Promise.
Timid and young , an extreme introvert and very quite. This sometimes annoyed her course mates because she does not always have things to contribute in class.
Promise was quite hardworking at heart, one could tell. She always wanted to say something but she was always scared to say the wrong things so that she would not be bluffed off by her mates.
Looking at Promise, it was obvious there was something terrible happening at home. She feels the need to always talk to people but the people around her does not welcome anything she had to say and so she keeps everything to herself.
It happened that her parents didn't believe in education but yet Promise wanted to be in school knowing fully well that she is not as brilliant as her mates but also didn't mind how she was being treated in class. One may wonder why Promise kept coming to school even when she knew she was not doing well.
It's only naturally to have people not associating with people that are not well to do. Promise was not associated with, no one cared to know if she was grabbing anything in class, no one even cared why she was in school at the first place because it was clear nothing was in her head.
Her opinion never mattered because she was not good with school work. She was written off. But then, can one be totally bad at everything?
One day, Mr. Chetuya the farm practice master called every student to the farm and assigned a ridge to every one. He stressed that every student must buy a specie of yam that yields well and that at the end of the farming season, any student that has the highest harvest would be given the title, "ezeji." (Title meant for the best yam harvester. Literally, "the yam king").
All the students started heading to the market. Some got very big sized yams to plant. But as usual Promise was quite, not even making any haste like her mates. This baffled many and others did not care as usual.
On the next farm practice, everyone displayed their yam tubers for planting. Some very big, some medium in different shapes and colour shades of dark to light cartoon colours. After the exhibition one person was left and that was ... Promise!
The master was so pissed, shouted and called her name at the top of his voice, "where is Promise?!" No answer came from the crowd. But those close to her pushed her up and beckoned on the master that she was hiding behind where she would not be seen.
The master called her out, "Where are your tubers" he asked angrily. Promise went to the back and got her tiny pieces of yam tubers. Very tiny things! It was clear she was intimidated by the bigger sizes that she felt discouraged to bring forth hers. But master was happy that at least she brought something too. Students murmured, some giggled at how small the tubers she brought were.
The farming season was declared opened!
All the students went ahead to plant, some told Promise that her tiny yam tubers could only produce tiny yams and nothing more. But then what has promise got to say... nothing as usual because she didn't want to be bluffed off.
After the planting, something amazing started happening. Promise found a friend and started relating well. She told her new friend everything about her and why she was always in school even though she was not brilliant. This new friend felt so sorry for promise and took it upon herself to help in anyway possible. Things started turning out good. Promise started gaining a little confidence in herself.
Now it was time for harvest, the school invited the governor to be a part of the event. It was the first time the governor would be to their school in person. Although there were times the governor has been invited but he had always sent a representative because of his tight and busy schedule. This time he was coming and was going to be seen by some who have never seen him in person. The school was cleared and flowers were trimmed to make everywhere clean and welcoming for the governor. Indeed everyone waited in anticipated, not sure of how things will turn out because most times when a distinguished person like the governor is in an occasion, unexpected things happen.
Students who brought the bigger sizes of yam tubers bragged on how their yam is going to come out massive at harvest. Some bragged on the amount they spent on buying bigger sizes of tubers of yam. In fact, the atmosphere was really fascinating as every student wanted the title and the governor's handshake.
The D- day
On that faithful day, everyone had their yams harvested and rushed back to get ready to receive the governor. It was not a small event at all, as it was said that the governor was a man who believe so much in the youth and supported them in any way he could.
The occasion started proper, due protocols where observed and the business of the day started. Students where asked to exhibit their harvest one after the other at the mention of their names. Disappointment were clearly written on most faces as they expected to exhibit hug yams but alas! Could the big tubers be producing small tubers? Incredible! After all important students have been called, as usual "Promise" was the last.
Behold came Promise with mighty and giant yam tubers. Everyone watched in bewilderment. The lecturers were surprised and the governor stood up in awe. Promise was sweating, shaking and counting her steps in order not to fall as thousands of eyes, both large and small gazed at her.
Everyone started clapping, the governor came over and helped her with some as they made their way in front of everyone. Deep down Promise knew her life was about to change.
She was commended for a job well done. When she was asked what yam she planted, she brought out a very small piece of yam tuber. She said her father, a farmer gave her to plant.
The reward
The governor asked that he would like to see her parents and that she would have to choose a vocation of her choice Where she would be flown abroad to master. She was given the title, "Ezeji" the first of its kind in their institution. Her parents were compensated and honoured as well. Things changed for Promise and her family and her parents felt sorry for not encouraging her from the start. But they were happy to see how strong their child proved to be even when she was maltreated for choosing to go to school.
Conclusion
My dear readers, we all know that no one can tell what the future hold. Therefore, no matter what you do never forget that life has different phases. Hence, in any phase you find yourself in never give up but continue to strive for surely one day you will be happy you never gave up.
You are welcome to share and contribute, we all are still learning from life. Thank you for reading friends.
Image and gif sources: GOOGLE.
Moral of the story: Always eat the big yams and plant the small ones. Be like Promise :)
Awesome storytelling skill. Though, I must confess that I had an idea how it would end. So I was not really surprised at the ending, I would have been if it had ended otherwise. Classic story. Well told.
Haha... sonetimes the things we consider big might come out small. You are right, but I believe we can always see life differently through other people's story.
One constant thing about life is either the good things happens from the start and ends badly or the bad ends well. Which ever way life continues to give us things to learn from.
Thank you for the contribution, its good to know that gurus like you are here to direct us. Thank you always.
Lol at guru. I'm just a learner like most people with an avid interest in learning new things.
You are still awesome. Keep it up.
Well this seem to be an erroneous believe by africans, expecially west Africans.
Education is important and every living soul deserves it.
@gloglo keep on glowing
Thank you ao much for that wonderful contribution. Education is key and a conducive environment should be made dor every child to have it.
Thank you for the beautiful words too my friend.
I really believe in ur conclusion it xplan life beyond fact
Thank you. We continue to learn morw about life.
Hmmmmm, na wa ooo! You 'no gree' at all. My head keeps swelling any time I read your wonderful and powerful posts. I am highly impressed. Keep it up.
Haha... thank you ma. Apples do not fall too far from the tree you know.
That's life for you. Nobody is useless, everyone is useful and talented in one way or the other. Never underestimate yourself. Your story reminds me of a boy who was a dullard in school, it was like book refused to enter and the parents were advised to withdraw him from school, to learn how to be a road-side mechanic. The parents refused but an opportunity came for footballers in his school to showcase their talents. He was chosen for extraordinary talent. Today, he plays for a club in England and a source of inspiration to many. Everyone is now so proud of him because he doles out cash, built a mansion for his parents and lives large. No one should give up on themselves, 'echi di ime (tomorrow is pregnant and could bring forth any thing). Thanks for sharing this motivational, it's wonderful.
Thank you my ma, that story gave me goosebombs. No one is totally bad. I pity people that call others 'NFA' ( no future ambition), the truth is no one knows tomorrow. No one knows why people are the way they are.
Thank you for sharing that wonderful motivational story. I appreciate you ma.
You are welcome dear
The future is pregnant. People cant really discover their full potential till the avail themselves, Believe in themselves and be confident. No one deserves to be looked down on
Thank you dear. How possible is it to understand when most people only dwell on tiday not considering tomorrow. It might be far but it will still come.
Confidence in oneselve is really nit easy, it takes a number of muscle and strenght to tell yourself that others can nit bring you down. For those that has it, it is really added advantage.
Thank you for that great contribution, It was worthwhile.