The Turn Around

Every year the school send off students but not every year was a speech and prize giving day. This year was one of those special years because it was not only a day when outgoing students were celebrated but also a time when the other students who had performed well in learning and character were rewarded.

This year was going to be interesting because some not so known faces had made it into the 'league of prize collectors’. But you know what, I looked forward to those sweet Zobo drinks and delicious Jollof rice that would be served at the dining hall. And that got me thinking, so una sabi cook sweet food like this? What’s up with the coloured water for breakfast, the tasteless soup at lunch and the runny beans for dinner. That day was special, call it Sallah and Christmas combined.

Latest gossips were usually treated like some sort of delicacy and the bearers prefer to serve them hot, hence the coinage 'hot hot'. When you hear that you don know say sweet gist dey ground. Even the body language and gesticulations by the hot hot server gives you a hint as to how massive what she was about to drop could be.

Women and gossips 5&6. No be me talk am o. Anyway this wasn't a gossip but she treated it as such. Or maybe it was because she felt it should be.

I don't even remember what I was doing that day but yes she was one of those people that let their voice precede them and before you know it her goons were already around her savouring what ever dish she served them. I had caught on some of it and was finding it interesting but not ready to engage any of them until she spouted off

T. Aminu, you have prizes too. I think, in History and Commerce or so".

As much as I was surprised or maybe just excited I wasn’t sure. I doubted its authenticity. History, yes please! Commerce, no way! That class was as competitive as our Literature class. I would later find out she was correct.

The essence of this story is not about that but of a particular prize 'Best Turn Around Student' The girl who got it truly deserved it. Talk about 'every disappointment is a blessing'.

Curious, one of her protégé had asked her

What does turn around mean in this case?"

Madam found it difficult to explain but went ahead to because she had an image to protect.

I think it has to do with the way she walks. You know she walks smartly and when she does, there's this way she turns around".

Ah Aunty! Fear God na.

I'm not sure the asker understood but she nodded nonetheless.

Should I tell her she was wrong or just mind my business? Maybe I picked the later, not sure.

The best turn around student had been one of us, our set but some times in life we need a kind of wake-up call and repeating the class was hers.

Repeating is usually considered a thing of shame among students especially when you had been horrible to those juniors in the class you've been demoted to. As expected, such students usually choose to change school instead of facing their shame. This girl faced hers, it was hard but she did. And in turn this shaped her into a force to be reckoned with. She didn't only pass, she came out as one of the best three of her set.

Failing doesn't make you a failure, it only means there's still so much of you that you're capable of that you aren't doing. It brings out the best in you and prepares you for the best that is to come.

Tell that to yourself today and remind yourself everyday because you are much more than you think you are. 💪