Chapter 1:
The Beginning of Storms
Life was never simple—not from the very start
I remember the old days when life still held fragments of innocence,We played simple games like "Game Pause" and "War Started," laughing and chasing each other through the neighborhood. But beneath the laughter, my childhood was interrupted by things that no child should ever experience.
I was molested by an older woman It was something I didn't understand then something that broke a piece of me too soon , That moment became a shadow that followed me for years. I lost my innocence in a way that left scars deeper than any physical wound.
As I tried to grow up, life continued to test me. My dad fell seriously ill. He went through endless medical tests, and at one point, it looked like we might lose him. I remember the bleeding from his nose before the surgery—how something was lodged deep in his throat and nose. I thought that was it. I thought I had lost everything. But somehow, after all the fear, all the waiting, and all the prayers, he survived. That moment taught me that life could be both brutal and miraculous.
In the midst of all that chaos, I had a dream to go to school But everything seemed to work against it. I had written my JAMB exams and thought it would all end there We didn't have money, and I was ready to give up , But then someone stepped in a kind woman who paid my UTME registration fee. I was so overwhelmed, I dropped to my knees and thanked her. That one act reignited a flame inside me
Then came betrayal,I got scammed while working as a POS representative It felt like I had worked for nothing I lost everything I had saved To recover, I started a perfume business, hoping it would be a new start But it moved slowly
Too slowly I cried more than I sold Depression crept in like a thief and yet, I told no one i just kept fighting.
Getting into school wasn't the end of my struggles it was just the beginning of a new set
The stress was relentless ,There were days I didn't eat, nights I cried myself to sleep,books, food it all felt impossible, But I kept going
I remembered the pain, the sacrifices, the moments I thought I wouldn't survive, and I used them as fuel.
Sometimes, I ask myself why I'm still in school. The weight of it all mental, emotional, financial
it crushes menBut I keep going, I cry, I pray, I doubt, I hope.
I come from a family that doesn't have much ( we aren't poor nor rich), but we survive,We hold on,We believe, even when it's hard to.
I question God sometimes i wonder if He hears me,But then I look back at everything, and I see His fingerprints all over my story,His faithfulness keeps showing up, even in the darkest places.
And so I keep walking. Bruised, tired, but not broken.
Chapter 2:
Quiet Battles
There's a kind of silence that screams
It doesn't shout or call attention to itself, but it settles deep in your chest and echoes through every part of your life that was the silence I carried with me into my teenage years.
By then, I had learned to smile through pain, to nod when I wanted to scream, and to act strong when all I wanted was for someone to ask if I was okay.
I became the master of pretending of wearing masks so well even I started to forget what was underneath.
There were days when the weight of everything felt too much I would stare at the ceiling in the dark, asking questions I didn't expect answers to. Was there a reason life kept trying to break me? Why me?
In school, I blended in not because I didn't have a voice, but because I was scared to let it out i kept my stories buried beneath books and assignment trying to survive each day.
No one knew the version of me that went home to no food,No one saw the side of me that cried quietly in the room, I looked okay on the outside, but inside I was carrying storms.
I kept praying, even when it felt like no one was listening sometimes my faith was the only thing holding me together, and even that felt like it was slipping I watched people around me would say they are living without struggle, and I wondered are they really people who live with struggles or problems my answer is "No".
But something kept me going maybe it was hope Maybe it was pride, Maybe it was the refusal to let everything I had already endured go to waste Whatever it was, it kept me putting one foot in front of the other.
Not many people knew how close I came to giving up how close I came to disappearing into the background completely, But every time I felt like letting go, something small a smile, a word, a moment would pull me back.
Quiet battles are the hardest to fight but they also teach you the most about yourself,and as broken as I sometimes felt, I was still here, Still standing,Still fighting.
Chapter 3:
The Weight of Dreams
Dreams are strange things,they push us forward,but they also weigh us down.
They hang over us like a heavy cloud, something to strive for but never quite reach, It's easy to think that dreams will come true effortlessly, but the truth is, most dreams are built on struggle, sacrifice, and the fear of failure.
I had a dream one that felt too big for me, too far out of reach. I wanted to break the cycle, I wanted to be someone different from the person life had already told me I was going to be. But every time I took a step forward, something or someone would pull me two steps back.
I tried so hard to make something of myself.
I worked multiple jobs, juggled school, and still managed to find myself at rock bottom more times than I care to admit , I kept trying to hold on to hope, but hope has a way of fading when you've been beaten down for too long.
At school, I was often the one who sat in the back, the one who didn't raise their hand unless they were forced I didn't want to be noticed, didn't want to stand out,I feared the judgment, the rejection. But deep down, I knew I had something to offer. I knew there was more to me than what I showed the world.
It wasn't just about surviving anymore it was about finding a way to thrive. To do something that mattered, to create a future that didn't feel like an endless fight , But that meant letting go of the fear that had been instilled in me since I was young. Fear of failure, Fear of judgment, Fear of being nothing.
The pressure was suffocating everyone around me seemed to have it all together except for me. They had plans, they had families who supported them, they had a future waiting for them I felt like I was chasing something I couldn't quite touch.
But somewhere deep inside me, there was a quiet voice that refused to give up.
It reminded me that I was more than my circumstances. That even though everything around me was falling apart, I was still moving forward , Slowly, but I was moving.
I learned that dreams aren't handed to you on a silver platter,they're earned,and in the process, you'll lose pieces of yourself,you'll face things that break you.
But if you keep going, you just might find that you're stronger than you ever knew.
The weight of my dreams was heavy, but the strength to carry them grew with every struggle. And with that strength, I started to see a glimpse of a future that was mine to create.
Chapter 4:
Still Hoping
I am still a teen, still caught in the in-between space the place where I'm not quite a child anymore, but nowhere near being an adult either. It's the time when dreams feel both close and impossibly far, when I have just enough experience to know how hard life can be, but not enough to know how to make it better.
There are days when I feel like I'm walking on a tightrope, balancing between the weight of all I have endured and the hope that somehow, someday, things will get better.
I don't have a concrete plan for my future, just a vague sense that I can't stay stuck. That I can't let the struggles define me.
I am still hoping, hoping that one day things will change. Hoping that my sacrifices will somehow add up to something worth it, But hope doesn't come easily when I feel like I'm stuck in a loop, when every step forward is met with two steps back.
I want so badly to be seen, To be heard,To know that I'm not invisible,But I am still the quiet one in the back of the room. The one who smiles but never really lets anyone in,It feels like no matter how hard I try, I'm always just a little too far away from where I need to be.
The pressure is relentless, the weight of expectations, both from the outside world and from myself, is starting to crush me.
I am expected to succeed, to rise above, to make something of myself.
But I am still learning how to stand, still trying to figure out how to move forward when everything around me feels like it's falling apart.
There are nights I cry myself to sleep, not just from exhaustion, but from the weight of all the uncertainty, Not knowing where I am headed, or if I'll ever get there,Not knowing if I'm strong enough to carry the weight of my dreams any longer.
Sometimes the weight of the world on my Shoulders feels unbearable
There are moments when it all feels like too much,The loneliness creeps in, reminding me of how much I have carried alone.
The doubts grow louder, questioning if I'm really capable of overcoming the mountains ahead of me. and yet, in the darkest moments, when I feel like giving up, I push forward. I've learned that when everything feels like it's falling apart, that's when you have to hold on the tightest.
But despite the doubts, despite the tears, despite the times I feel like giving up, I keep going. I hold on to that thread of hope, because sometimes, that's all I have.
And even though the road is long, and I am still so far from where I want to be, I know that I can't stop hoping.
I'm not there yet,But I am still moving forward, one hesitant step at a time.
Each step, no matter how small, feels like a victory because it's one more step away from where I started, one more step toward the future I'm still fighting for.
Chapter 5:
Unseen Strength
There are times when I feel invisible, Not in the way people might assume—like being in a crowd and blending into the background—but invisible in the sense that no one truly sees what I'm going through.
No one knows the weight I carry,No one understands how exhausting it is to keep going when every step feels like a battle.
I have learned to push through it, though
The days when I feel like breaking, I push myself even harder,I don't let anyone see the cracks in my armor. I smile, I laugh, I act like everything is fine. It's easier that way—easier than letting people know how much it hurts to keep fighting.
But there's a strength in being unseen, It's a strength that comes from having to rely on yourself when no one else is looking,It's a strength that grows when you've been knocked down so many times and still get back up.
It's the kind of strength that doesn't need validation from others, because it comes from within.
In some ways, being unseen has made me stronger. I've had to become my own support system, my own motivator.
I can't rely on anyone else to lift me up, so I've had to learn how to lift myself. There are moments when I feel like I'm carrying the world on my shoulders, but I've learned to carry it anyway
I've learned to keep walking, even when the road is unclear and the end is nowhere in sight.
Sometimes, I question whether anyone will ever truly see me.
Whether anyone will ever understand the struggles I've faced. But then I remember that I'm not doing this for anyone else I'm doing this for me, I'm fighting for my own future, my own peace of mind, my own sense of worth, and that, in itself, is enough.
I may be unseen, but I am strong, And that strength is all I need to keep moving forward.
Chapter 6:
The Loneliness of It All
Loneliness is a strange thing,It doesn't always mean being physically alone. Sometimes, it's the feeling of being disconnected from everyone around you, even when you're surrounded by people. It's the aching sense that no one truly understands you, that you're fighting a battle no one else can see.
There are times when I feel like I'm invisible,Like I'm just going through the motions of life, showing up to school, showing up at home, but never really participating in anything,It's as if I'm in the background of my own life, watching it unfold but not really living it.
The loneliness is suffocating, yet it's something I've grown used to. I've learned to mask it, to push it down, to pretend like everything is okay. But it's there, lurking in the corners of my mind, reminding me of how much I carry alone.
It's hard to talk about loneliness, especially when no one seems to notice.
People tell you to "snap out of it" or "just think positive," but they don't understand how deeply it cuts. They don't see the internal battle, the mental exhaustion that comes from constantly pretending to be okay.
I find myself wanting to be vulnerable, to let someone in, but the fear of rejection always holds me back. What if I share too much and it pushes people away? What if they don't understand? What if they see me as weak?
It's easier to stay silent, easier to hold everything in, even though it feels like it's slowly suffocating me from the inside.
Sometimes I wonder if anyone would care if I opened up, if anyone would even listen. But then I remind myself that I can't wait for others to validate my feelings,I have to find a way to validate them for myself.
The loneliness makes me question myself,my worth, my purpose. It convinces me that I'm not enough, that I'm not worthy of connection.
But I know deep down that the loneliness doesn't define me. It's just a part of the journey I'm on. It doesn't mean I'm weak, it doesn't mean I'm lost, It just means I'm human.
In those quiet moments when I'm alone with my thoughts, I realize that the loneliness is a challenge I have to face head-on. I have to learn to be okay with it, to accept that it's part of my story. Because, at the end of the day, it's not the loneliness that will define me, It's what I do with it.
It's the strength I find in the face of it. And, above all, it's the hope that someday, I'll find a way out of it.
I may be lonely, but I am not lost,And someday, I'll find my way home.
Chapter 7:
Breaking the Cycle
For as long as I can remember, there's been a cycle in my life—a pattern of struggles, of setbacks, of moments where it felt like I was trapped, unable to break free.
It's like being stuck in a loop, where every time I try to move forward, something pulls me back into the same familiar place of pain and disappointment It's exhausting, and sometimes it feels like I'll never escape it.
But there's something about that cycle that's made me determined to break free.
There's something about constantly being knocked down that gives you a fire, a hunger, to rise again. It's that fire that's kept me going, even on the darkest days when it felt like there was no way out.
I've tried to make changes before, tried to break the cycle, but each time it seemed like the same obstacles kept getting in the way I wondered if I was even capable of changing, or if this was just the path I was destined to walk. But the more I faced the same challenges, the more I realized that the power to change was within me.
Breaking the cycle isn't easy, It takes courage to confront the things that hold you back, to face the fears and doubts that have been ingrained in you for years.
It's about stepping outside your comfort zone and daring to believe that you deserve something better, that you can create a future that's different from the one you've always known.
There are days when I feel like I'm not making any progress. Like I'm stuck in the same place, treading water, going through the motions without any real change. Those are the days when I question myself the most. But even on those days, I remind myself that change isn't always immediate. It's a process, a journey, and sometimes the progress is invisible.
I've had to learn that breaking the cycle isn't about perfection,it's about persistence,it's about refusing to let the setbacks define me, It's about understanding that there will be failures along the way, but those failures don't have to be the end.They can be the stepping stones to something greater.
There are moments when I want to give up, when the weight of everything is too much to bear. But I keep pushing forward,I refuse to let the cycle have the last word. Because no matter how many times I fall, no matter how many times I feel like I've failed, I know I can get back up. I know that I have the strength to keep fighting.
Breaking the cycle is my battle,it's a battle that no one else can fight for me. But I'm learning that, with every step I take, I am moving closer to the freedom I've been seeking. And one day, I'll look back and realize that the cycle I thought I could never escape was the very thing that pushed me to become who I am meant to be.
Chapter 8:
Growing in the Dark
Growth isn't always loud. Sometimes, it happens in the quiet moments—the late nights when I'm lying awake with my thoughts, the mornings when I force myself to get up despite the weight in my chest.
Growth can look like survival, like simply making it through another day when everything in me wants to give up.
I used to think growth meant winning, succeeding, being praised. But now I know it's more about who I'm becoming in the dark. It's about how I'm learning to keep going even when no one is watching. Even when there's no applause. Even when it hurts.
I've grown in silence, in pain, in moments of solitude. I've learned things about myself I wouldn't have known if life had been easy. I've learned that I'm stronger than I thought, that I can carry more than I ever imagined. I've learned how to sit with my feelings instead of running from them, how to face the things I once tried to hide from.
This kind of growth doesn't come with a spotlight. It comes with tears. It comes with deep breaths and whispered prayers. It comes with falling apart and slowly putting myself back together again. And while it doesn't always feel like progress, I know it is.
I still make mistakes. I still fall back sometimes. But I'm learning to be patient with myself. I'm learning that growth isn't about being perfect. It's about being real. And right now, I'm as real as I've ever been.
I'm learning to love myself through the process. Even when I'm not where I want to be, even when I feel stuck or broken. I'm learning to appreciate the strength it takes just to keep trying. And that strength—that quiet, unseen strength—is proof that I'm growing, even in the dark.
I may not have it all figured out. I may still be searching. But I'm not who I used to be. And that's enough for now.
Because sometimes, the most powerful growth happens when no one sees it. In the dark, I'm finding light in myself.
Chapter 9:
Faith on Empty
There are days when my faith feels like it's running on empty—like I'm running a marathon with no finish line in sight, holding on to a belief I can't always feel. I've questioned God more times than I can count. Not because I don't believe, but because sometimes it's hard to believe when nothing around me makes sense.
I've prayed in silence, cried when no one was around, begged for answers that never came in the way I expected. I've shouted in my heart, wondering if I was being heard.
And yet, somehow, I still believe. Maybe not always loudly. Maybe not always confidently. But I believe. Even when it's hard.
It's strange how faith can live in the same heart as doubt. Some days I wake up feeling hopeful, like everything I've gone through has a purpose. Other days I feel like I'm grasping at something that isn't really there. But even on those days, I keep talking to God. Even if it's just a whisper. Even if it's just a thought. Even if it's just a sigh.
People often talk about faith like it's this shining, unbreakable thing. But for me, faith has been messy. It's been full of questions, full of pauses, full of moments where I've had to force myself to believe in things I couldn't see. It's been about showing up even when I don't feel it, trusting even when everything around me tells me not to.
I've learned that real faith isn't about never doubting. It's about choosing to believe anyway. It's about holding on when there's nothing left to hold on to but a whisper of hope. It's about remembering that even when I feel empty, God is still working.
I'm still learning what faith really means. I'm still figuring out how to trust in the middle of chaos, how to believe in the promise when I'm still stuck in the waiting. But I'm trying. And sometimes, trying is enough.
My faith may not be perfect, but it's real. It's raw. And in the end, I think that's what makes it strong.
Even when I feel like I have nothing left to give, I find myself whispering, "God, I'm still here." And maybe, just maybe, that's enough.
Chapter 10:
The Weight of Expectations
Growing up, expectations were everywhere—some spoken, some silent, but all of them heavy. There were things people assumed I should do, should be, should become. And then there were my own expectations, shaped by dreams and desperation, by hope and survival. It's a lot to carry, especially when you're still trying to figure yourself out.
Sometimes I feel like I'm living two lives: the one people expect me to live, and the one I actually want. And those two lives don't always match. I've been told to be strong, to never give up, to rise above. But no one talks about how exhausting that can be. No one talks about how much it hurts when you feel like you're failing the version of yourself everyone expects you to be.
I want to succeed, not just for me, but for everyone who's ever believed in me,For my family who's sacrificed so much, for the people who've helped me along the way, for the silent prayers I know have been said on my behalf. But that pressure it builds,It starts to feel like I can't make mistakes, like I have to be perfect, like there's no room for me to just be human.
There are moments I want to scream, to tell the world I'm doing my best, even if it doesn't look like it on the outside. That just because I'm not where they think I should be doesn't mean I'm not growing. That just because I fall doesn't mean I've failed.
I'm still learning how to carry the weight of these expectations without letting them crush me
Learning how to separate my worth from my achievements,Learning that it's okay to not have it all figured out yet. That it's okay to say "I'm tired" or "I need help."
Expectations can either build us or break us. And right now, I'm learning how to let them build me—not into someone else's idea of success, but into the most honest version of me. The one who's still standing despite it all. The one who's still trying. The one who knows that her journey might not look like anyone else's, but that doesn't make it any less real.
I'm not perfect. I don't have all the answers. But I'm here, showing up every day, doing my best to grow, to heal, and to live a life that's true to who I am—not just who the world wants me to be.
Chapter 11: The Unseen Battles
There are battles I fight every day that no one sees, they don't leave bruises or scars that people can point to.
They live inside me—in my thoughts, in my emotions, in the quiet spaces of my soul, and the hardest part? Most of the time, I'm fighting them alone.
Some mornings I wake up with a heaviness I can't explain,I go through my routine like everything's fine, wearing a smile, nodding, responding.
But inside, it feels like I'm carrying a mountain on my back,The weight of overthinking, of fear, of not knowing what the future holds.
People see the outside. They see the student, the friend, the teen who seems to have it together. But they don't see the anxiety, the stress, the way I sometimes sit and stare at nothing, trying to calm the storm in my head. They don't see how hard it is just to keep showing up.
Sometimes I wonder if others are fighting battles too. And maybe that's why we should all be kinder, softer with our words, more patient with each other. You never really know what someone is going through. You never know what it took for them to get out of bed that morning.
I've learned that unseen battles can be just as painful—if not more—than the visible ones. Because when people don't see them, they assume you're fine. They don't ask, they don't check in, they don't understand why you suddenly go quiet or why you cancel plans last minute.
But I'm learning how to give myself grace. To honor the fact that I'm still standing, still trying, even when it's hard. I'm learning to be proud of the little victories—getting out of bed, asking for help, taking a deep breath when the panic creeps in.
These battles may be unseen, but they are real.
And surviving them takes strength most people will never understand,So I celebrate myself quietly, I remind myself that I am not weak for struggling. I am not a failure because I have hard days.
I am human, I am growing,I am healing.
And every day I keep fighting—quietly, courageously, and with all the strength I can find.