THE ROAD TO ME

7-young, curious, and full of dreams, yet terribly confused. My heart was like a house with many rooms, each room holding a different dream: a courtroom where I imagined myself standing, defending t

, a stern man who rarely smiled unless he was watching football, sat upright.

over, what do you want to do w

gers twitching. I didn't have an answer. Not a clear one.

replied honestly. "Can I

hinted at impatience. "Don't ta

dreams. Being a lawyer felt powerful, but also distant. Teaching felt natural, but something about acting set my soul on fire. When I w

ter, I sat my

aid, my voice shaking slight

hat followed

me like I had just c

, the word sounding

ied, trying t

ven a career? Do you see anyone from this village

ct and make money. I love a

l job! And as long as you live under

a hammer smashing

be a nurse,"

an art student. I don't even know ho

by learning at a chemist. Then we'l

s. "I don't want to be a

urse," he said

, I hate needles. I can't even look at wounds

l talk to your father.

ng more was said about the chemist training. I began to

ning with the

aining will cost ₦150,000. Your father and

ng I shouldn't have. "The money will never come. No

broke into tears. I felt

himself politely to my father and explained that he had recently opened a nursery and

ked around, and m

ished secondary school and had just completed a com

o you," my fathe

to me. "Can you hand

usiastically.

ntil I get the money for your ch

said, hidi

ill under development, but I saw potential. I invited some

mmand-the head teacher. My salary jumped from ₦4,000 to ₦5,000. I

he pupils. During the school's first Parents' Day celebration, we presented a drama written by me. I also

istress called me into her

play you performed? Everyone was amazed. Don't let anyone

he ceiling, imagining myself acting beside Genevieve Nnaji, Mercy Johnson,

om drawer. I had seen something once-a number printed on the back of a

the number into my small notepad. The foll

nnected to a movie marketer. It wasn't a movie school,

on secretly. We planned everything for a Saturday. I told my father I had a teacher

of a secret pursuit. A quiet reb