“You’re just going to waste my time. Leave the room.” These were the exact words my instructor uttered that day. Every ounce of courage I built while approaching her vanished as tears welled up in my eye. It was the last day of a 14 days, free baking training program I took up. We had concluded the training and were just there to sit for an examination that would help the organizers pick the best graduating student(s).

Prior to when I registered for the program, my mum had kicked against it. She just didn’t think the organizers could be trusted. I couldn’t blame her. Judging from all the mishaps in the city too, nowhere was really safe. I couldn’t blame her for not wanting to grant her only daughter the permission to try something she just randomly heard of, a free opportunity at that.

Well, as a girl child who barely does as she’s told, I didn’t heed my mum’s warning. I felt she never encouraged me to pursue the things I was passionate about. She was very doubtful of things. I have a knack for cooking, basically anything edible: cakes, small chops, meats, pies… I just always want to cook something and eat. The passion has always been there. What good can staying in my comfort zone do for me? I thought to myself. I couldn’t just let the opportunity slide because my mum thought the world was unsafe.

With a heavy heart, against all the discouragements from my parents, I went ahead and registered for the program. I was nominated as the class representative of my batch. It was a lot of work but I stayed dedicated and focused. It was an interesting ride until the day of the examination, things went south!

I had gone for a dress fitting as I had to play the role of a bridesmaid for my mum’s cousin the next day. I was done in time to make it to the training Centre for my examination but it was as though the universe was against me. A fight broke out in the public transport I boarded to take me to my destination. This was between the driver and street touts who act as a sort of security body and tax drivers certain amounts of money for every ride, saying they have to maintain order on the street.

I got to the training Centre late. Everywhere was dead silent. The door was locked but I could see my classmates through the door, it was a glass door. They were busy penning down answers. Then I heard “pens down.” I began sweating profusely. The receptionists encouraged me to go in but I was so scared. My hands were quite shaky as well.
Some classmates began to emerge from the hall and kept pushing me to go in and I did. The invigilator; a beautiful, classy but super strict woman looked at me in what I felt was disdain. I tried to explain why I was late but she wasn’t really giving me an audience, she kept closing the windows and telling other students to evacuate the building. Bottom line is, I didn’t write the examination. I felt terrible. I made up different excuses to make me feel better. I told myself the lady was rude and lacked empathy, “damn that driver for fighting and wasting my time!”, I added. My parents made me feel bad about the program, they never supported or encouraged me, all these I kept saying to feel better.

Most people don’t have the willingness to break bad habits. They have a lot of excuses and they talk like victims.
~Carlos Santana~

The above quote is exactly what I was doing. Making irrelevant excuses and blaming people for my unseriousness. True, my parents reaction to me wanting to embark on a free baking program wasn’t encouraging but they didn’t lock me in the house or make efforts to stop my plans. Letting their comments get to me so much was my own problem. Blaming the invigilator too was pointless. Why did I go to an examination late?
The thing about excuses is this: if you look for them you’ll find uncountable numbers of great ones, and they’ll make so much sense to the ears.

^{The Graduation}

That’s how I watched thousands of people graduate and win exotic prizes for some that emerged top of their class. Who would have thought that a two weeks free training will give people a golden opportunity of going home with dumbfounding prizes like new laptops, for those that learnt computer skills, makeup kits for those in that department, microwave ovens, electric mixers, brand new sewing machines, amongst others.
I went home feeling very terrible. I could have been a part of that if I had participated in the examination. I wasn’t even given a certificate. I learnt, but I learnt the really hard way.

The day you take complete responsibility for yourself, the day you stop making any excuses, that's the day you start to the top.
~O. J. Simpson~

The position of the top is really not for people that make excuses. A mantra I took out from that experience is this: Do it scared. Only people who dare to be different, determine to succeed, chase their dreams and passions whole heartedly come out victorious.

This happened last year. I failed at everything I tried to do. Some I gave up midway, others were wrong choices but at the beginning of this year, I picked out a mission statement for myself: Changing the Narrative.
This mission statement, to me, implies I’m no longer going to be that girl; the one that plays the victim, making excuses everytime, blaming others for her mistakes, allow the negativities get past my skin. I was no longer going to shy away from anything good just because of other people’s opinion. I wasn’t going to be unserious about anything I do, no matter how small.

A New Beginning💐🥂

Remember to celebrate milestones as you prepare for the road ahead.
~Nelson Mandela.~

My brand turned a month old last Saturday and this is the main essence of this post, not just a tale of a one time timid girl who lost a golden opportunity but how I picked myself up after the experience. I had gone home in the month of July, towards the end. I concluded my 2nd year in the university so we were granted a two weeks break before the commencement of a new academic year. It was during the break that the idea of monetizing my cooking skill was conceived.

I told my parents about it but my dad wasn’t very welcoming of the idea. He felt it would be distracting joggling a physically exhausting work with school. It’s not the first time. At the beginning of the year, I wanted to start a business, a really small one at that. All i had to do was sell groundnuts in my lodge. My parents welcomed the idea. I bought the things I needed, basically groundnuts, nylon for tying them and a transparent bucket for putting them. On the morning I was meant to travel, he woke up very early and told me to not pursue the little idea anymore for reasons I found very flimzy.
This time, I wasn’t ready to back down. I told him I’ll be cooking on weekends only. I went on to buy disposable plates, paid for stickers, flier, menu designs, branded bags… All these I did without their knowledge. I didn’t want any discouragement. But even if I were to be discouraged, I already paid for a lot of things which I knew could not be revoked so I made sure there was no going back.

My brand, Didi’s Weekend Delights became a month old last Saturday. I have been cooking every Saturday for the past four weeks. Last weekend, I served two different meals, Afang soup and White soup, and I offered some discounts to my customers as a way of showing gratitude.

^{Afang Soup}

^{Egusi (Melon) Soup}

^{White Soup}

It’s not been an easy ride. I was so scared initially and very confused about a lot of things but the reviews have been amazing. Some people think my meals are expensive but I sell quality and well prepared meals with a really impressive packaging, compared to what I see others around me doing so this has helped my brand stand out amongst others. I give out free bottles of water for every order and i include some sweets too.
I’m glad I was able to pull this off. My brand is not yet perfect but little by little, I’ll surely get there.

^{Orders from last weekend}

^{Studentprenuer and latest brand owner😅}

This a not-so-brief summary of how I fucked up last year, how I’ve decided to consciously work towards making this year a great one, and how I spent my last weekend. Below are some reviews from last weekend’s deliveries.

I’m wishing myself the best in this pursuit. Cheers to many more accomplishments 🥂

^{All photos used are mine and should not be used by anyone else.}