Diaries of Hephzibah | Part 2
My story continues...
In 1973, by the mercies of God, I sat for the national common entrance exam and obtained the pass mark for one of the best all-girls school in the region (now Delta State). Shout out to all Anglican Girls Grammar School (AGGS), Ughelli alumni...1973/78 class...
Boarding school was a haven for me because now I have my own bed, my own stuff, now I have friends and access to thousands of books... I was mostly in the above-average class which boosted my self-esteem but I was still a very troubled child. I still suffered bouts of malaria attacks and used to spend considerable amounts of time in the sickbay which was a secluded area...
I dreaded visiting days a lot and it was always very emotional for me. Most of my classmates and friends would have their parents visit and bring provisions to last them until the next visiting days...yours truly almost always had an empty locker. I ran out of provisions by the second week of school. I depended a lot on the goodwill of my friends and one of the female cooks in the kitchen...
When not reading, I would be either in the school choir practice or dance group or scripture union meeting or volunteering with the Red Cross...or sleeping on my bed...
Despite the fact I was an above-average student, mathematics was a challenge. With the encouragement of one of our maths teacher (he is one of my FB friends) who had come from where I was born (i.e. Ibadan) as a Youth Corper (this is a compulsory national service for all graduands). I developed an interest in maths and taught myself. I had an "A " in West African Examination Certificate...💃💃💃
Before I finished high school I had to find a way of reaching my dad. I wanted to continue my studies and I needed his help. So yours truly wrote a letter to my dad...and that is how I reconnected with him and his family after about 16 years! I was happy.🤗
The plan I had with my dad was to study law at the university after the A-Levels. Unfortunately, I only had the opportunity to live with my dad for one year and he was gone...😭😭😭 my hopes flew away like a bird 😭😭😭 and my law school dream had to be on hold for another twenty-odd year ...
I lived with my uncle (dad's brother) and got into the University of Ibadan... I was sent on an exchange program to Moscow, Russia for one year and returned to finish a degree program and promised myself I will still go to study law no matter what...
My journey to Moscow and living there for one year opened me up to a totally different world... I promise to write a true story of my experiences... I travelled by train and ship with my school mates from Moscow to London... Life was becoming interesting...
All the while, God was drawing me to Himself...but I got carried away by the glamour of the world. Deep within me, I knew I needed God but I had no power to resist the temptations of life. I began a journey into a deep miry pit...
To be continued...
Olayinka Hephzibah Ekenkwo
