Time To Look Back

December 2014 was an unforgettable month of my life. It was the month I graduated from Federal University of Technology, Owerri. The convocation was on 12th December and on Sunday 14th I was on my way to Assemblies of God Church Nkpor 1 for a special thanksgiving. I remembered all the moments I used to go to the same church to pray for admission. So immediately after my graduation, I knew it was very necessary to go back and show my appreciation to God. The following week, I was on my way to Enugu. With a heart full of thanksgiving, I headed to Community Primary School, Nkomoro where I attended my primary school.

It has been over 12 years that I attended that primary school in the village but I knew I owed those teachers. These men and women trekked everyday for about 10 kilometers of a very bad road to come and teach us in the village then. On my way to the village, I was reflecting on all the teachers I could still remember and hoping they were still teaching in the same school. My heart was so full of gratitude for all the roles they played in my life. Some of them beat us so much for coming late, not washing school uniforms, coming with torn school uniforms, failing to make a particular number of ridges in their farm or not weeding the farm as we should.

We hated them then, but as an adult, I knew they laid the foundation for my life. They taught me how to read, how to write and how to be disciplined. When I got to the school, I asked for Mr Ogwueche since I can still remember the name. I was told he was no longer there and was directed on how to see him. But I did see one teacher that was still there and he couldn't believe someone could do what I did. The headmistress and all the teachers were amazed that someone came to say thank you to his teachers. I had a wonderful conversation with the head mistress and I entered a bike (okada) to town in search of Mr Ogwueche. When I found him, he was already very old, he couldn't recognize me but he was so happy.

I gave him a gift and started another journey to New Heaven Boys Enugu in search of my favorite Chemistry teacher in St. Patrick Secondary School (Emene), Mr Ogota. I wanted to see him and tell him that I'm a graduate now. I was so grateful for all the ways he motivated me. He taught us Chemistry without using any book or note and I desired to be as knowledgeable in science as he was. When I found him, he was so happy and as usual he called me, 'Ndukwe..'. It was such a re-connection. Deep in my heart joy was overflowing. That feeling that comes when you know deep within you that you have done the right thing.

Dear reader, maybe you need to look back too. Maybe you need to show your gratitude to some of the people that have directly or indirectly contributed to who you're today. I know many are waiting till they 'blow', but that time may never come. I wish I could mention all the people I thanked that period and how the smiles I saw on their faces brightened my day. Stop waiting till something or the other happens, pick that phone, call that teacher, that pastor, that lecturer, that boss, that colleague, that NYSC guy and say, 'Thank you!'.