I WON 3 MILLION NAIRA FROM A FEDERAL GOVERNMENT CHALLENGE AND I STARTED A BLOG

SUNDAY VALUE CORNER

“......my confidence in resumption metamorphosed into apprehension and uncertainty as months passed and that was when it dawned that I couldn't afford to waste the year”.

A Directionless Sunday Special- The Value Corner, features Miss Rejoice, a Nigerian law undergraduate as she shares the story of her wins, trials and lessons amidst an unsolicited lockdown and a cancerous academic system. Rejoice is interviewed by Favour Uche-Edemba and Abiola Ayodele, members of the Reach-out team of Directionless.

Favour: Please tell us about yourself?

Rejoice: My name is Rejoice Chioma, a 200 level law student of the University of Nigeria. I'm from Abia State, 18 years old. Asides law, I love writing. I spend my leisure time talking to myself (Lol), watching movies or sleeping.

Favour: You spend your leisure time talking to yourself (Lol).

When the lockdown started (of course, you had so much leisure time), what were your thoughts about the lockdown when it started initially and eventually, how did those thoughts turn out?

Rejoice: Actually, when it started, I had no leisure time. I was so confident we were resuming in April so I was actively preparing for exams. How wrong was I? So that was my initial thought, but as months passed, I kind of panicked. The cases kept rising and the lockdown extension continued. Then there was apprehension and uncertainty when May rolled into June....

So basically my confidence in resumption metamorphosed into apprehension and uncertainty as months passed and that was when it dawned that I couldn't afford to waste the year (Lol).

Favour: It dawned on you....(as it did most of us).

Amidst the whole apprehension, at what month would you say you finally started being purposeful, consciously planning your day? And what was your plan to avoid 'wasting the year?'

Rejoice: I was purposeful from the beginning, just a little shift in the purpose. My days were planned right from the beginning of the lockdown, except in the early days, when my plans were towards resumption, but after two months, in June I had to look beyond that and think of other ways to improve myself.

As regards my plan to avoid wasting the year, from my dawning moment, I decided I was going to develop myself. So I started taking online courses, working on my skill set, writing more, applying for things I was interested in, participating in competitions, then I started my blog- reggiesspot.com

Abiola: Your story intrigues me. And your passion for growth is remarkable, I must say.

Starting a blog is no easy business. Can you tell us a bit of your journey starting a blog?

Rejoice: Yea, last year, I did a trial under WordPress. I had a sub-domain called ‘She Writes’ but it was just for leisure, I would write and post whenever I was free. Then school resumed and I dropped that to concentrate on school activities. When the lockdown began, after my resumption anticipation phase, I decided to go back to it, so I made more posts back there. Eventually, I decided it was time to do something more concrete, this was on the recommendation of a web designer who had seen one of my posts on WordPress. Money! I had to create a website and all, so that involved money. Thankfully my mum sponsored and it was done.

When I started ‘Reggiesspot’ (Reggie is my nickname, so Reggie's spot), I decided I didn't want to make random posts, but focus on real issues that my audience could relate with the aim of proffering solutions and create a space where everyone could share their own experiences and solutions.

Abiola: How has your objective been going so far? Still an objective or a reality?

Rejoice: God has been faithful, it's a reality. Relatable content has been put out there and people have had a space to share. Recently, I launched a co-author series to encourage budding writers to harness this skill. I realise many have the skill but don't know how to go about harnessing it. The idea of seeing their works published gives that extra push.

Abiola: So, Rejoice, you recorded quite a remarkable feat with your emergence as the winner of the Independence day poetry competition organized by the Federal Government.

Any inspiration during your days of writing the poem? On a lighter note, money happens to be a really great source of inspiration.

Rejoice: Lmao. I actually saw the publication on the eve of the deadline. A friend of mine sent it to me and I decided to give it a try. Honestly, I didn't think it was that serious but the prize attached was worth trying. So I did and as God would have it my entry was selected first place. As far as that competition is concerned, it was God's grace and I give him glory for that as well as others.

Favour: After submission, did you ever wonder if your poem stood any chance amongst other submissions?

Rejoice: Yes. I told you I wasn't even that serious about it. I just prayed (no jokes) and wrote, did the video presentation and submitted and then I forgot about it (Lol). I actually saw the congratulatory mail late after the deadline for submission of our bio. I didn't expect it!

Favour: What did winning feel like for you?

Rejoice: It felt unreal. At the Award ceremony, I met the other winners from other categories and the organizers of the challenge from the ministry. My first contact with any of them. Honestly, I was also impressed that it was real and they went through with it, a lot of people didn't believe it.

Abiola: A surreal moment indeed! Has winning affected your circle of friends? Are people famzing you? (Lol).

Rejoice: No, my circle is the same. As for famzing, I haven't noticed that.

Favour: Rejoice, has there been any difference in your life since the win?

Rejoice: Yes. I bought new shoes (Lmao).

Favour: Lol. I mean, like a new respect amongst your colleagues, in your family? Please elaborate. What has happened because of or since the win?

Rejoice: Lol. I know, just avoiding it. Yes. Not much amongst my colleagues though, we keep the energy. As for family (laughs) not everyone has to get settled and there's this new feeling of responsibility. I ask for things with one hand these days after settling everybody. My mum expects me to buy everything myself, no more easy peasy asking. That's understandable but annoying especially since everyone was settled.

Favour: This is an interesting turn of events (Lmao).

“It's okay to be directionless sometimes and for comfort sake you are not the only one, just sit back and seek clarity”.

Abiola: Prior to your win, have you always been a poet? And do you write (articles and essays) also?

Rejoice: Poet, no. That was my first poem (Lol) I have tried some rhymes in the past but nothing official. Articles and essays, yes.

Abiola: This is interesting! So now, do you believe poetry and writings enjoy some sort of influence over one another? Like, every poet is a potential good writer and vice versa.

Rejoice: On the general plane, a good writer is a good writer, but down to genres, I think it’s more specialized, not every good writer (in the general sense) is great at poetry or vice versa. However, you used the word ‘potential’, I agree with that. You get better at a chosen genre with practice.

Abiola: Very intellectual answer!

Recorded any successes on your essay and article writings spree? Kindly tell us about it (them).

Rejoice: Yes, I have. Best memorial Christain Anuikwu Essay Competition (UNN), Top 36 essays, Legal Pages Essay Competition and, IPLC Uniosun Christian Anuikwu Essay Competition.

Favour: As interesting and fulfilling as this lockdown has been for you, where there periods you were plainly not motivated angry, frustrated, or very lonely and on the verge of a possible breakdown?

Rejoice: There were times when I was like "bruh, I'm not doing again". I have broken down a lot of times o, depressed sef (Lol) and yes, very low motivation. Largely out of frustration or stress. Sometimes things don't work out as planned too. Particularly after OALP internship, I was tireeeedddd. Then October was a hard month for us all. This is asides other times when that feeling of apprehension and uncertainty sets in.

Abiola: We gather dey! (Lol).

Favour: Rejoice, my co-interviewer and I really enjoyed this interview, I am certain our readers will too. Thank you so much for letting hundreds of students out there draw strength from your story. Please any last words/piece of advise for the Nigerian student in these times?

Rejoice: Yea, I'm grateful for this opportunity too. Last words, being a Nigerian student is hard. it won't be an overstatement to say everyone has been considerably traumatized in these times. It's okay to be directionless sometimes and for comfort sake you are not the only one, just sit back and seek clarity. Find your source of strength and hold on to it, mine is God. We can't lose hope, cry when you need to, rest when you need to, work when you need to. I pray we all find strength to reach our goals in spite of the odds against us.

Favour: Thank you so much and a big Congratulations from the Directionless team.

Interview by Favour and Abiola for Directionless

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