Author: Fatima Abba Yahaya
First Year Public Relations Student At UPSA
My Biggest inspiration
For as long as I can remember, I have been the laughing stock. I would get laughed at for telling people my dream because they felt I dreamt of the impossible but I didn’t care because my main fear was rejection, insecurity and not making myself proud.
I grew up insecure, I’m not going to lie. This was because I let a lot of things get to my head. Things like “what if I don’t make it?” ”what if it’s all a dream?” Additionally, the constant reminder from my family was like a slap in the face. I was the only female among 4 boys in a community that believed the men are the providers and successful people while the females’ education is just a plus and useless because at the end of it all, she would get married and be jobless. I constantly let all that get to my head but not anymore. Sooner, I realized my future was in my hands, so why let people tell me otherwise?
i never enjoyed my teenage years. I have never for ones made decisions on my own not even what to wear or what to become in life. Everything was decided for me because “I’m a girl.”
I watched while my brothers enjoyed their carefree life and sometimes wished I could do same one day. Nobody ever thought of me. It felt as though i never existed. The only time I became happy was when I was in school and busied myself in books or friends. I didn’t deserve to be unloved, unwanted and unheard at that young age.
I had no one to talk to or share my problems with which made me stronger because I realized I had to fight for myself and tell myself I had me no matter what and no one is ever going to belittle me. I deserve the good things in life just as much as my brothers.
I learnt how to love myself and always went for what I wanted regardless of society’s contrasting view. I aspire to be successful for personal fulfillment. Achieving my goal would give me a sense of satisfaction. I want to feel content knowing i have made the most of my opportunities.
Success is not just a destination but a continuous journey of growth, learning and self improvement. Every year I hope for the day i will finally get to live my dreams and smile back at the past becoming what a lot of people don’t believe I will be and fulfill my late mom‘s wish of me not becoming like her and ending up as a housewife.
