05/05/2023
The most difficult period of my life was perhaps when I got into the high school.
My strong conviction for educating the less privilege was drone from my challenges in the high school.
You will get to a period in your life where food will mean nothing anymore to you so hunger cannot be a threat.
My exams were coming up.
Everyone had paid for their exams except me. Yes, all fingers are not equal but was mine supposed to be the shortest?
I have heard stories of how my father was so nice, helping to pay fees of orphans and all but why was I having a very difficult life?
The idea that good people don't last long has some elements of truth. Good people have some kind of carelessness around them thinking everyone's heart should be like theirs but a man's heart is filled with wickedness.
Friday was the last day of registering for the exams and the following Monday, we were to begin the mock exams.
I knew I wasn't going to write because I didn't register.
I took my bath on Monday morning and went to school with others.If I was going to be humiliated, I wanted God to also feel a bit of that humiliation because I didn't know what I did exactly to be in that kind of lack.
It was really strict because the bursar was at the door with a list of names for people who will be permitted into the classroom.
They called until they got to 64 which was the last name in my class and my name was called. I was scared because I knew the implication of that mistake.
If it was verified that I didn't pay and my name was mistakenly added, I will be expelled.
All my classmates were coming to ask what I did to manipulate my name into the list but I didn't have an answer.
It was discovered that one of my classmates who had paid but was sick and couldn't sit for the exam, heard that I was the only one who wasn't going to sit for the exams so she sent her brother with a letter to plead with the bursar to give her position to me.
We never saw her again until I left school because I didn't have a phone.
Last month, I got a DM from someone I couldn't recognize, saying I'm owing her. I kept checking her pictures but couldn't recognize her.
It was Catherine that Angel who gave her place for me in school.
She is married and is living in Texas with her husband and she is now a nurse. She said to me, "I would have requested for my money if I hadn't seen you also extending a hand to other people who need help especially in education.
When you help one person, you might unknowingly be helping a generation. You will never know this until the future arrives.
God Never Forgets!
-Dr. Bakia T Thomas
Neighbourhood Child Foundation
