We had a lot of things to talk about, we did our things the way we felt it right, no one ever thought of the future. Mama was available to do everything for us and our confidence was more on what mama and papa could do for us.

In my little village right here in the coast of Africa, going to school was a burden that we felt would be wiped off one day. Each day we woke up to go to school on week day was always sad moments. I preferred to be at home and play or even go to farm and work on the farm than go to school.When we saw those that have to school and become big in life, we liked them and envied them but never wanted to go through all they went through.

Each of the school day, mama would force me to school. She would use every means to make sure I did not miss school one day. Every of my resistance to avoid school was fruitless. She would use cane on me dragged me and made sure that I got to school. I was known in the neighborhood as a child who never wanted school. The first time I came home with my result, nobody believed that it was mine. I was 8th in the class of 34.

With my first result, I started getting more attention from my teacher. My second result, which was a promotion result: I came 5th in the same class.With these results others in the neighborhood started believing in me. I did not change my attitude of refusing to go to school.

Things took a big turn when I got to primary three. At this stage I was already a prize winner in the school for my academic performance. Just like the old time, I refused to go to school and mama did the usual by forcing to go. When I got to the gate of the school, crying, being dragged by mama with tears on my face mucous running down the nose. I looked up and saw others matching into there classrooms. Those that I was older than, those older than me, my classmates, those in higher classes and those in lower classes. I felt ashamed of myself. I went down on my knees and beg my mum to go back that I would never do it again.

On this faithful day I felt what I never felt before. I saw myself as been matured, someone others look on to. As at then I already had admirers. I was already a leader at my own level and I did not want to let others down. That is maturity.

Learn more about this author, Idumu Aderemi.
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