From timid to confident; a single question sparked my transformation. Grateful to my teacher for that pivotal moment!

For everytime I remember this particular day, I feel grateful over and over to my then teacher!

In a way, I will say he played a pivotal role in the person I am today!

I grew up in an environment that shuts up kids, maybe they believe we have nothing important to contribute (even though that might be true), but we still wanted to say our mind too.

When I was much younger, I was the very definition of clumsy, timid and shy. I'm sure some people never heard me talk back then.

But that wasn't the real me! It was an identity I carried about for a very long time, because people said this was who I was, so I believed it.

But a scenario happened oneday, that changed everything.

That day, it was a class of only commercial students. I was an art student, so there is really no reason for me to be in that class. But I was there with them, not because I was offering the subject, but because there was no one I could play with. So my best companion was my chair back in those days. I was always sitted, looking around me and just observing.

So that day was not any different.

The only difference was that a class was going on and I was there by chance.

The teacher threw a question to the class. That day was still as vivid like it happened yesterday.

He asked, "What was the population of Nigeria in the year 2006?"

And nobody in the class knew the answer! The class became as silent as a graveyard.

He asked again and again, and still, no one responded. Then he asked someone to get him a cane, he was going to beat everyone of them.

The normal me wouldn't have even thought of answering the question, never! So I whispered it quietly😅. But he heard me.

He asked me to stand up and repeat myself.
With my legs wobbling, I responded "140 million, sir"

"Beautiful, wonderful! clap for her everyone."

His voice resounded everywhere in the classroom. Everyone started clapping for me.

I'm not even going to lie, it was exhilarating! and I felt so powerful. Lol 😅.

Yessssssss, that was the first time I was ever recognized anywhere, and the fact that the student were clapping for me, OMG. I was on cloud nine!

How did I even know the answer; you might be wondering.

Well, the day before, I was going through the Nigeria current affairs, not because I enjoyed reading it, rather it was because I was bored.

And, I just needed something to pass away the time. And that was it. That particular questions he asked, was one of the thing I picked up from the book the day before. And that was how I got his question.

That particular incident spur my path towards academic excellence. Because I told myself, I want to be powerful! I want to be celebrated! I need to be known. Lol 😅.

That particular academic year, I came 2nd in the class!

Yessssss! For someone who is always coming 47th position thereabout, it was a big feat 🤗!

The truth is, we don't know what it is that anyone is going through. Infact, we don't know how bad someone might need to hear some positive affirmation from you. Never hoard the good thing about people from them! If they deserve the flower, give it to them!

Just your one word, can change the course of their life forever! That beautiful thing you have in mind to tell someone, tell it! Do not assume someone else is already telling them, you, just do your part! It might be all they may ever need to evolve into the best part of their life.

Because trust me, I evolved beautifully! That timid and shy girl grew up to become a beautiful, bold and confident young lady.

Original Image from me, GIF from Tenor.