Sylvia Agbo @sylviasonia

Today was a struggle. I couldn’t wrap my head around the idea of having to write a test, especially after a long day at our clinical post-doc that was so far from the school. We got back from school around noon, whereas the test was scheduled to begin at 2.

It was a tough situation, and to make it worse, I hadn’t managed to eat before leaving. However, surprisingly, I wasn’t feeling overwhelmingly hungry this particular day. I thanked the Lord silently, as usually, when I spend long hours at school without eating, my stomach makes known its disapproval.

The test began, and I could say that the only studying I did was waiting for the clock to strike 2. When we saw the questions, others began to voice their complaints, but I remained silent. The questions seemed familiar and comprehensible to me, and I tackled them with confidence.

Afterwards, we created and marked the test as a group, and to my surprise, the outcome was favorable. I was content with my performance, and the experience turned out to be great, unlike how I had anticipated it to be.

I remember the days when our compound was graced by a beautiful orange tree. It stood tall and proud, bearing fruits that filled the air with a sweet citrusy fragrance. It was a sight to behold, especially when the oranges dangled like bright ornaments against the green foliage.

As the tree matured over the years, it became a magnet for the neighborhood children. Whenever my family and I were at home, we welcomed the cheerful sound of little voices as kids streamed in, asking if they could pluck a few oranges for themselves. It always brought me joy to see their faces light up with excitement as they carefully selected the ripest fruits.

However, our peace with the situation began to change when, on several occasions, we left for work and returned to find that numerous oranges had been taken and our property was in disarray. These same children, left unsupervised, would roam freely in the compound, not only plucking an excessive amount of oranges but also using everything they could get their hands on as playthings. They’d turn our carefully arranged chairs into makeshift forts, brandishing brooms as swords and turning our pots and buckets into parts of their imaginative games.

It was a stark realization for us, as we noticed that the very presence of the tree seemed to give rise to damages and intrusion. It was a bittersweet decision, but after careful consideration, we made the difficult choice to cut down the tree. It was a great disappointment for me because of the joy it brought us, but it became evident that it was necessary to address the increasing issues caused by the unauthorized access to our property and the vandalizing of our belongings.

As the sound of the chainsaw echoed through the air one fateful day, I couldn't help but feel a pang of regret. With each falling branch, it felt as if we were severing a tie to something beautiful. However, deep down, I knew it was for the best. The memories of the orange tree, the laughter of the children, and the scent of its blossoms would always remain in my heart, but sometimes, difficult decisions have to be made for the greater good.

Late last year, there was a digital craze that took some people by surprise - coin airdrops had given lucky individuals a little fortune. The concept of coin airdrops involved distributing cryptocurrency tokens for free to holders of a particular digital currency. Little did I know that it would become a significant opportunity for those willing to invest the time early on.

When the opportunity to join in the coin airdrop presented itself, I had the chance to get involved early, but I hesitated. I used to belittle the idea of spending time tapping on the phone screen just to accumulate a few coins and points. It didn't seem worthwhile at the time, and I dismissed it as a trivial pursuit.

However, one of my friends decided to take part in the coin airdrop and ended up reaping significant rewards, earning up to 400 thousand naira from the project. Upon learning about my friend's success, I realized the missed opportunity and regret quickly set in. I vowed not to pass up on any coin airdrop that had a promising perception of success from then on.

Fast forward to this morning, and here I am, making sure I don't let another profitable coin airdrop slip through my fingers. I've already claimed my coins - diligently tapping away on my phone to accumulate the tokens. Despite my initial reluctance, I've come to understand the potential value that these airdrops can hold.

But here's the catch - no one needs to know that I'm tapping away for these coins. It's my little secret, my personal journey to ensure I don't miss out on the next budding opportunity. Whether it's out of a sense of missed opportunity or simply a newfound appreciation for the potential rewards, I'm determined not to let another chance like this pass me by. Who knows what the future holds? I'll be ready for it.

In one cool evening, I heard a manly scream and frantic footsteps. Curiosity kicked in, I dashed out from my house, keen to discover the cause of the commotion that had disrupted the evening calm.

To my surprise, I found a grown-up teen standing a few meters away from his room, frantically pointing towards the door. As I approached, he began to narrate how he had been peacefully attending to something in his room when, out of nowhere, a snake had chased a lizard right into his personal space. Gripped by fear, he had let out a piercing scream and hastily fled the room, seeking refuge outside.

Though I couldn't help but smile at his jittery reaction, I realized the situation was no laughing matter. I hurriedly called my brother for assistance, understanding that a snake in the house was not something to be taken lightly. As a girl, I had little knowledge of dealing with such creatures, and I knew my brother would be better equipped to handle the situation.

Armed with a sturdy stick, my brother arrived on the scene, ready to confront the unwelcome intruder. Cautiously, he managed to locate the snake, quickly identifying it as a green snake. With a swift and sporadic strike, he skillfully neutralized the reptilian threat, ensuring the safety and peace of mind of our distraught neighbor.

Even as the snake was removed, the neighbour continued to look scared and unsettled. He was afraid of his own room. He dragged his feet to his door steep and peeked in. To what seemed like he heard a sound, he ran.
I couldn't help it then that to rupture with laughter which I had suppressed from the onset.

I always looked forward to Saturdays. That was the day I dedicated to my workout routine. Rain or shine, I would make my way to the stadium near my home, ready for a good jog, push-ups, and other exercises. Over time, it had become a lifestyle, and I took pride in the discipline of never missing a Saturday without going for my workout.

However, a few months back, I had to travel. I found myself in a place where there was no nearby stadium, and people rarely engaged in exercise. At first, I tried to keep up with my routine, but as the weeks went by, I started missing more and more workout days. I kept telling myself that once I returned home, I would resume my routine as usual.

But as time passed, I realized that I had slowly lost my exercise habit. The days I used to look forward to had become days of lounging around or being caught up in work. The thought of rebuilding the habit seemed daunting, and I knew it wouldn't be easy.

I missed the feeling of energy and vitality that came with my exercise routine. The strength and endurance I had built up over time were slipping away, and I could feel it in my everyday activities. The excuses I kept giving myself only made it harder to face the fact that I had let my commitment to fitness slip away.

Still, deep down, I know I need to find a way to rebuild my exercise habit. It won't be an easy task, but I want to get back to feeling strong and healthy. I'm determined to find a way to make exercise a part of my life again, no matter how challenging it may seem

Returning to school isnt something someone could say he/she is so happy returning, nothing about its stressful schedules was appealing. But all the same, meeting back with friends, the fun and the jokes was comforting.
So, we decided to ditch the day and hang out. As we walked to our department, we decided to take a break at a nearby shop to grab some sachet water.

We asked for four sachets and received them. But the unexpected happened when one of us handed a hundred naira note to the seller, who reluctantly took it and then asked for an extra hundred naira, claiming that each sachet cost fifty naira.

We were utterly speechless and puzzled. "A sachet of water now costs fifty naira?" I asked to confirm what I had heard.

Somewhat reluctantly, we handed over the extra hundred naira and left, feeling slightly cheated. The price of water had left us genuinely astonished and deflated at the same time.

At this point, water is not a life saver anymore, buying sachet water now could cause you a post traumatic stress 😂

One sunny day, my mom challenged me to break a freshly plucked coconut from our tree.
It wasn't that a big deal to break a coconut, I thought . I placed the round shape on a surface and then I realized that there was more to a coconut.

As a girl, it seemed like an impossible task. I struggled and even resorted to watching YouTube tutorials on breaking coconuts, but to no avail. Finally, in frustration, I grabbed a machete and hacked it open.
No be me go die on top say I wan remove the back, that fibre part.

But the laugh was not over yet. I realized that I now had to extract the edible parts. Coconut might not be an elephant, but I sure felt like I was wrestling with one! After an epic battle, I triumphantly retrieved the precious flesh, feeling like I had conquered a legendary beast.

The coconut was finally vanquished, and I couldn't help but chuckle at the absurdity of it all. Mom's innocent setup had turned into a memorable showdown, and all for a simple coconut. Thank goodness it wasn't an elephant - I might still be there wrestling with it!