#I Just Had To...

My childhood taught me a lot of things and the most important was to stand-up for my self. Speak up no matter the situation.

My dad could flog everyone else but would always spare me. Not because he loves me more than others but because I was too fragile to be flogged.

This gave me a kind of privilege. My elder siblings would ask me to tell my dad what we want because they knew he would always acknowledge my request and wouldn't say no to me.

My dad never allowed any of my elder siblings to learn a skill or work after secondary school. He always insisted that we can do whatever we wish after university education claiming that if we get exposed to money at a young age we may no longer have the urge to further our education.

This was a normal thing in my house and all my elder siblings had to wait until they gain admission into the university before leaving the house and gaining admission took both of them nothing less than three and two years respectively.

When it got to my turn, after my graduation from secondary school, it was the trend of computer school then. Everyone wanted to be computer literate and there was a lot of computer lesson centers then. I went to him and humbly told him that as I await JAMB form for application, he should please allow me to learn. He said I should never repeat it again.
I was at home for about a year untill I went to the university.

When my younger sister finished secondary school,She was so passionate about being a soldier like my Dad but he didn't allow her. She tried JAMB about three times but she never got admitted. We concluded that she had made some wrong choices in the aspect of the institutions she choose to try again the next year.

She told me that she would love to learn tailoring while awaiting the next JAMB form to be out. I encouraged her and told her to tell Dad but she was scared. She said she would wait until I get back. I was already serving (NYSC) then.
When I got back, she told my dad but he was so angry and said she is lazy and doesn't want to be serious which we all knew was far from the truth.
I went to him privately but he disagreed. I kept persuading him but he wouldn't have it.

I told my younger sister to be calm.
I called my elder siblings and told them. They spoke to him but he was still adamant. He said she has not been able to secure admission while doing nothing else, how possible was it to get it while learning tailoring.

He threatened not to have anything to do with it and I told him that I would pay for it.
He said he wouldn't buy another JAMB form and I said I would buy it. He said he wouldn't pay her school fees if she gets in. I said we would find a way.

We tried to make him see the advantages of allowing her do what she wants and we gave him examples of other people doing great things that are not university graduates.

When he saw that my mum and my elder siblings supported me, He had no choice but to allow my younger sister learn tailoring.
We all couldn't believe what she started sewing in few weeks.
She was learning so fast that my dad became so impressed. He bought her her first sewing machine within three to four months of her learning.

Her next JAMB exam got her admission to study Accounting in the university. She graduated with a 4.1 CGPA in accounting. And she own her own clothing business today.
She hasn't stopped thanking me for standing up for her.
She makes all my clothes till date.

This is my response to Hive learners community weekly featured contents on the topic: Standing Up For Others.
Thanks for stopping by, I really appreciate you.
Yours truly @aunty-tosin 💕💕