ladies and gentlemen” he announced,” the man in those photographs is our keynote speaker today”.
Everyone turned towards the entrance.
Difulewe walked into the hall with this great aura and confident demeanour.
His shoulders were upright and he smiled genuinely.
His eyes reflected confidence instead of fear and no one could recognize him.
He walked majestically and stood behind the podium with complete composure.
Then he began.
“ I am telling you a story about the young man in the photographs.
These pictures remind me of someone known as Di fool.
A student who believed excellence could hide insecurity.
He thought good grades could replace confidence, and achievement could silence fear.
But he was wrong.
The day he lost his voice on this stage was not the worst day of his life. It became the beginning of his transformation.
People often admire success but they rarely see the battles that create it.
He hid his face because he believed he wasn't enough.
Today he looked into your eyes because he finally understood that his values were never determined by his fears.
Transformation doesn't erase his past, it gives it a new meaning.
Never allow the past to become a permanent identification.
Growth can outgrow anything be it fears and a story can be rewritten.
And becoming someone that the younger self would never imagine positively is the goal.
The person standing before you all today is Difulewe, known as ‘Di fool’ but who has the effrontery to call him that now, kindly raise your hand”.
The Hall became as silent as a graveyard and when he finished, the hall erupted into a standing ovation.
Many alumni remembered the silent, withdrawn student who once hid from every camera and lost his voice before an audience.
But as they looked at the man before them, they realized something remarkable.
He was no longer remembered as the best student who lacked confidence.
He had become the alumnus whose transformation surpassed every academic achievement.
His grades had made him the overall best student.
His transformation made him unforgettable.
“Di great fool” is equally great.
