CHRONICLES OF MY NYSC DAYS EPISODE 3

 Episode 3

Life after camp…

I wouldn't even lie, it has been an amazing journey, narrating my NYSC experience to you, and I'm glad you have enjoyed your reading so far…

Thank you for being an amazing reader!

I sincerely hope that you would keep reading my works and likewise give me your feedback. 

Episode 3, shall we?

If there was a moment of bitterness, if there was a moment of confusion, if there was a moment where I felt alone, it was this moment, the moment that would determine how the next 365 days of my life would look like.

“God, am I not trying? Haven’t I been strong enough? Why would things be so tight like this?”

 I sat down at the parade ground in tears, as I watched all corp members entering the different transportation companies that had come to pick off corpers from camp to the west, east, south and other locations in the north. If you know me personally, I'm not one to give up. But at this point, I really didn't know what to do. Apparently, my cam crush was looking for me, then he sighted me crying at the parade ground. You know that moment where you have been crying and then someone comes to tell you sorry again; the crying intensifies. This was what happened to me. He pleaded that I should at least come to the OBS room, then we would decide what to do from there. 

The OBS studio was now empty, everyone had gone. Almost everyone who wanted to redeploy got it done, i just didn’t understand why my own didn't work. Unlike my friends who redeployed on health grounds, I didn't know how to lie against my health just because I wanted a free redeployment. 

But there’s something we are missing here. You are wondering if my crush’s redeployment worked? Well it did, but if he didn't get Lagos, he would just stay in Jos, which was exactly what he did.

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Without much exaggeration, we were the last set of corpers who left the Mangu, NYSC Orientation camp. It felt surreal; the hall was empty; on a normal day, it was so busy and hot in there. The parade ground, mammy market, there were just soldiers who were checking to see if it was smooth and a few vendors packing up their goods. I simply hate goodbyes.

I finally decided to go to Abuja first, my uncle was there. Whatever it takes, I'm not serving in Jos. Some people even suggested that I stay back in Jos, to at least complete my clearance so I wouldn’t set myself up for an extension. That wasn't my concern, I needed to go to Abuja first, as my family had advised. I was also in contact with my uncle. We entered the car that was to take us outside camp, and that was where I bade Mangu camp ‘bye’, and of course my friends. I honestly hate goodbyes, but that was the least of my problems then.

I was told the journey from Jos to Abuja was cool, but that was far from what I experienced. First off, I was on a bus with total strangers who couldn't even speak English. We got to a village in Jos called Vom, it was so colorful; it reminded me of those Indian festivals I used to watch in their telenovelas. It was so hot in there, not to mention the woman beside me who had a one-year old son. 

I honestly thought that journey was going to be the end of me. First off, there was heavy traffic on a road I totally had no idea of. I had to call my uncle, I simply wanted to go back to jos and book a hotel. The thoughts of passing Kaduna, Katsina, Nasarrawa at night, in this unsafe country wasn't going to be my ordeal. 

My uncle wanted to speak to the driver but he blatantly refused. The only guy who understood English, also refused to help me speak with my Uncle. At this point I told myself, Esther, you will be fine, God is with you and that was it. I must confess that I was so afraid to the core, but I decided to still trust God. I can’t even imagine how  Father Abraham must have felt when God promised Him so many children at such a crucial age or how Moses must have felt when God sent him to the land he previously ran away from. I was in a land I didn't want to be in. My phone was about to die at this point and I couldn't access my power bank. This wasn't my only issue, the woman beside me kept shutting her child up because he cried of hunger. It’s been almost five hours on the bus and I think the boy deserved to be hungry. I had my best fruit with me which I had gotten from the park. I wanted to offer but I was afraid of being turned down. When the cry worsened, I just offered immediately. She joyfully accepted. I heard horrible news about accidents that some corps members met on their way. This got me more afraid, but I had prayed. 

What?! How did I fall asleep? It was almost 10pm and the good news is that I was almost at the park. I was full of gratitude for safety. I spotted a man who looked exactly like my father from behind, wearing a kaftan if i'm not mistaken. I think he was trying to put a call through. When my phone rang, I knew that was my uncle. I would have ran to meet him but my legs were weak from that stressful journey. My uncle looked so much like my father. Although it was my first time seeing him, it wasn't hard to recognise him even in the dark, because he looked so much like my father. We exchanged pleasantries as we made our way to his house.

I must confess that Abuja was a beautiful experience for me. Seeing my favourite cousin, Praise, and my other cousins for the first time, was a milestone for me in 2021. I had a swell time in Abuja, but now, it was time to go home. My cousin accompanied me to the airport and again, I had to say another goodbye. 

Now I miss him... 

Okay! Let’s move on!

Well, I have always dreamt of what my first time in a plane would look like but that wasn't what went through my head at that moment. I mean,  ma what would the experience be like? However, I just wanted to enjoy the moment.

As usual, a flight of 6pm was delayed till about 7pm. The plane was as big as expected. I never really got the chance to go for those excursions in primary/secondary school excursions. Now, emi lo kan! I effortlessly located my seat and suspiciously, it was in the middle. Was my family so scared that they booked a seat in the middle for me? Now here is the part where I get to embarrass myself. I couldn't wear the seatbelt or what do they call it? Thank God for the kind people who sat beside me. 

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The most intense part for me was when we wanted to take off, i felt  upside down🙃. What was more scary? When we were being instructed on what to do incase there’s an emergency.How will they tell me to locate a life jacket under my seat? Are they joking? I sha blessed my journey and that was it.

I promised myself that I'd experience everything on this plane. First off, I went to pee. The toilet was so small, but also really neat and comfortable. But there’s still one unanswered question, where does all the pee and poo go? If you have my answer, please tell me in the comments section. 

Secondly, I was expecting the refreshments but e no reach my side and I couldn't ask either. I just comported myself and switched on the mini tv in front of me. I am trying so hard to remember the title but it's not coming. It was an interesting watch though.

I didn’t get home till 12am even though I left Abuja around 7PM. However, I enjoyed myself. I was home, I survived, and I was ready to enjoy the best Christmas ever. 

I was honestly praying for camp to be over so I could rest and come off the stress but I didn't know that it was just the beginning. My big brother at one point, had to ask for the redeployment guy’s number, to straighten things up. And by straightening things up, I mean it. The guy called me and was so pissed, I was just wondering what my brother must have told him. I went through all of this stress in the middle of enjoying Christmas. 

It was January now, and my portal was still reflecting that i was a jos corper. The worst part was that I had a PPA waiting for me already. I guess I haven't told you about this part. Well, when I was in camp, I prayed to God to sort me. He actually did. My prospective employer (now my boss) chatted me up on one of the best social media platforms and hinted me about the job role. She said she went through my online profile and was quite impressed with what I was doing with my career. She asked if I was interested in the role and said to send her some of my work. We also scheduled an online interview (I was still in camp), after which I would go for a physical interview when I arrived in Lagos. . 

When I got her message, it was proof that God had been preparing me for this and more. She wanted a Content writer, Social media manager and Product manager; and this was me. 

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Back then, I would write poems, create a small blog for my articles, and even posted weekly quotes weekly. Can we hashtag this #preparationmeetsopportunity? You see why I needed this redeployment to work? The most tense but amazing part was that I had gone for the interview and I was to resume work in a week or so. This brings me to where I say; What are you building now that seems like you aren’t being noticed? There’ll come a time where your opportunity would meet you, the only left would be your level of preparedness. Now let’s continue our story😇.

Even though this was a sign that God was with me, it was a very tight corner. I have tried three times now and it still wasn't working out. I started reminiscing about the prophecies I got in camp; how God wanted to use me for a move in Jos, how there were great opportunities there, but this wasn't what I wanted. While I submitted myself to the will of God, I also put in the work. I decided to give this redeployment thing a trial again but this time, with more money. Guess what fam? Within two hours, I became a Lagos Corper! Oh, the joy and relief that I felt. Finally, I was free from this hassle. 

And so, I completed the remaining process and served my country. On the day of my POP, I promised myself to bring others into my experience and this is why you are reading this story. 

About the guy I liked, we are still cool friends. It’s okay to like someone, admit it and not necessarily push it further, especially if it doesn't fit  into  your plans. Not sure of what I just wrote😅 but it worked for me.

I was so proud of myself, but as you know, this is already a past glory. Greater heights, shall we?🥂😉

Like my Alma Mata would say, it is not Bye, but see you again😎