I have never experienced an Internet blackout before. Or maybe it has happened before but I didn't notice it because I was probably not yet connected with the Internet like I am right now. But if it happens right now I can imagine the outrage it would cause, the stress, I can imagine people going crazy. Because the Internet is so intertwined with our lives and livelihoods that stopping the Internet would be like putting some people's lives on pause.
For example, TikTokers, both the ones addicted to it and those who make a living through TikTok, and other Internet platforms like Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, and our beloved Hive. No connection or communication that was once made easier through the Internet, families with great distances between them would lose contact with their loved ones.
Jobs would be lost, life, work, and goals would be cut short, and online schools and learning would be lost. I pray such doesn't happen because it would affect many people.
If the Internet were to shut down one day, it wouldn't have much effect on me. Of course, I wouldn't be able to communicate with so many people, and there would be no hive, but it wouldn't affect any skill I have, even writing.
I started writing stories when I was little. In my notebooks, my mom's notes, and anywhere I could. As long as I have writing materials, my writing skills are untouched. And just like my writing skills, my drawing skills are also untouched.
I started drawing before I learnt how to write stories. Drawing was an easy way I used to express my story ideas before I started writing. In primary four I started drawing stories on cardboard paper. They were so interesting and good that they became a high demand in the class. My seatmate started a business of collecting 100 naira for a read. My classmates would pay 100 naira for a story and he would sit with them and make sure the payment was for their eyes alone. We shared the money 50/50. I drew and he handled the rest. When I started drawing episodes of magical action comics, people started offering huge amounts, like 500 naira, for rights to the episodes. And he was the one who brought up the idea of episodes because he knew people didn't want unfinished stories. But when it started bringing too much attention our class teacher shut it down.
The rest of the Internet-related skills I learned were all in secondary school.
Tie and dye, and pottery from creative arts were taught in JSS3, although we couldn't get into it because it was a really busy period and things were rushed. But with the basics I got then, I can further perfect my craft.
In SS1, we learnt knitting with wool, as part of the creative arts. I got so good at knitting back then that my group made the best foot mat, but our teacher didn't know they weren't interested and paid me to finish the project alone. I got better when one of my classmates got a contract from the school to knit over a thousand cardigans, and I helped her for a week, but I was too lazy to continue.
And like they say, learning never ends. I will be making payments this afternoon for basic life support training. And by the end of this month, I should have fully mastered the basic life support skills I will be taught.
Did I forget to mention I was the best in agriculture and turned the flower space at home into a little garden where my mom takes vegetable leaves, tomatoes, and peppers for cooking. And I am not stopping there.
