My father\’s race

I remember clearly how daddy wanted me to continue to take science classes even after I failed woefully in my third year exams. Back then in secondary school, your results in third year determines if you are following through to a science, art or commercial class for your leaving certificate exams.

I was clearly an art or commercial student, but my dad wanted me to be a science student by all means. How I got 6% in chemistry exam and 30% overall was beyond me. Summer coaching class and daddy insisted I continue doing sciences. In one of the classes, the teacher, Mr. Mustafa looked at me and said he had never seen me before. I had to remind him I was in the same class with Funsho his daughter. I wasn\’t missing his classes too but was more of a fly on the wall than a student in class.

Thankfully, the school was adamant about it and refused to let me continue in a science class with the appalling grades I had.

Thirty years later, when I first put my experience into writing and gave my dad my first book to read, being the gentleman he was, he was full of apology. But, I thanked him because I understood that he was trying to give me the best opportunity the only way he knew of. I was grateful because I had a first hand experience of a fish trying to climb a tree and I purposed not to make any fish climb a tree.

I was grateful of the opportunity because his persistence forced me to a self discovery journey. I found my identity in a wholesome way. I found purpose along that journey, strengths and weaknesses, likes and dislikes, tolerances and boundaries and above all, transformation.

I encourage you to discover yourself today and live a wholesome life on your own terms. After all #YHTK