HOW I LIVED IN LAGOS AS A TEACHER, SOME YEARS BACK.

HOW I LIVED IN LAGOS AS A TEACHER SOME YEARS BACK.

Restart the race if need be. Choose another lane if need be. But don't forget that your vision is to win someday. Keep moving. © Afeez Olalekan Saka

I got a job a teaching job a few years back.

I was so happy because it relieved me from terrible pains and struggles. 

But you know what! 
I could not continue with after 5 months or thereabout.

I would have loved to stay longer than that but I had challenges with securing accommodation closer to the school.

To meet up with time, I will have to leave home as early as 4 AM on Mondays.

Lagos traffic is sometimes unpredictable and I get to work late. I do not like this happening.

At a time, I had to keep one or two clothes in my bag that will be enough for 2 - 3 days.

I also discovered a mosque closer to the school.

I enquired to know what I would need to be able to lodge there once in a while.

I was told to register with one Alhaji and I will also be paying some fee for environmental sanitation and maintenance. I agreed. But I was spared the first two weeks.

In this mosque, I shared space with people of different classes. Some categories are of the street beggars. While others are also LAGOS workers.

Before then, I decided to squat with my for a few months. But at times, Ikorodu traffic will be against me.

I was trying to work for a few months before securing a befitting apartment. As it happened, I could not even save enough for my salary.

I will keep moving around the mosque after closing from work, get the snacks I will eat for that night then move in finally when it's time for prayers.

As comfortable as the mosque could be, but having more than 40 people there scares me to sleep comfortably.

I will be awake by 3 am, find a place to take my birth, and get set for the day's task.

This was how I spent almost a month in this mosque after securing another place to squat.

I kept doing this so that I could always be in school on time.

I will even get to school to train kids on an empty stomach.

I remember a day, one of my colleagues saw me while I was jumping here and there, taking the kids through morning exercise. She said, Mr. SAKA, are you sure you've eaten this morning. Please take it easy on yourself oo.

I smiled and continued the exercise. But still, I never allowed that moment of emptiness to kill my passion for teaching.

I kept working for a better day ahead. But I decided to leave school the day I was given a "Query letter".

In this letter, about 16 offenses were written against me. I tried holding the tears while I read. And I begin to remember the little things I've also done but weren't recognized or appreciated. 

I had to take the letter back to the class and I affirmed that this is not for me.

I perceived it as a warning. And I had to leave earlier to avoid been sacked carelessly.

After some time, I heard that that query letter was meant for me to brace up for more.

But honestly, I don't get motivated in a reversed direction. And I think no one should.

Ever since then, I've always loved the experience I'm having as an educator. Not limiting myself to the four walls of the classroom. But doing my best to keep inspiring young chaps to harness their potentials for greatness.

Sometimes, our efforts to cross over all hurdles with a big smile at the end might be hindered by just a finger snap by a co-athlete. We get distracted and feel discouraged to move on. But this shouldn't make us lose all focus towards winning someday. Restart the race if need be. Choose another lane if need be. But don't forget that your vision is to win someday. Keep moving.

#SakaSpeaks
Afeez Olalekan SAKA ©2021