“Going back to school changed my life…”

Dropping out didn’t stop Rita from achieving her dreams…

Your thoughts (26)

“I tell my story, not because it is unique, but because it is not. It is the story of many girls.” – Malala Yousafzai

I dropped out of school in primary three. My parents didn’t have enough money for my fees. I vowed not to give up. I always dreamt of going back to school. Yes, we were poor. Yes, I needed to help out in my parents’ kiosk. But still, I dreamt – especially when I saw kids my age looking smart in their uniforms. How I longed to be in their shoes again.

One Wednesday morning, my aunt Gloria came to visit. She was shocked to see me at home and I told her how much I wanted to go back to school. She sat my parents down and told them education was very important. She said if they sent me back to school, I’d learn lots of stuff that could help me to become successful in the future. When my parents said they couldn’t afford my fees in full, she offered to contribute. My parents realised how important this was to me and my aunt and tried their best to come up with the rest of the money to send me to school.

On my first day, my heart pounded on and on. I thought my classmates would look down on me since I’d been gone for a few months. Instead, they were super helpful. They lent me their notebooks and helped me catch up with them. Throughout that period, I worked very hard. I knew I had to make myself and my family proud. It wasn’t easy, but everyone was so kind and supportive.

Before then, I was a little shy. I hardly said a word in class. But this time around, I started asking questions, making friends and joining clubs. That’s how I found out that I wasn’t just good in math and spelling, but also in running and table tennis. I learned a lot and had so much fun along the way.

Years later, I became the sports prefect in secondary school. Nobody was surprised. I had already led my school to many competitions. When I was in SS3, a team came to select promising athletes. They picked me and three others. At first we didn’t know what it meant. Then they explained that we were getting a full sports scholarship to a university, that we would represent the university in national competitions. I remember pinching my arm to make sure it was real.

Today I’m studying physical and health education. I also coach young athletes in my community. Most importantly, I’m organising a sports event to raise money for girls to go to school. It changed my life, and it can change theirs too. By the way, guess who is the reigning table tennis champion in the Nigerian University Games? You guessed it: me.

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Your thoughts

Bloss

It always a sad thing. I have the zeal to be in school, to write jamb but i don't have sponsor... I feel like giving up

March 18, 2023, 5:34 p.m.

Wow! this is so interesting and encouraging.

March 20, 2022, 7:53 p.m.

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Yeah yeah.....

hi girls ,I am damsel.

Hi damsel! Whats up

I dey oo, have u celebrated your birthday 🎂 or when are you chilling

Education is the most powerful weapon one can use to change the world.

March 20, 2022, 7:53 p.m.

Big sis ,I wrote this in the middle of tears because I could not write JAMB yesterday because the system could not recognize my thumb print pls big sis what can I do?

March 20, 2022, 7:53 p.m.

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sorry girl, I feel so sad too, I don't know if there is another chance to do the exam ,I guess you try again with prayers. I pray it work out for you

Hey Springster! Thanks for opening up through this comment. We are so sorry about this, please wipe your tears. Did you report to any of the external invigilators at your center? Did they tell you anything? Was your exam rescheduled because of this? If no, you may need to urgently report this to the nearest JAMB office or maybe the headquarters in your state. This isn't your fault and so you shouldn't take the fall for it. You need to escalate this as soon as you can. Please do let us know as you make progress. We look forward to hearing from you. We hope this helps

Big sis ,About the JAMB issue ,I was ask to fill a form which is to be sent to JAMB headquarter and I saw it on the intetnet that it also happened in some other centers and I was told that ,those concerned with biometric issue will do exam in JAMB headquarter in Abuja and the board will responsible for transportation, thanks big sis

March 20, 2022, 7:53 p.m.

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Hey zeebliss! Your comment just made Big Sister relieved! Thanks a lot for sharing this with us. We are sure that others with related issues will get information from your comment. We are so glad that this has been sorted. Thanks for sharing this with us.

Hi girls, I want some piece of advice from you , today , I was in my dad's shop.He is a business man,so he had some boys who help in carrying load and doing some sort of work. As I was saying, I was in the shop today ,and these guys started talking about girlfriend because they are all boys and sometimes I joke with these guys ,so at that Time a young girl of about 15 passed she service heavy,so they started talking about her,(first point)so one of them now said he see no future for girls that at the end of everything it will end up with pregnancy,I was in able to say anything again what he said because it was an open place and I don't want to argue with him bcoz I don't want to get into trouble.so that case went away. In the evening ,they were talking about girlfriends,as for when they talk about such things I don't feel comfortable,so by that time I used my earpiece in order not to hear what they are saying,but I slightly heard one of them saying females are fools ,that they do not have sense, they were talking about virgins, he said they(boys) do not have anything to offer us(girls) so he said that the day he defiled a virgin,that it was not easy,he said the girl was crying but I was confused because how could he be so confidence saying so he and his friend we're now testifying to their experience with virgin , I could not hear it that much because I was using earpiece. This long story is just helping in asking u a question: 1.How can I change the boy's view that female has future. 2 .I want to make these girls aware that ,guys are no use of them now ,but to destroy them ,how do I do that. 3. I want to change the boy's behavior towards girls. please big sis ,I don't know a way of doing this without doing it publicly and my dad will be against that. thanks

March 20, 2022, 7:53 p.m.

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Hi damsel! I have not celebrated my birthday (ww) yet it is next month, 23rd of may.

i think, what is good about the situation is for girls to be convinced beyond doubt that they are as much important regardless of what any(spoilt brat, :to clarify the difference in people because is not a general view, )say.it's just a state of mind. respect for one another is good. we should follow the good step and believe we are made for great things. thinking is a fabrication, anyone can think anything, but the fear there is it soon cover people 's eye, the truth is, it is not always what it seem to.we have seen country where women rule as president s, and even richest women such as alakija, this are women. so, it's where we are going and our adamant positive believe and developing our leadership abilities that will judge the end. i believed you will be able to reason with this little.

hello damsel, i think u no am a guy. For me i can say such. But For the guy that sad girls has no future, he is saying it to his sisters because i no girls has future. He have not hear of girls taking care of her family when the husband is there . There are so many things girls are doing. Ohh i these guy they did not no the meaning of future........

hi , debisam and davebeen ,thank u guys , you both are right ,how I wish I can be able voice all of these out when next they talk about it . See the thing is I know all this but can I say these and not get into trouble .

Hi damsel i'm a newbie here can u be my frd

yeah ,of course.We can be friends

i dropped out of school once and i don't know what to do, can you give any advice?

March 20, 2022, 7:53 p.m.

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make plain to go back to school and Pray about it

education give good success

March 20, 2022, 7:53 p.m.

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Hi i'm new can u be my frd

Hello

Hi i'm a newbie i'm i welcomed

March 20, 2022, 7:53 p.m.

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why not