Christian Nwachuku @sorano

I spent two whole nights cramming for my cardiovascular exams, checking every word in my textbooks. I had no idea what to expect on the actual exam day, so I figured I'd better be prepared. After saying my prayers, I headed to the exam venue, feeling pretty confident.

But what I saw there totally threw me off. Everyone was scribbling notes on tiny pieces of paper, calling it a "chip." I was like, "Wait, what's going on here?" It dawned on me that all these students were cheating, while I'd been studying honestly, pouring my heart and soul into it.

I felt so discouraged, my mind went blank. All that intense reading, and nothing seemed to stick. I left the exam hall feeling angry and betrayed. Was it all worth it? I wondered. It seemed like no one else had put in the effort I had.
To make matters worse, some people even carried their phones into the exam hall right in front of me! I couldn't believe it. It was like, what's the point of even trying?

I kept on thinking, "Is this what education has come to?" It was a real wake-up call for me.
I know exactly what to do next time.

I woke up feeling excited and ready to take on the day. I had been looking forward to this day all week, as I had planned to tackle a challenging workout to help me build up my muscles. I had been putting it off for too long, and I knew I needed to push myself if I wanted to see any progress.

As I got dressed and headed to the gym, I knew it wouldn't be easy, but I was determined to get through it. The workout was tough, but I pushed through the pain and exhaustion, reminding myself why I had started in the first place.

After the gym, I headed to school to review my notes for the upcoming exams. I had been studying for weeks, but I still didn't feel fully prepared. As I walked into the school building, I felt a wave of fatigue wash over me i desperately needed a drinking water. But, to my greatest disappointment, I realized there was no nearby place to grab a drink.

I thought to myself, "How could this be? I decided to take matters into my own hands and search the campus for a solution. After what felt like an eternity, I finally found a small café tucked away in a corner of the school. I rushed in and bought a bottle of water, feeling like I had just won the lottery.

As I took a refreshing sip, I felt my energy levels soar back up. I was no longer tired and sluggish, but revitalized and ready to tackle my studies. I spent the next few hours pouring over my notes, taking in every detail and making connections I hadn't seen before. It was incredibly satisfying, and I felt a sense of accomplishment wash over me. Even as I head back home.

Yesterday was supposed to be a great day. My girlfriend had promised to come over to my place, and I was excited to spend some quality time with her. I took my bath early, feeling refreshed and ready for the evening ahead. As I was getting dressed, I reached for my trusty body deodorant (Riggs perfume), only to discover that it was empty. I couldn't believe it! I had been using it for a while now, and I loved the way it made me feel confident and attractive.

Determined not to let this minor setback ruin my plans, I quickly rushed to the nearby supermarket to buy a replacement. But when I got there, I was shocked to see that the price had doubled I couldn't believe it. I had been buying this perfume for a while now, and I had never seen such a drastic price increase.

I was torn. Part of me wanted to just buy the perfume anyway, but another part of me was hesitant to pay such a high price. In the end, I decided to just pay it, hoping that it would be worth it. As I applied the familiar scent, I felt a sense of relief wash over me. Maybe this evening wouldn't be a total loss after all.

But as I waited for my girlfriend to arrive, I couldn't shake off the feeling of disappointment. Why did the perfume have to run out now, of all times? And why did the price have to increase so suddenly? I pushed the thoughts aside and focused on enjoying the evening ahead. After all, sometimes life is full of unexpected twists and turns, and it's how we respond that matters.

I left my music player at a friend's house to charge. He's a friendly guy who often has lots of people over, so I was a bit worried about my belongings. But I asked him to keep an eye on it, and he said he would, so I trusted him. Then I went to work, hoping to have a good day.

Unfortunately, I had a terrible day at work. A client was very angry with my boss because he hadn't finished a project on time. The client came to our office and was very mean to me. He even threatened to call the police and have me arrested! Luckily, he didn't, but he told me to pass on a message to my boss, which made me feel really uncomfortable.

I was really upset and stressed out after that. I was looking forward to listening to some music to calm down and take my mind off the awful day I had. Music always helps me relax and improves my mood. But when I got back to my friend's apartment, I found out that my music player had been stolen! I couldn't believe it.

I was so annoyed and frustrated. I didn't know what to do. I had been counting on listening to music to lift my spirits, and now it was gone. I felt like everything was going wrong. First, the terrible day at work, and now my music player was stolen. It seemed like the universe was conspiring against me.

I decided to just go to sleep and hope that things would get better the next day. Sometimes, a good night's sleep can help put things into perspective and make you feel better.
I just had to move on and focus on the good things in my life, even if it felt like everything was going wrong at that moment.

Going back to the hands of time I will never forget the guilt I felt when I realized I had forgotten my dad's birthday. It was a chaotic day, and exams and other urgent matters had consumed me. But that was no excuse for neglecting to reach out to my dad on his special day.

As the day went on, I saw that my siblings had all called to wish him well. I felt even worse, knowing I was the only one who had forgotten. When I finally saw the missed call from my dad's number, my heart sank. I had let him down.

I took a deep breath and dialed his number again, hoping he would answer. But he didn't. So, I did the next best thing I sent him a long text message, pouring out my heart and apologizing for my forgetfulness. I explained how busy I was, but acknowledged that was no excuse for forgetting. I promised him that no matter where I was in the world, I would be there for his 60th birthday celebration.

Fast-forward to today, and I'm thrilled to be home to celebrate that very milestone with him! We've got a perfect plan in place to make sure he has the most blissful birthday ever. As I look back, I realize how much my dad means to me. He's my anchor, my rock, and I'm so grateful for his love and support over the years.

"Happy 60th birthday to my anchor!" I say, giving him a big hug. "I love you more than words can express. May this new chapter in your life bring you joy, happiness, and all your favorite things."

Chinedu woke up to the sound of heavy rain pounding on the roof of his small apartment in Yaba. As a third-year engineering student at the University of Lagos, he had a busy day ahead with an important lecture on Thermodynamics. Glancing at the clock, he realized he only had an hour before he needed to leave.

He looked at the overflowing basket of dirty clothes in the corner. His mother’s voice echoed in his head, reminding him of the importance of cleanliness. He knew he couldn’t put off the laundry any longer. Just then, his roommate, Ifeanyi, walked in.

"Nna, this rain no get joy o. You sure say you wan wash these clothes today?" Ifeanyi asked.

"I don't have much choice, Ifeanyi. I won’t have any clean clothes for the rest of the week," Chinedu replied, determined to stick to his plan.

Ifeanyi suggested, "Why not use the new laundry service? I hear they’re very reliable and can even deliver back to you on campus."

Chinedu, however, was set on doing things himself. "I can handle it," he said, grabbing the basket and heading for the washing machine.

As the machine hummed and churned, Chinedu quickly got ready for his lecture. The rain showed no signs of stopping, and he was already worried about his clothes drying in such weather. But with no time to waste, he dashed off to campus, hoping for the best.

The lecture was engaging, but Chinedu found it hard to concentrate fully. His thoughts kept drifting back to his laundry. He imagined his clothes drying perfectly despite the rain. But deep down, he had a nagging feeling that things might not go as planned.

When the lecture finally ended, Chinedu hurried back home, his heart pounding with anxiety. As he turned the corner to his apartment, he saw the aftermath of the heavy rain. His clothes were nowhere to be seen on the drying line.

Rushing to the backyard, Chinedu's heart sank. The wind had blown his clothes all over the muddy ground. Shirts, trousers, and socks lay scattered, soaked, and dirty. Some pieces were even missing without a trace.

Chinedu stood there in the rain, feeling a mix of frustration and regret. If only he had listened to Ifeanyi's advice. Slowly, he began to pick up the clothes, mud clinging to his hands and clothes. The reality of the situation hit him hard.

Just then, Ifeanyi appeared, holding an umbrella over both of them. "Nna, I warned you," he said, trying to lighten the mood with a smile. "Come, let’s gather these clothes. We can wash them again."

Chinedu couldn’t help but chuckle despite the mess. "You were right, Ifeanyi. Next time, I’ll be more flexible."

Together, they collected the scattered clothes and brought them inside. Ifeanyi helped Chinedu wash the clothes again.

As he prepared for another day at the University of Lagos, Chinedu knew he was not alone in his journey. He had friends who had his back, and sometimes, listening to their advice was the best course of action.

I had a important business deal to attend to at home, so I boarded the first bus to get there as quickly as possible. But, little did I know, the journey would be a challenging one. As soon as we hit the road, we got stuck in a traffic jam.

After several hours on the road, a heated argument broke out between two men. Their loud voices and angry words made everyone uncomfortable. I hoped it wouldn't get out of hand.

Just as the argument started to die down, the bus was pulled over by a police officer. He boarded the bus, searching all the male passengers for anything suspicious. I held my breath, wondering what was going on. The search felt like it took forever, but eventually, we were allowed to continue our journey.

The road itself was a nightmare. Potholes made the bus sway throwing us around. I held on tight, praying the bus wouldn't break down or worse.

After what felt like an eternity, we finally arrived in my hometown. It was already 9 pm, and I knew my parents would be fast asleep. I let myself in with a spare key, not wanting to disturb them. I crept into the house, exhausted but relieved to be home.

That was when I realized my ATM card was gone! I desperately searched my room, but it was nowhere to be found. I must have lost it while I was sleeping on the bus, but I had no idea if it fell out on the bus or outside. There was nothing I could do than block it to avoid story that touches the heart

I went straight to my room, collapsed onto my bed, and fell into a deep sleep. The journey had been exhausting, but I was safe and sound at last.

The next morning, I woke up refreshed and went to greet my parents. They were surprised to see me, not knowing I had arrived the night before. We hugged, and I told them about my eventful journey.

I woke up that morning with zero plans, feeling like a blank slate. But, as I reached for my phone to check the time, I noticed a WhatsApp message from my class group. My heart skipped a beat as I read the words: "Class has been fixed for today at 10 AM." Panic set in as I realized I had less than an hour to get ready.

After a quick bath and a hasty breakfast, I rushed to the lecture hall, my mind racing with thoughts of what the class might cover. But, as I arrived, I was met with a surprise: a notice on the board announcing that the class had been rescheduled for 12 PM.

With two hours to kill, I decided to wait in the library, trying to make sense of the sudden change in plans. As I sat there, I couldn't help but feel frustrated. Why had the lecturer changed the time at the last minute? And what would we be covering in class, anyway?

Finally, at 12 PM, the lecturer arrived, and we began learning about blood platelets. She spoke at a rapid pace, covering complex concepts in what felt like a blink of an eye. I struggled to keep up, my mind racing with questions. But, determined to make the most of the class, I scribbled down notes as fast as I could.

As the lecture drew to a close, the lecturer announced that she would be asking questions. My heart sank as she called on me first. I hesitated, unsure of the answer. But then, I remembered the notes I had taken earlier. Discreetly, I glanced at my notebook and found the answer. Relieved, I responded correctly.

The class ended with me feeling fulfilled, and some students even expressed surprise at how I had answered the question. As I packed up my things and left the lecture hall, I realized that the morning's events had taught me a valuable lesson: the importance of being prepared, even when things don't go as planned.