I'm not mad.
No, my home isn't situated on d left side of yaba.
I'm not mad.
I do not walk from street to street naked.
I'm not mad.
I do not spot unkempt dreadlocks
I'm not mad.
I do not jabber away incoherently.
I'm not mad.
Or am I?
Now I think of it maybe I am.
Mad at the number of underprivileged children turned beggars.
Mad at a system that condones a five year old hawking on the roadside
Mad at a system that makes it impossible for a child to gain quality education.
Mad at a system which forces kids to turn to delinquency.
But I guess it is their fault, right?
After all they asked to be born into poverty!
The millions all over the world who die physically and mentally every day.
Like quicksilver, here one minute, and gone the next.
They desire to live life anticipating the very worst right?
They deserve to be robbed of their innocence?
They are but mere victims of the harsh realities of life.
Children who have a right to basic education..just like you and I.
Children who have the right to make something of their lives.
Children who deserve the same opportunities as their counterparts.
It tugs the heart, seeing treasures wasting away.
These are would be presidents, doctors, lawyers.
Would be musicians, mechanics, pilots.
Diamonds in the rough.
Who need just some polish to make them shine
They need a hand..to help them get by
They need a smile..every once in a while.
They need me. They need you.
They need us..
To make a difference in their lives.
As recited at the M.A.D(Making A Difference) charity fashion show held on 22/12/2010.
Dec 29, 2010
Dec 17, 2010
The Diary Of An IT Student
It all began one fine morning when I reported for work at (let's call it) Agency X.
As I said it was a fine morning. The fact that I hardly had 5 hours of sleep the previous night due to excitement at the prospect of working in this particular company did nothing to deter my mood.
I was in high spirits you see. The night before I had spent a couple of hours, (and when I say couple I don't mean two) searching for the appropriate outfit for my first day at work. Seeking help from friends on twitter and my blackberry contacts (you know yourselves, God bless your obliging souls). Seeing me, one would have thought this was my first working experience even though I had done a holiday job in a bank 2 years before. But there was just something about Agency X. Maybe it had to do with the fact that it was a well respected agency in the advertising industry (oops..I've given you a clue). Anyway, where was I? Ahh..yes! It was a fine morning indeed.
However, if I thought I was going to be filled with the same joie de verve every day for the 2 months I would be there for, I was soon to be faced with the harsh truth.
For the first week I diligently resumed position in front of the mirror every night deciding on the outfit to wear to work the next day. Sadly this didn't last past the first week. When you leave the house at 7am and get home by 8pm the last thing on your mind is clothes (after all I was there to learn and not to do fashion parade). Don't get me wrong I loved working in Agency X but after a while I soon appreciated the real essence of TGIF (Thank God Its Friday). Dearest Friday. If not for anything..for the fact that I got to wake up as late as 9am sometimes (I know right..thank God for small mercies). Then there was the long and tiring journey home (sigh). And that is that on the down side of being an IT student in Agency X. (And I'm not patronising, I mean it..that's all there is to it).
Now on the flip side. Where do I begin? (The correct response at this point will be, "at the beginning" right? Thank you Captain Obvious). But how does one begin to cram at least 7hrs of working goodness out of d 9hrs(officially, unofficially 10/11hrs depending on what I have on my desk) I spent at work daily for 2months into a blog post? But try I shall. While at Agency X I learnt A LOT, a whole lot. I learnt responsibility, deadline compliance, trust, team work, crisis management, people management, and lots more; that is, beside all the PR and AD on the job training I got. And yes, I met some of the most wonderful people ever. People that will be etched in my memory for the rest of my life.
There was my HOD." Oyinbo" as he is called by a few of his colleagues. This man right here was my teacher and friend. Minutes in his office could see us discussing the next proposal he wanted me to draw up, and the next thing you know, we are gisting about his youthful days. He believed in me. And for that I appreciate him. He had a nice name too.
There was "Constie"..what a beautiful and down to earth person. Oh yea..and she took no nonsense from anyone. Funny too.
There was "Flakky".."Iyawo"..lol..my first friend in the office. Sweet and sensitive.
There was "Gadafi"..diplomatic..my Gee.
There was "Dolly"..this girl can eat! Good thing it doesn't tell on her figure. My small but mighty friend.
There was "Toks"..my bestfriend in d office. My Amazingly talented sweetheart.
There was "Deji"..always teasing me..to whom I'm grateful for introducing me 2 d company.
There was "Bayo"..who walked me to the bustop everyday. My caretaker..beautiful soul.
There was "MM"..my hoodrat..lol..very cheerful..I love this girl.
There was "MD"..this man had swagger.
There was "Yemisi"...thanks to him I got a placement in the agency.
There was "Mrs. Alli"..my namesake's mum..if not for anything, for that I liked her, among her other great attributes even though she never let me print in her department.
And the whole family..my "sweeties" the receptionists who "chopped knuckles" every morning, Mr. Issa, Tobi, Bimpe, Sister Mary, Aunty Philo (my customers), and the list continues...
As I write this I have tears in my eyes (forgive me, I'm quite the waterfall). So many people I'm going to miss. So many things I'd miss out on; the little office friction and chemistry, the office gist, the shows, working to meet a deadline. I would miss it all.
But a girl's gotta do what a girl's gotta do.
To this tall building that had come to be my second home..the middle finger goes up, and the index finger follows..DEUCES!
As I said it was a fine morning. The fact that I hardly had 5 hours of sleep the previous night due to excitement at the prospect of working in this particular company did nothing to deter my mood.
I was in high spirits you see. The night before I had spent a couple of hours, (and when I say couple I don't mean two) searching for the appropriate outfit for my first day at work. Seeking help from friends on twitter and my blackberry contacts (you know yourselves, God bless your obliging souls). Seeing me, one would have thought this was my first working experience even though I had done a holiday job in a bank 2 years before. But there was just something about Agency X. Maybe it had to do with the fact that it was a well respected agency in the advertising industry (oops..I've given you a clue). Anyway, where was I? Ahh..yes! It was a fine morning indeed.
However, if I thought I was going to be filled with the same joie de verve every day for the 2 months I would be there for, I was soon to be faced with the harsh truth.
For the first week I diligently resumed position in front of the mirror every night deciding on the outfit to wear to work the next day. Sadly this didn't last past the first week. When you leave the house at 7am and get home by 8pm the last thing on your mind is clothes (after all I was there to learn and not to do fashion parade). Don't get me wrong I loved working in Agency X but after a while I soon appreciated the real essence of TGIF (Thank God Its Friday). Dearest Friday. If not for anything..for the fact that I got to wake up as late as 9am sometimes (I know right..thank God for small mercies). Then there was the long and tiring journey home (sigh). And that is that on the down side of being an IT student in Agency X. (And I'm not patronising, I mean it..that's all there is to it).
Now on the flip side. Where do I begin? (The correct response at this point will be, "at the beginning" right? Thank you Captain Obvious). But how does one begin to cram at least 7hrs of working goodness out of d 9hrs(officially, unofficially 10/11hrs depending on what I have on my desk) I spent at work daily for 2months into a blog post? But try I shall. While at Agency X I learnt A LOT, a whole lot. I learnt responsibility, deadline compliance, trust, team work, crisis management, people management, and lots more; that is, beside all the PR and AD on the job training I got. And yes, I met some of the most wonderful people ever. People that will be etched in my memory for the rest of my life.
There was my HOD." Oyinbo" as he is called by a few of his colleagues. This man right here was my teacher and friend. Minutes in his office could see us discussing the next proposal he wanted me to draw up, and the next thing you know, we are gisting about his youthful days. He believed in me. And for that I appreciate him. He had a nice name too.
There was "Constie"..what a beautiful and down to earth person. Oh yea..and she took no nonsense from anyone. Funny too.
There was "Flakky".."Iyawo"..lol..my first friend in the office. Sweet and sensitive.
There was "Gadafi"..diplomatic..my Gee.
There was "Dolly"..this girl can eat! Good thing it doesn't tell on her figure. My small but mighty friend.
There was "Toks"..my bestfriend in d office. My Amazingly talented sweetheart.
There was "Deji"..always teasing me..to whom I'm grateful for introducing me 2 d company.
There was "Bayo"..who walked me to the bustop everyday. My caretaker..beautiful soul.
There was "MM"..my hoodrat..lol..very cheerful..I love this girl.
There was "MD"..this man had swagger.
There was "Yemisi"...thanks to him I got a placement in the agency.
There was "Mrs. Alli"..my namesake's mum..if not for anything, for that I liked her, among her other great attributes even though she never let me print in her department.
And the whole family..my "sweeties" the receptionists who "chopped knuckles" every morning, Mr. Issa, Tobi, Bimpe, Sister Mary, Aunty Philo (my customers), and the list continues...
As I write this I have tears in my eyes (forgive me, I'm quite the waterfall). So many people I'm going to miss. So many things I'd miss out on; the little office friction and chemistry, the office gist, the shows, working to meet a deadline. I would miss it all.
But a girl's gotta do what a girl's gotta do.
To this tall building that had come to be my second home..the middle finger goes up, and the index finger follows..DEUCES!
Dec 1, 2010
thisABILITY
I am labelled
Because I speak with spasmodic repetition of syllables
Words in my heart, out my mouth they tumble
To put in coherence becomes a struggle
So I fumble.
I try again till I pronounce "bu-bu-bu-bble"
Till I make sense of the words I juggle.
I'm not upset
Though I long to see the sunset
The colour of my skin I do not know
For lack of options I go with the flow
I do not sway
Everyday my stick hits the walkway
Searching for obstacles in my vicinity
I brave the odds, I exercise my virility.
In a crowd I am jostled
From right to left I hobble
A condition without remedy
A fixture in stand up comedy
The sound of the laughter
A contrast to my life's chapter
I swallow my misgivings
On bent legs I earn a living.
I long to be wanted
Appreciated
Celebrated
But with your eyes I'm castigated
Relegated
Rejected
Most times isolated
A price paid for a condition not I created.
Some days I snap. I cry. I curse.
I mourn the day my world went off course.
And when I'm done I mop it up.
I gather my wits.
Nose in the air, I stick it up.
I stretch, I search, I reach from within.
I look for a talent that is uniquely me.
I do my best knowing it may never be enough.
I do it still to prove my worth.
My push.
My driving force.
What you call disability
Heralds thisABILITY.
Because I speak with spasmodic repetition of syllables
Words in my heart, out my mouth they tumble
To put in coherence becomes a struggle
So I fumble.
I try again till I pronounce "bu-bu-bu-bble"
Till I make sense of the words I juggle.
I'm not upset
Though I long to see the sunset
The colour of my skin I do not know
For lack of options I go with the flow
I do not sway
Everyday my stick hits the walkway
Searching for obstacles in my vicinity
I brave the odds, I exercise my virility.
In a crowd I am jostled
From right to left I hobble
A condition without remedy
A fixture in stand up comedy
The sound of the laughter
A contrast to my life's chapter
I swallow my misgivings
On bent legs I earn a living.
I long to be wanted
Appreciated
Celebrated
But with your eyes I'm castigated
Relegated
Rejected
Most times isolated
A price paid for a condition not I created.
Some days I snap. I cry. I curse.
I mourn the day my world went off course.
And when I'm done I mop it up.
I gather my wits.
Nose in the air, I stick it up.
I stretch, I search, I reach from within.
I look for a talent that is uniquely me.
I do my best knowing it may never be enough.
I do it still to prove my worth.
My push.
My driving force.
What you call disability
Heralds thisABILITY.
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