Surviving and Thriving: My Journey Through the Challenges of 2025

In the year 2025, life is like climbing a steep hill with heavy loads on my back. There are issues of life that challenge my existence such as: paying school fees and house rent. These are not just bills; they are mountains that I struggle to climb every month.

However, education of my children is the priority I have to consider among other things. Education is the key to a better future, but that key is becoming too expensive. Schools are raising fees, saying the cost of books, teachers' salaries, electricity has gone up etc. Education is important, but where will the money come from?

Notwithstanding, selling of vegetables in the market and fruits cannot be overemphasized. Fathers work long hours while we mothers struggle on our own, but even then, the fees remain out of reach. Some children are sent home because we parents cannot pay on time. It breaks our hearts, but what can we do? Borrowing money is not easy because the interest rates are high. The small savings we have are already being used for food and other needs.

Here in the city, rent is another big problem. Landlords/Landladies increase their rents every year, and we tenants struggle to keep up. Many families live in small, overcrowded houses because they cannot afford better accommodation. Some landlords threaten to throw people out if they don’t pay on time. Nevertheless, the house rent must be paid whether we like it or not, for peace to reign and to curb embarrassment.

The cost of living has gone up everywhere. Food and transport is expensive, even water is costly. I am forced to choose from different options: Should I pay the rent or the school fees? Should I buy food or save for next month’s rent? These are the hard choices I face every day.

Many a times, I sit late into the night, talking within myself about how to survive. I make plans, but the money is never enough. As a mother I wake up at dawn to sell fruits by the roadside at times, in other to survive. Father picks up extra work, even though he is already tired, he tries his possible best to cater for the family. Together, we try to make a way where there seems to be no way.

Although, in this struggle, there is hope of breaking even. People render some help especially our children’s proprietors, by allowing us pay the school fees twice. Churches and community groups sometimes collect money to support those in need but so many don’t benefit including me. I hold onto my faith, praying fervently that tomorrow will be better than today. If my children become great, I will be great as well.

As the year 2025 moves on gradually, I wonder how long this can go on. Will the cost of school fees and rent ever come down? Will governments step in to help? Nobody knows the answers yet, but one thing is certain and, one thing is sure: that we will keep fighting, working, and hoping for a better tomorrow. In these hardest times the spirit of resilience never dies.

In the end, how 2025 treats us will likely depend on how we treat ourselves, with patience, grit and a willingness to embrace both success and failure. This year holds the potential to be as transformative as we dare to make it. Whether the commitment is to build, heal, explore, or simply survive, every small step forward is a victory that worth celebrating. Determination, focus and steadfastness are needed in this journey to a better future - a new beginning of another facet of life for progress and establishment. May God Help Us. Amen.

Thanks for Reading.

My personal picture.

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