The trajectory of our lives ultimately rests on certain simple choices for example, where we go to secondary school, if we go to boarding schools or not, if we end up in single-sex schools or not, and who we choose as our friends at the age of 5. Some people will argue strongly against this position but I believe that it is not the big decisions but the small ones that shape us. At the core of it, aligning these choices to our peculiar person is how we make the best of our lives. There is no one size fits all and no matter how many times this is said, we have a responsibility to remind people to live their true selves, racing against no other person but themselves.
My Story
I will pretend I am someone important as I tell you about me. Assuming you were reading the story of a great and influential historical figure – Mimidoo, you would want to knowthat Mimidoo was born in Makurdi, Nigeria. A small town you only see on TV when the herdsmen are plaguing the farmers in that state. It might also be interesting for you to know that Mimidoo went to a catholic primary school in Makrudi and eventually, a catholic boarding secondary school for girls in Abuja (the capital of Nigeria) before she headed unto Ota, Ogun State Nigeria for her first degree at Covenant University. To be completely honest, Mimidoo would want you to know there was nothing exceptional about her growing up, except she was often the person with the darkest skin in the room.
“Just ask, the worst they can say is no”
Growing up, my mother spent a lot of time doing 2 things – 1) making sure I am comfortable in my skin, encouraging me to never ‘bleach’ it and to never be intimidated by bullies, and 2) taking me on work trips so I traveled the country and saw it from the eyes of a child – full of wonder. These are the two greatest lessons I learned, to be myself and to want more.
After my first degree, I applied to join a consulting firm in Lagos, and by the grace of God almighty, I got accepted and I joined as a fellow while completing NYSC (Youth Service in Nigeria). It was blood, sweat, tears, and a whole lot of self-discovery starting a job like that at 20 but I survived 🙂 I met people who inspired me, who talked about things and places that little Mimidoo from Makurdi would not have imagined.
I have learnt to ask when I want something that someone can give me because ‘no’ isn’t the worst thing, the worst thing is never knowing if it would have been a yes. Mimidoo from Makurdi had no idea that there were possible decision and request paths in which she ended up with an MBA from the University of Oxford’s Saïd Business School but in May 2021, my degree came by post and I felt like I have peaked.
I haven’t done all the things I would love to do yet, I have worked for a University, worked for small firms, a global firm, and even helped a start-up design a transport solution for emerging markets. I took some time to learn French in Togo in 2021 and that was exciting as it was scary but I haven’t done all that I want to do. I want to teach, sing, write, paint, travel, crochet more, and change the world by helping people get to a better place not by forcing them to conform.
My story is still being written but so far I can say I have been awarded on different occasions by different people, for different reasons titles like – best daughter, worst sister, worst friend, and best coach but for most people, my being the only Mimidoo they know has never been contested.
