Published via Ecency

The Academic Staff Union has just declared an indefinite strike action. This was due to the fact that the workers were underpaid and the level of hardship was increasing. They said there was no going back.

We have different categories of students: those who do not like going home during holidays, and those who will zoom off at every slight opportunity they see. However, I fall in the former.

My best friends, as if they were waiting for such opportunities, asked me inquisitively, "Phamzy, when are you going home?"

"Oh! That's next week," I said.

"Oh! Why would you be going next week?" one of them said. "You want to suffer for this one week?"

"Hmm! No, not that," I said. "I want to study the trajectory of the strike action."

Olam's, a pharmacology student, said to me, "I have packed my clothes and first thing tomorrow, I am going."

Faruq said, "you better go home now. I am going back this evening."

Day after day, I counted as my face was glued to my phone. I checked Channels News and noticed that I was only punishing myself by staying in school.

Immediately, I called my mum and dad. "Mum, I am coming home. I would like to come and do some work during this ASUU strike."

Mum said, "No problem, we have been telling you to come visit us, but you insist on staying."

"Mum! Okie dokie. I will be on my way tomorrow."

On my way, I saw some students running helter-skelter. I also saw the SUG president and some others rallying alongside some grown men protesting that the government should meet all the demands of her workers.

Fear gripped me as I saw various displays. Hmm! There was a hike in the cost of transport.

Immediately, I also noticed that there were messages that we shouldn't pay the extra charges. Hmm! I know myself; I had already reached half of the journey before responding.

Soon I got home, and trust me, I was welcomed with different sweet words. Surely many of us know how we are treated on the first day of arriving home—like kings. Dinner served special cuisine, and many more. In fact, Mum will keep on asking about your school experiences and commenting about your look.

At some point, I had to tell her that I came to make money. I told her that I was experiencing difficulty in school and that was why I decided to come back home.

Mum told me to be patient.

"Hmm!" I said to myself, "I can't experience another round of discomfort in my school after the ASUU strike."

Soon, I dozed off during my parents' entertainment.

The next morning, I found myself on my bed. How? I wondered. Probably Mum carried me back, or maybe I went there myself? I thought.

Immediately, I heard a knock on my door. It was Mum. "Phamzy, it is time for dinner. We tried to wake you up yesternight... I am going to work; don't go out."

I responded, " Okay." Deeply, I knew that I would definitely go out.

After dinner, I boarded a tricycle, hoping to go out for a job—a part-time one.

On my way to the interview, I encountered an accident. The tricycle I boarded somersaulted, and I was partly unconscious.

Immediately, I noticed that my leg was broken. Hmm, I didn't want to call home. I hailed a bike straight to the hospital.

At the hospital, I was mandated to call my parents. Hmm! It was like going from frying pan to fire. I had not listened by going out. To crown it up, I now had a fatal accident that cost them a fortune.

After the call and their arrival, my mum dropped down crying. My bones, my hands, and my legs were swollen and fractured.

"Ha!" Mum said. "I said that you shouldn't go out! I said that you should be patient. Why are you like this, Phamzy!"

I ended up moving from frying pan to fire.

Her talks and clamours were like advice, but I thought staying at home would do more harm than good.

Mum and Dad told me not to panic, and I wept, telling them that I was sorry. I also told them not to be annoyed or bitter.

At that point, it struck me—the reason for them saying that I should stay at home was to prevent me from the dangers outside. Now I, in fact, stayed at home for months, if not longer.

I read about lower limbs in the hospital, and I also intend to become a doctor one day.

This story tells us why we need to exercise patience in life and in the things that we do.