THE ME IN ME

The rain started to drizzle as I slowly made my way through the ever busy streets of Port-Harcourt. Already beads of sweat were rolling down my cheeks as I murmured under my breath as to why I would be drenched by rain just after being scorched by the hot Sub-Saharan sun. It was obvious the witches in my village were using my picture to fan themselves.
Just today, I have visited about a hundred offices and all I could hear was 'Sorry sir, there is no more vacancy'. Even the ones that managed to grant me an interview would end up saying, 'we would get back to you'. My God! I am tired of this fallacious lie.
As the rains descended with all its vigour, I hurried into a nearby shop for refuge.
''Hello! Who dey sell?'' I asked emphatically.
''Na me, wetin you wam buy?' a woman in her forties answered.
"Abeg gimme one pure water"
She came back with one cold sachet water as I handed her a jaded 10 Naira note. Abeg! Money na money.
"Oga, pure water na 15 Naira now oh!"
"How manage?"
"Oga wey you bin dey? You no know say everything don increase because of this Buhari economy?"
I petulantly gave her the 5 Naira balance. Deep in my spirit, I mourned.
Life has not been easy for me after graduating from the university. After going through the perils of school for 4 good years thinking that a University degree was all I need for a comfortable life. It now seem as if I thought wrong.
As the rains continued to fall, I picked up a magazine lying next to my hard earned documents which society has made worthless. The magazine portrayed stories about successful people in Nigeria. As I flipped through the pages, I discovered that 80% of the successful people mentioned in the magazine did not depend on the government or any individual for a white-collar job. They actually used and developed their talents and God given abilities to better themselves. They chose not to be caught in the abyss of the economic recession. But with focus, diligence, and tenacity, they turned themselves into societal celebrities.
As I perused the pages of the magazine, I began to wonder were I kept my senses all this while. Who was I meant to be? Was I meant to be going from one office to another each day waiting for one old brute to employ me. What do I have in me that the world needs to hear?
I went back home that day, not to murmur and complain to my mum about how this Buhari's administration has f**ked up this country, but to think about what I have to give the world that will better my future. What I have to do to bring out the me in me! Would you do same?


By Oro Ewoma Great