Seeking a Support Network

The weight of the obligation of being a daughter in an African home, having good grades and maintaining a high CGPA can be so overwhelming at times.

My department has high standards that if not met, will earn the student rustication. It beats me how it drifted from learning to know to learning to maintain a CGPA.

My mom on the other hand expects me to handle situations in her absence because at some point in life, I may end up having my own family and it'd be up to me to handle most of the difficult situations. I'm curious to know why they think a woman handles a situation better. Anyways, as long as I'm seen to be the better thinker, it's all good.

The obligation of tendering to my younger brother, making sure he's alright, looking out for him, helping out with his homework and having to do mine sometimes gets really tough as it almost deprives me of a good sleep but then, life has always presented us with different methods of navigating through lemon-like situations and it's up to one to find what works for them and hold on to it.

Since I decided to move out from my house to my parents' for a change of environment, I have had to master using different navigation buttons that work to balance fulfilling commitments without evading responsibilities.

Commitments of being punctual at school, participating in class activities and maintaining my grades while also tackling being a daughter and an elder sister.

In the midst of these challenges, I've come to realize that resilience plays a crucial role. It involves adapting to the demands of various roles, whether it's excelling academically, meeting familial expectations, or tending to the needs of my younger brother. By holding onto the idea that life presents different navigation buttons, I've learned to prioritize tasks, manage my time efficiently, and seek support when needed.

Finding a support system, both within my academic community and family, has come in handy in steering through these obligations. It's not about handling everything on my own but recognizing that seeking help is a strength, not a weakness.

While the weight of expectations may be overwhelming at times, the journey has also taught me valuable lessons in resilience, time management and the importance of seeking a support network.