A friend of mine came to me asking for 200naira and some Garri. Being the Good Nigerian that I had always been known for, I gladly gave him the money telling him that I'd get it back in two days li...ke he promised. After he left, it struck me that this same boy went on a picnic just the week before with some friends to Obudu Cattle Ranch in Calabar. A trip which saw him spending about 20000naira. Now looking at this boy who is the typical personification of the saying that goes 'Penny wise, pound foolish'. I thought about the reason why students go or remain broke, asked a few questions like I always do and below are some of the reasons I came up with.
KEEPING THAT 'OVERMATERIAL' GIRLFRIEND: Some ladies reading this would be like 'This guy and attacking girls though' but I don't intend to twist or hide the truth because it had to be said. This remains the number one reason why a lot of young male students remain broke just because they intend to date or keep that hot chick on Campus. A good chunk of the little allowance they get from their parents goes into making the supposed girlfriend look 'uberbeautiful' and classy and this is manifested in the Peruvian, Brazilian, Indian hair which she rocks, the channel bags, Mary-Kays and those designer wears all at the expense of this boy who has nothing left after making all these expenses. The more she gets from requesting, the more she requests(Trust girls na) and the more broke you remain.
LIVING ABOVE THE MEANS: Just to be perceived as a 'Bigz boy' or a 'bigz galz', some students prefers to live in areas usually inhabited by those who earn a salary. These students would end up spending money that was meant for their upkeep on transport, water, light bills and other miscellaneous'. There is also this issue of appearing 'Flashy'. Most girls are guilty of this one as they spend every penny on clothes,'Braz', Louboutins just to seem classy. A good number of male students appear 'on point' yet they have virtually nothing in their pockets as every penny is spent on that wear that is in vogue.
THE FRAT or KUSH THING: Some would argue that this has got nothing to do with this topic but having observed and gotten to know some things about these 'Brotherhoods' leaves me in a position to state that it is one of the reasons why some students remain broke. This might not be applicable to all of them but a few Frat or Kush as some people call it have those 'codes' which entails that the members spend some certain amount of monies on some occasions where the 'eves' come by and there is booze and stuffs. There is also this donation issue that could be weekly or monthly as the case may be. The dress code thing makes a lot of members spend the little they have on clothes, shoes and fashion accessories. Believe me, once you are a member, you must not 'Fall hand', so you must represent atleast for the gals, hype and packaging like a friend would say.
FRIENDS & LAVISH LIFESTYLE: My friend has this so I must buy it, my friend does this so I must do it, my friend goes here so I must go here. This particular one I attribute to either 'social madness', low self esteem or yearning for acceptance. A lot of students compare themselves with their friends not minding how much this friend of theirs gets as allowance. Just to look 'fresh', smell good and appear sophisticated like their friends, they sacrifice the little amount they get and go knocking from room to room at 1am in the morning in search of Garri to drink or kerosene to borrow. LOL. One story was told about a boy who travels to neighbouring states for parties, sprays cash on 'Night models' and does that 'drinks on me' thing just to impress his friends and feel among but would borrow everything he needs to stay alive the moment he gets back to school.
Why spend your parent's hard-earned money on things that are not worth it just to get attention and then suffer the consequences. Cut your coat according to your size, keep calm until you graduate. *winks*
Twitter: @victorikeji
Wednesday, July 17, 2013
Wednesday, June 26, 2013
STRUGGLING & SHINNING
I had this very bad dream and woke up suddenly with 'blood of jesus' on my lips. I entered the toilet, had a pee then checked my watch, it was 3:30am. The thought of going back to sleep and continuing that bad dream fr...om where I stopped scared me. I thought of what to do to stay awake and my muse suggested -'Struggling and Shinning'.
My writings had always been from observations, questions, imaginations etc and so if I struck where it affects you, just have in mind that I have no intention of doing that, I was just writing 'as was lead by the spirit'.
Often times I look at the faces of fellow classmates, friends and acquaintances. The happiness or joy he/she exudes amidst 'academic adversity' would make someone who knows nothing about this particular person think that they are either among the Top 5 in their class or would be delivering the valedictory speech during convocation. This student in question is either battling to stay above a 1.5 GPA or have a litany of F's which s/he needs to 'cancel' in other to 'leave with his/her set'. This particular student would discuss football, fashion or even history with ease, could be at the forefront of affairs in the department or could even be that person who talks to his classmates about how to pass exams or the benefits of a dedicated study time. He is optimistic about life and is gathering every information and life lessons he needs to be a politician.
A good number of boys have either a girlfriend or two whom they take very good care of more than they do themselves. He buys her lunch in major eateries around school for about 4 days in a week while the smart girl saves her money for handbags, wedge and 'peep toes'. The same boy goes back to his hostel or house to continue drinking his garri with or without milk and groundnut. He is the go-to guy when the girl need to make her hair and would gladly ask 'How much would that cost?' while he doesn't take the same route back to his hostel so the Barber whom he owes 200naira would not see and ask him for the money. He provides the girl with everything she needs amidst struggling to pay his bills only to get inside her pants and in some cases he succeeds.
If you are asked to point out one of the richest chick in your class, this particular girl comes to your mind. She dresses in any attire that is in vogue, uses the best phones and gadgets and could be identified with every designer from Gucci, Louis Vuitton, Tiffany amber to Louboutin, Channel and Zara. All these she is able to achieve from working hard during weekends and sometimes weekdays whereby she had to lie on her back and have older, matured and elderly men dance azonto, etigi and alingo on top of her. Refer to my previous write-up 'The University Runz gal' HERE. She had to do it to 'stay' in school because she is from a family of say 5 and the parents are starving to see that she stays in school. She has STD's, Abortions etc to battle with just to make sure she gets a university degree.
The above mentioned cases and individuals have something in common: Though they have personal problems which others cannot or may not see, they have something they want to achieve at the end of the day. This might be a wrong way of going about a motivational but the idea is this: I present you with ugly situations cum happenings and hope that you learn from them. So whatever situation you find yourself or put yourself in today is dependent on the choices you made. Whatever choice(s) you have made, have a goal and work towards achieving it.
Twitter: @victorikeji
My writings had always been from observations, questions, imaginations etc and so if I struck where it affects you, just have in mind that I have no intention of doing that, I was just writing 'as was lead by the spirit'.
Often times I look at the faces of fellow classmates, friends and acquaintances. The happiness or joy he/she exudes amidst 'academic adversity' would make someone who knows nothing about this particular person think that they are either among the Top 5 in their class or would be delivering the valedictory speech during convocation. This student in question is either battling to stay above a 1.5 GPA or have a litany of F's which s/he needs to 'cancel' in other to 'leave with his/her set'. This particular student would discuss football, fashion or even history with ease, could be at the forefront of affairs in the department or could even be that person who talks to his classmates about how to pass exams or the benefits of a dedicated study time. He is optimistic about life and is gathering every information and life lessons he needs to be a politician.
A good number of boys have either a girlfriend or two whom they take very good care of more than they do themselves. He buys her lunch in major eateries around school for about 4 days in a week while the smart girl saves her money for handbags, wedge and 'peep toes'. The same boy goes back to his hostel or house to continue drinking his garri with or without milk and groundnut. He is the go-to guy when the girl need to make her hair and would gladly ask 'How much would that cost?' while he doesn't take the same route back to his hostel so the Barber whom he owes 200naira would not see and ask him for the money. He provides the girl with everything she needs amidst struggling to pay his bills only to get inside her pants and in some cases he succeeds.
If you are asked to point out one of the richest chick in your class, this particular girl comes to your mind. She dresses in any attire that is in vogue, uses the best phones and gadgets and could be identified with every designer from Gucci, Louis Vuitton, Tiffany amber to Louboutin, Channel and Zara. All these she is able to achieve from working hard during weekends and sometimes weekdays whereby she had to lie on her back and have older, matured and elderly men dance azonto, etigi and alingo on top of her. Refer to my previous write-up 'The University Runz gal' HERE. She had to do it to 'stay' in school because she is from a family of say 5 and the parents are starving to see that she stays in school. She has STD's, Abortions etc to battle with just to make sure she gets a university degree.
The above mentioned cases and individuals have something in common: Though they have personal problems which others cannot or may not see, they have something they want to achieve at the end of the day. This might be a wrong way of going about a motivational but the idea is this: I present you with ugly situations cum happenings and hope that you learn from them. So whatever situation you find yourself or put yourself in today is dependent on the choices you made. Whatever choice(s) you have made, have a goal and work towards achieving it.
Twitter: @victorikeji
Monday, June 10, 2013
THE REASON I AM DIFFERENT FROM YOU
So, you really want to know why I am different from you. My reasons actually are not far-fetched but they are things you could relate with and I hope you learn a lesson or two from this. We are differen...t because:
You spend 5000naira to get a VIP treatment in a faculty dinner night and then go home struggling with a plate of garri without milk, I spent the same amount on transporting some of my wares to another state. I sat at the corner for regulars in that same dinner night.
You buy and wear animal prints, same colour belts and shoes to match and is concerned about the kinds and number of designer shirts and shoes in your closet. I buy stocks and shares, wear a single pair of shoes that is becoming lonely because it sits alone on my shoe rack. I am concerned about investments and returns.
You live in a 120k apartment, fitted with state of the art appliances just so the 'eves' could be entertained when they come around and then you are perceived as a 'big boy'. Your school apartment probably looks more sophisticated than your father's parlour. I lead an almost solitary life, manage a little room which most people jokingly refer to as a cubicle, have a book shelf with books that some of my friends see as too much and which I probably see as too little.
You spend time thinking about which club rocks the most, which neighbouring school to go 'chick hunting' and on arguments about who've had dated and 'blown' the hottest chicks in school. I spend time worrying about what new line of biz to venture into, which neighbouring school would need my wares and I argue about how and why some students remain broke.
I browse the internet for resources and stuffs such as 'virgin' businesses to tap into. I see social networks as the ultimate marketing tool which is why I want to be on every one of them. You browse the internet just for the fun of it, sometimes stumbling on some of my pages and getting me paid. You log into social networks just to find the girl with the single status, then spend time on long unimportant chats that add nothing to your life.
As a student, the number of times you find me in the bank, I am making deposits with little withdrawals at intervals. I am what some refer to as a silent achiever, nobody knows my worth because I don't talk much. You on the other hand makes withdrawals on 92% visit to the banks and hardly makes a deposit even as a student. You look flashy and sophisticated, people think you've got plenty money but you and I know you've got nothing.
Now what makes me different from you? I see opportunities lying everywhere, believes in doubling every cash that comes into my hand though some see me as stingy but if that would mean not living a lavish life, I am Ok with it. At the end of the day, I've accumulated enough wealth as a young man and would keep showing my '32' as I grow older.
You on the other hand have replaced saving with spending on your dictionary, waste lots of money just to impress friends who would run away when your pocket dries. At the end of the day, you remain broke because the only savings you'd have is the deposits which you made in the accounts of girls whom doesn't even care if you exist any longer.
PS: This write-up is more like an advise to every young man out there. The message is simple: UNDERSTAND YOUR MOTIVES AND REASSESS YOUR AIMS.
Twitter: @victorikeji
You spend 5000naira to get a VIP treatment in a faculty dinner night and then go home struggling with a plate of garri without milk, I spent the same amount on transporting some of my wares to another state. I sat at the corner for regulars in that same dinner night.
You buy and wear animal prints, same colour belts and shoes to match and is concerned about the kinds and number of designer shirts and shoes in your closet. I buy stocks and shares, wear a single pair of shoes that is becoming lonely because it sits alone on my shoe rack. I am concerned about investments and returns.
You live in a 120k apartment, fitted with state of the art appliances just so the 'eves' could be entertained when they come around and then you are perceived as a 'big boy'. Your school apartment probably looks more sophisticated than your father's parlour. I lead an almost solitary life, manage a little room which most people jokingly refer to as a cubicle, have a book shelf with books that some of my friends see as too much and which I probably see as too little.
You spend time thinking about which club rocks the most, which neighbouring school to go 'chick hunting' and on arguments about who've had dated and 'blown' the hottest chicks in school. I spend time worrying about what new line of biz to venture into, which neighbouring school would need my wares and I argue about how and why some students remain broke.
I browse the internet for resources and stuffs such as 'virgin' businesses to tap into. I see social networks as the ultimate marketing tool which is why I want to be on every one of them. You browse the internet just for the fun of it, sometimes stumbling on some of my pages and getting me paid. You log into social networks just to find the girl with the single status, then spend time on long unimportant chats that add nothing to your life.
As a student, the number of times you find me in the bank, I am making deposits with little withdrawals at intervals. I am what some refer to as a silent achiever, nobody knows my worth because I don't talk much. You on the other hand makes withdrawals on 92% visit to the banks and hardly makes a deposit even as a student. You look flashy and sophisticated, people think you've got plenty money but you and I know you've got nothing.
Now what makes me different from you? I see opportunities lying everywhere, believes in doubling every cash that comes into my hand though some see me as stingy but if that would mean not living a lavish life, I am Ok with it. At the end of the day, I've accumulated enough wealth as a young man and would keep showing my '32' as I grow older.
You on the other hand have replaced saving with spending on your dictionary, waste lots of money just to impress friends who would run away when your pocket dries. At the end of the day, you remain broke because the only savings you'd have is the deposits which you made in the accounts of girls whom doesn't even care if you exist any longer.
PS: This write-up is more like an advise to every young man out there. The message is simple: UNDERSTAND YOUR MOTIVES AND REASSESS YOUR AIMS.
Twitter: @victorikeji
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