This week I saw something that left me wounded. I saw a father who is a high ranking military officer shed a tear because his favourite daughter had disappointed him. She had been away from school under the guise of being a school fees defaulter yet her dad always pays tuition fees in advance.
He was heartbroken and it was written all over his face. I was left speechless too. It felt like I had been taken back to when I was a reckless teenager. Honestly speaking there is not much that these young girls are looking for when they are trapped in situations like escaping from school, drinking alcohol or even engaging in sexual activities at a tender age. I recall to detail and with so much regret how my father always told me that whatever it is I was rushing for, it would still be here even after so many years. The alcohol, the music, the skimpy dresses
But at that moment I felt that I should try it all out just in case it was no longer there at some point in time. Twenty eight years later and the very clubs I would die to go to, are still in existence. Most of them have not even changed location. How I wish I had taken my father’s advice. I did not, which led me to so many wrong choices and so many broken relationships. And some experiences have left me wounded at heart.
This is why I decided to go to schools and tell my story. If only just one girl makes good of my advice, that is satisfactory enough for me. It will really sound clichéd if i start lecturing students), to read books, work hard blah blah blah. I am very much aware that they have heard that song one too many times.
I would simply say this one thing: use your opportunity (if given one) to give education your best shot. Why? Because it is not a lifetime enrolment but it can give you lifetime settlement. And you know what even hurts me most, the times have changed. There was a time when a young girl would walk into a club and they would bounce her. These days, the bouncer himself will want to take advantage of her. As we get into our short second term holiday, all I am thinking about are our little girls/sisters. How I really want to tell them; “Please don’t trade your life for that one bottle of beer, lift, name it”.
We still need to see you achieve your milestone. One after the other. And I encourage every parent to aggressively seek God’s counsel on how best to raise these little gifts that we have been blessed with. Believe me you can’t raise a child without God and expect anything positive. …Enjoy your holidays!
