RELENTLESS

                                                         

An enabling environment was all I needed. I had prayed and envisioned working in an enabling environment during my service year. I needed a place that would give me the space to grow and nurture what I loved to do best.

On arrival to Ibadan the ancient city, I made a list of all the functional media houses. Those who know me, know my personal statement “BE DELIBERATE ABOUT YOUR SUCCESS”.  I obviously didn’t know anyone in the city nor did I have money to waste on paying anyone to get me a slot in a media house. All I had was God and a very strong will.

I had gone to the secretariat to commence my registration process when we were all told to return in three days. It was one of two things, to sit at home and wait for fate to take its cause or I could take deliberate steps to channel my faith in the direction of the result I wanted.

I decided to approach all the media houses I had penned down and ask if I could get a request letter stating  that they wanted me in their outlet. I planned to add the request letter to my other documents when submitting and believe that I will be posted there. What was the worst they would do if they see the letter? 

I approached the security personnel in the first media house and asked to see the HR, he asked if I knew him but I said no. He immediately  burst into a very loud laugh. Long story short, I didn’t get past the receptionists  desk before my request was turned down.

In the second station, the staff I met said he would get back to me BUT I wasn’t totally captivated by what I saw so I didn’t bother following up.

In the third location, they were very welcoming but  had stopped taking  Corps members .

I headed back home with hope, woke the next day with even more hope, got dressed and off to number four I went.  I didn’t connect with what I saw one bit and so without meeting the Director whom I had requested to see, I walked away , no....I actually ran away. I had seen a lady walk into the directors waiting room with a kettle and believe me, it was not an electric kettle. In my head, I asked myself what the other departments would be like IF the directors office had such activities going on. It definitely didn't look like an enabling environment. You know that point when you ask yourself who sent you message?

 Next stop was Splash fm  which by the way was very far from where I lived. I remember muttering to myself  “This very far one may just be the one , Irene give it a try”. I stopped a bike and off I went.

On getting to Splash fm fondly called White house as I later got to know, it was beautiful.  From the security post , I loved the energy. I said to myself, this is the place.

I saw the receptionist and told her what I had come for. She said in the most subtle rejection  voice possible “ Oh am sorry, there are no vacant slots available,  and the HR has ordered me not to take any more entries”

Ahh!! If there was a time to give up, it certainly wasn’t at that point trust me. Do you know I actually refused to leave o... like it was my father who owned the station. We went back and forth over ten times as she kept saying no and I kept telling her to please try and inform the HR I was there. She was just tired of me and had to ask if I knew anyone there , to know why I was so insistent. She had seen that I was a difficult case.

Guess what she did? She dumped me at the lobby. Gracious God, I was there for hours. In my head, I had concluded I would sleep there if I had to. Finally, the HR saw me  and asked her why I was there, she said she had told me to go but I refused so he called me to his office. I told him what I was there for. He said to me “ I am very impressed that you have not acted like a conventional private school student who wants her parents to do everything for her. You came out all by yourself, you were persistent. I will give you the letter”. 

Long story short. He gave me the request letter and I was posted there. It has since been all shades of amazing. 

In all these, I learnt that not all No’s mean Go and life doesn't favour the faint hearted.

If there are issues you would like me to write up on, kindly let me know in the comment box below.

P.S Feel free to comment and subscribe for newer posts 

 

.

Much Love,

Lady I