Maryann Odo @agozie

I had originally planned to go home after school. My intention was to leave the state I was in and return to my hometown after completing my university education. However, my friends are choosing to stay, and I’m beginning to see the value in remaining close to them.

During my time here, living near the university, I have had the opportunity to attend three amazing festivals. These events have been not only recreational but also educational and creatively stimulating. I can see incredible potential in all these festivities, and I'm starting to recognize that by paying my remaining rent for this year, I can fully immerse myself in the wealth of talent, networking opportunities, and experiences that these events offer.

If I were to return to my hometown now, I fear I would miss out on significant growth in the tech field. Staying here allows me to cultivate my interests and pursue my aspirations rather than simply settling for a job. I want to make the most of this unique environment, where I can connect with like-minded individuals and explore countless possibilities for the future.

No one had expected that the event would turn out to be a great one. We thought it was just a female match against another team, but the central theme of the gathering was indeed a celebration of women’s sports. We had spent the week preparing for this matchup against the opposing team, and now it was time to prove ourselves.

Though I didn’t have much faith in our team, I also didn’t trust the other teams. I knew we had practiced well, but the thing that made me doubt my teammates was how amusing our practices had been. There seemed to be no serious focus, no real coordination—just a lot of laughter. Still, we dedicated our time and energy to those sessions, treating them as fun rather than serious competition that it should be.
Despite my doubts, I felt hopeful that we could win. I knew we had the potential to make an impact.

The match started off well, but there weren’t many dribbles or exciting plays for the fans to enjoy. The atmosphere was a bit flat, with only a few people in the stands and little cheering. Determined to change that, I decided to inject some energy into the game. I put everything I had into it, and before long, the crowd began to cheer.

As the excitement grew, players were falling, and shouts erupted from the stands. Powerful shots were made toward the goalposts, and suddenly, we found ourselves ahead, scoring to make it 3-2. It was a battle for survival, with the opposing team struggling to equalize.

At one point, the score was tied at 5-5 for both teams. Tension filled the air as we fought hard until the last minute, and then we scored again—6-5! It was a glorious moment. The crowd erupted in cheers, celebrating our victory.

My elder sister used to make popcorn at home using simple kitchen utensils like a pot and a lid. All she needed was some oil, and sometimes butter and honey. I grew up enjoying her delicious popcorn. After she got married, a few years later, I decided to make popcorn for myself using the same utensils she had used.

I measured out the corn and added everything else, then closed the pot with a lid. But nothing happened. I didn’t hear any popping sounds, and there were no signs that the corn would turn into popcorn. It remained as dry as the corn I had put in the pot.

I tried adjusting the heat and changing a few things, but nothing worked. The corn stayed just as hard as when I started.

I called my younger sister to help me figure out why the corn wasn’t turning into popcorn. When she came into the kitchen and looked at the pot, she burst out laughing. She pointed out that I had used too much oil, along with too much butter and granola.

She took the mixture out onto a plate to drain some of the excess oil, then we put it back into the pot and covered it. Within just two minutes, it was like magic—the popcorn started to pop!

I added some honey and a little sugar, and you wouldn't believe it: the popcorn turned out even better than the ones my older sister used to make! It was amazing to see how helpful my younger sister could be. Although she hadn’t been very helpful in the past, this time she came through for me!

I'm someone who has always enjoyed music, whether loud or soft; wherever it is played, I usually enjoy good music. Until yesterday, that is. I heard it immediately around 12 AM, just when sleep finally decided to come to me. I had been struggling to sleep for some time, and the sleep wasn’t coming until midnight.

Just as I was trying to doze off, a particular neighbor started blaring very loud music. This really got to me. I could have let it slide, but today was different. I know I enjoy the music he was playing, but I was not having it. I do not joke with my sleep, especially when I’m stressed out and need to rest, and I had been forcing myself to rest. So, I quickly went to his room, knocked, and then gave him a little word of advice.

He wasn't expecting a knock on his door at that time, and the surprise showed on his face. But I also wasn’t expecting his music to blare that loudly around midnight, so he thought we were even. I gave him, shall I say, an untriggered blast, and he finally turned down the volume. I went back immediately and, while I was wallowing in self-pity, thinking it would take me some time to find my sleep again, I didn’t even realize when I dozed off. It turned out to be a good night's rest, and I woke up around 10 AM in the morning. It was worth it, even though I missed the first early morning mass, or rather church service. I still dressed and went for the evening mass.

I never wanted to use a cream or moisturizer on my skin. You know, I treasure my natural skin and everything that comes with it. However, recently, I started comparing myself to others. I noticed that my friends, who were never better in complexion than me, now looked so fresh, young, and moisturized. I’m not interested in bleaching creams or whatever they’re called; I just want something that will moisturize my skin, keep it fresh, and retain its natural complexion. I’ve noticed the stress taking a toll on my skin, so I think a good cream could help. I found this particular one that’s quite expensive, but at least it should do the job of moisturizing my skin.

I am still unsure about using the cream that I've bought. It's been two days since I purchased it, but I haven’t used it yet. Maybe when I see those friends again and compare myself to them, I’ll feel more motivated to start using my own cream. Well, that aside, I hope everyone is doing well.

It was one of those days when memories of childhood came rushing back to me. I remember how, during that time, I was completely engrossed in movies and all kinds of fictional dramas. Every Saturday, we went for fellowship prayer at the top of the mountain—a tradition I cherished while growing up.

There was one particular time I remember vividly. On that day, I raced ahead of my siblings and family to reach the mountain top first, and I did it! Standing at the peak, my childish imagination took over, and I felt like a superhero, just like in the movies. A tempting voice whispered to me, suggesting that I jump with my umbrella. What if I jumped and floated through the air, landing safely back on the ground?

This thought filled my mind, and I began to picture it. The idea of soaring through the sky, gliding with my umbrella.
I was incredibly tempted to jump, filled with the thrill of the moment, but then a wave of fright washed over me. It was a thought about my mother that struck fear into my heart. What if she saw me leaping with the umbrella? The panic that might create in her was the only thing that held me back. If I had been alone on that mountaintop, I probably would have taken that leap.

And who knows? I might not be here now, typing this. I could have been gone, far gone. For that, I thank God for life and for every childish thought that our parents helped us set aside.

I hate cobwebs.
Every time they wrap around my face, I find myself regretting it, rebuking it, and pleading against it. They give me major goosebumps and always seem to signify bad luck or something not good.

Lately, I've noticed cobwebs around my legs whenever I wake up to grab a midnight snack or use the bathroom. I've been on a mission to find the spider responsible for this nuisance.

After weeks of searching, I finally found her today! I saw her tangled in the foot of my fan, surrounded by a huge web she’d spun. I quickly got rid of her because, let’s be real, cobwebs are no good for anyone.

So here’s a little advice: if you find a spider, just remove it from your space. Cobwebs are nothing but spiritual poison.
If you doubt, then take notes of the day that you feel cobwebs on your body and see how the day goes.

I have wasted the entirety of my day behind my screen, pressing and punching away all my stress and anger from the week. I just learned how to play the FIFA World Cup game on my phone, and even as a girl, I couldn't fathom how I would become so obsessed with it. I feel a bit bad for myself, knowing that this obsession has distracted me from many things—like reading my books, working on my projects, and meeting with my staff.

It's hindered a lot, yet here I am, still glued to my screen. Even after writing this, I plan on going back to continue playing FIFA. I know that some people would advise against spending so much time gaming, but for today, that doesn’t matter. I’m going to play this FIFA game to the end. Who knows, tomorrow I might decide to stop or I might not. But right now, I’m certain that I have wasted my day.

A friend of mine came over to advise me to stop playing this game, suggesting that as a gay person, I should invest my time in other activities. But honestly, I couldn't care less. I'm so obsessed with this FIFA game that I can’t even think straight at the moment. After I finished my evening meal, it felt like nothing else could compare to the enjoyment I get from playing.

I find myself wanting to argue with my friend about the value of gaming. There’s nothing inherently wrong with spending a day immersed in a game, right? Sometimes, all anyone wishes for is to enjoy themselves peacefully, without feeling any guilt. Sure, that guilt lingers deep in my heart, but still, I can't help it. All I want to do is play this game, and for now, that's all that matters to me.

The first time I moved into the hostel, I never once considered that people could be so mean and cruel. After washing my clothes, I approached the public line to hang them up, only to find that all the lines were occupied, leaving no space for my things.

As I touched some of the clothes already hanging there, I realized they were dry. I decided to carefully move them to one side to create some space. I stacked the dry clothes neatly and spread out my new uniform, my selection of white shirts on the line I had just cleared for myself.

I felt a sense of happiness and satisfaction once I was done. However, when I went inside and returned two hours later, I was shocked to see my clothes and white shirts lying on the ground. Someone had taken the clothes I had moved aside and thrown my garments onto the ground. I was deeply disappointed.

From that day henceforth, I usually woke up very early each time that I wanted to wash my clothes with the lines free at that time of the morning.