I FOUND MYSELF

As a little girl, I used to think something was wrong with me. Even though I grew up in the same home with my siblings, I was totally different: appetite, size, character. I was petite while all my siblings were chubby; I did not start school at the age my siblings started, they started at a younger age than I did. I never liked to eat but my siblings 'consumed' everything placed before them. Regardless of my very cute stature, I was a very responsible child. I loved to do house chores. I loved to worked in the house while my siblings watched TV. I was very domestic.

As I started growing, I realized there were things I liked to do. As a child, I handled a business for an uncle and it yielded profits. I was very prudent. I never spent all my money, rather, I saved while my siblings borrowed from me to never return. I was very polite, decent, neat and I never knew how to lie. I was the 'white sheep' which caused me trouble at times. I was very real, blunt and down to earth. Oh, how my father loved me passionately, I was his favorite.

Even though I didn't start school at the age my siblings started, I was able to overtake my contemporaries and graduated early from college. Good news right! But I still had to wait for the next academic level.

However, one of the lessons I've learned in life is, life is not a competition. As I waited, I compared myself and people compared me with my mates, so I lived in delusion and in confusion of who I really am. Here comes a question I could ask no one: who am I? I saw different potentials and abilities in me, some were obvious but some were not.

But guess what! If I'd not waited, I would have gone ahead (seemingly) but remained on a spot. My waiting period eventually led me to a company of people that helped me discover who I really am. Everything I used to do as a child started finding expression and those potentials started getting molded. I found the real me, I located my passion and I am channeling it appropriately.

I really wanted to know what I wanted to do but I never got close until I took steps. Being afraid did not help; talking to people helped a little but didn't solve it. I had to look within me, get real with myself and ask some questions: what are the things that give you joy?

I realized that the more I discovered what I could do, the more confused I became. The more afraid I was to take steps, the wider the gap between "my joy" and I. So I had to take courage, ignore what people would say, deny myself of my comfort and take some bold steps toward my passion.

There had always been a part of me that love kids but I was never exposed to relating with them, however, I like staying around them. I miss them more (I hardly miss adults) and I love to help them through their growth process by instilling appropriate values. I love to sing and music is both a ministry and a tool for me. I love nature, it's my best form of relaxation. I am a deep thinker and this is one great asset I have and use well because it helps me to see ahead. Spending time with myself is one of my best moments. I like to arrange things, therefore I like creating order (in business, personal life, at work ). Because of my love for orderliness, I am passionate about helping people create organisational structure and policies.

I am a 'multi-faceted' individual; although this was at first very confusing but now I could see how they all synchronize.

I AM OLUWABUKOLA, I believe in using what I already have (talents, skills, experience, relationships...) to positively influence those around me.

I am glad I found me and I love who I am becoming daily.