I had a chance to change my life for the better, but I didn't see it as something important, despite being advised on how this opportunity could change my life. I would have been on the path to the successful life I have always wanted.
A few years ago, one of my uncles came over to my dad to seek his permission to take me with him to Port Harcourt, the capital of Rivers State in the southern part of Nigeria, for an opportunity that would help my chosen career. I eavesdropped on their conversation, and I was happy within me. "Wow, what a good opportunity for me to change the environment", I said to myself with a bright smile on my face.
My uncle told my dad to give it some thought and give him feedback so that he could know when to come for me. At night I was called by my parents and given the good news and heard my decision if it was something I wanted. I believe my dad told my mom about it because I can see it clearly on her face; she looked disturbed. The principle in my house is that you are allowed to decide for yourself under your parents' guidance. This has always given me the upper hand because I've tried many things on my own. After all, I was given the chance to do so. If it were to be my parents deciding for me, my mom would have gladly kicked against the idea; she won't allow me to hear about it at all.
I sat fixed in a position with joy in my heart. "Port Harcourt, here I come". I murmured slowly to myself with pretense on my face as if I didn't know what they wanted to discuss. Anytime my mom is not in support of a decision, that's when she sits quietly with her arms wrapped around her chest. I knew this was going to be a bit difficult. My dad started by calling my name three times, typical Yoruba (a tribe in Nigeria) father, then he started with, "Thank God you saw your uncle who came around". I nodded in affirmative, he came for something concerning you. With a surprised look on my face, I replied, "He said yes", and then I adjusted my seat and said okay to understand his points clearly.
I was looking at my mom with the side of my eyes and praying in my mind that she shouldn't oppose anything I said. "He wants you to come with him to Port Harcourt". My dad continued, and it was then that I heard my mom sigh heavily. "Port Harcourt"? I shouted just to make them believe I'm surprised, and my dad replied "Yes, for a job opportunity to work in an international organization that helps their employees secure a job in the United States of America, the United Kingdom, and Ireland". With a bright smile on my face, I replied, "Wow, that's a wonderful opportunity now that I'm done with secondary school". My mom raised her eyebrows in disbelief, and I quickly lowered my eyes like I didn't see her.
"This particular uncle is my mom's younger brother; this is the reason why she might have agreed". With this thought in mind, my mom broke the silence by saying "Your uncle is one of the supervisors in charge of recruiting new workers, and with that, I'm sure you will have a soft landing". My head was spinning right in my sitting position, and I was like, "Is that coming from my mom"? To not make her see the eagerness on my face, I had to pretend like the news was a big shock to me.
Both my parents asked at the same time, "What did you think of this"? I immediately wanted to reply, "It's a nice one, and I'm going for it", but my mom will be a bit disappointed, so I gave them an answer they might have been expecting. "Can you give me some time to think about it"? I replied, looking at Mom, she felt a bit relaxed, and then I said to myself, "I'm sorry, Mom, but I have to go".
Knowing fully well that I have nothing to think about, I just needed time to make my parents believe it was a difficult decision for me to make. I had to be patient for two days before approaching my parents with my decision. After dinner on the third day, "I told my parents I'd thought about it and that I would love to go to secure a better future for myself and my younger siblings". I saw a bright smile on my mom's face; that was a surprise to me because I was expecting a different thing entirely.
"My mom agreed, and I murmured to myself, I guess my pretense worked perfectly". "I will inform your uncle about it, and then we will know the next step to take said, my dad". Throughout that day, my joy knew no bounds, but suddenly I started feeling a sudden chill in my spine. "Am I going to leave my parents forever? What if Port Harcourt isn't as I presume? What if I can't adapt to the new changes? What will happen to me over there? Will I be able to cope with the new family I will live with? What if I wanted to return home as a matter of urgency? Port Harcourt isn't a joke"; all these questions kept ravaging my mind, and I have no answers to them.
My mom told one of her friends, whose daughter happens to be my friend, also about the opportunity. My friend and her parents agreed immediately, and I was motivating her, but suddenly I lost interest, and I felt like not going anymore. Living in another environment might not be as easy as it seems. On the fifth night to the day when my uncle will be coming to pick up both me and my friend, "I told my parents I don't want to go anymore". With fear in my heart, I explained myself in fright. My dad tried to talk to me, but I guess the fear of leaving my family at that age consumed me, and I couldn't think of anything else.
My uncle arrived in the morning because he came around for a program and he will be going back the next day. My parents broke the news to him, and he tried to convince me, but I couldn't change my mind. Just as we were about to round up the conversation, we heard a knock on the door, and as I rushed up to open it, it turned out to be my friend and her mom with her luggage. They are more or less like family, so my uncle had no problem taking her with him. He asked me for the last time, yet I didn't change my mind. I watched as my uncle helped my friend with her luggage into his car, and in no time they zoomed off.
After some weeks, I put a call through to my friend to check how she was doing, but I'm surprised at how she replied because it was the opposite of what I was thinking. I was expecting her to say things aren't easy over there, but instead, she said it was a great experience. I started to feel bad and regret staying back; I would have had such a great experience too if I hadn't let my fear of going to a new place consume me. After two years, my friend was sponsored to the United Kingdom, and now she studies and works there. I regret taking this decision because I lost the opportunity to have that wonderful experience.
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