“VOF Week 2 (Bruised But Standing Tall)”

Life as the saying goes “is not a bed of roses” but for some I would say it differently.
I grew up lonely and independent, never had toys and did not have an elder brother or sister to look up to but had to learn from my own mistakes. My Mum was a single parent, while my father has another family, he pays us visits from time to time and supports us (my mum, and i) with feeding money and educational requirements.

Life as a teenager was one I never which to experience again, there was no one to talk to me about the changes that take place in a woman, career and sex. I had to learn the hard way which is from my experiences, my mum is the most eldest of her parents (known as Ada, culture demands she must shoulder the responsibilities of her siblings in her family), a caterer by profession who has to cater for her younger ones education and well being. The responsibilities on my mum were more than she could shoulder and things became very rough for us which led to families deserting us to our fate.

At the age of eighteen after my senior secondary school examination, I was abused by a man friend of my mum but could not disclose it to her because I was afraid he won’t be supporting us financially anymore as it may lead to a break up in their relationship. Hence, i kept avoiding being alone with him, refused going to his house. Thereafter, through my first relationship I became pregnant and had a baby girl at the age of twenty. When my baby was a year old I left her with her Dad’s mum in search of a greener pasture, but that road was even rougher. Hanging around with one friend or the other led me to my fiancé who was God sent at that time of my life and is still the best thing that has happened to me.

His first words to me was “Ib you are educated and you have a brighter future” you could go beyond this level especially if you are determined, reconcile with your father and let him know you want to go back to school. My father felt nothing good can come out of me.

After spending 2001 to 2004 on the streets, my fiancé’s supported me in 2005, I applied and got admission in Rivers State Polytechnic, Bori to study Business Administration and Management which after three years has made me an holder of Ordinary National Diploma Certificate.

Being a part of Voices of Our Future is a dream come true, the opportunity to Speak Out for the women of my community and globally is more than I can ask for and with the yearn I have for more knowledge which Voices of Our Future offers, will enable me to impact more knowledge to the mothers/leaders of tomorrow.