It was 5:00am—my bags were packed in the corner of my room, the shining moon gradually giving way to the warm glow of the sunrise , the world was so calm that one could hear the drop of a pin, the air was moist with the early morning dew. I stepped outside my balcony, letting my body absorb the coolness of the breeze, the long awaited day had finally come—a new dawn
I had gained admission into the university and was ready to move to another city to start my educational career-that day remains as indelible as ever in my memory. My mom had helped me pack my things the previous day, because I had to leave early the next morning, to catch the first bus.
I was excited for that day as it approached and finally arrived, but I also felt a bit of sadness—I was going to miss my family, I was going to leave the little world I had known almost my whole life behind, to move to a new city where I knew nobody, only total strangers.
"How was I going to cope?"—I thought to myself.
"Why are you just standing there? Don’t you know you have to leave early to catch the bus?" My mom said to me—I was lost in thought and didn’t know when my she opened my room door.
"Good morning ma". I greeted, genuflecting.
"Good morning my love, go and have your bath, so you can leave on time— and please don't spend the whole day in the bathroom" my mom shot at me as she left. She always believed that I was a bit too slow in everything I did.
I laughed out and headed for the bathroom.
"Okay mummy, I’ve heard you". I replied.
I hurriedly took my bath, dressed up and went to the sitting room, my family were all dressed up waiting for me. Without wasting any more time, we had a light breakfast and headed for the park.
"Is there anything you would want me to get for you on the way?" My dad asked without taking his eyes off the wheel.
"We’ll get anything he wants at the park, I don’t want him to miss the first bus" My mom interjected.
It took approximately 25 minutes to get to the park, on getting there, the bus had just few seats left. My dad immediately paid for a space while my luggage was arranged carefully in the back.
"Look! There’s a mall there, let’s go and get the things my brother will need" My little sister shouted.
We all laughed and headed to the mall, while we waited for the bus to get filled up.
I picked a couple of things I needed, and got food to eat on the way—because i had not eaten breakfast.
We got back to the park and sat on the empty seats. My mom began her sermon—advicing about the friends I made and to focus on my studies.
"Please, be careful in school. There are people who are in school, to destroy the future of others—do not fall prey" My mom pleaded while my dad nodded in agreement.
"Seat number ten?" The bus driver shouted.
"Yes?" I replied.
"We are about to leave, please come and settle down”
I managed to stand up as tears welled in my eyes.
It was time for the bus to take off and for my family to bid me farewell—my mom and siblings cried as they hugged me tightly, my dad hugged me also but kept on reeling out one advice after the other.
"Make sure you take care of yourself and don’t hesitate to call me if you need anything" he said as he squeezed in a handful of money into my pocket.
I smiled and threw my hands around him.
"Thank you daddy, I love you" I whispered wistfully.
Then more hugs and kisses for my mom and sibling, reassuring them I would be fine.
I got to school safely, started lectures two days later—finding my way around in an unfamiliar city, waking up early to attend classes, cooking for myself, making new friends and trying to figure things out on my own were a little bit overwhelming, but I got my way around somehow. Afterall, becoming an undergraduate at a prestigious university was what I had always dreamed off.
"My new dawn was finally here and I was going to make the most of the whole of it."
Thank you very much for your continuous support 🙏
