From the desk of the Latest Medical Laboratory Scientist

 By the time you’re reading this, it’ll be over a month since the event.

The 6-year journey has finally come to an end. The first emotion I experienced was relief. I felt like I’ve been a student all my life. Well, I’m still a student in the school of life. I also felt like the investments of time, money, study, tears, and sacrifice had finally paid off. However, this is not where the story ends. I believe I’m still in transit and I just have a layover before I continue on this journey.

I got to know about my induction/oath-taking ceremony on the 16^th of January 2024. It wasn’t meant to come as a surprise, but I didn’t think it would be that soon. So, I had approximately two weeks to prepare for my own ceremony. I was in a frenzy. I had to decide on what to wear, pictures, if and where I was going to have a reception and how it was going to be. I hadn’t even submitted the hard bind of my undergraduate project work. There was a lot to do and prepare. First, I had to inform my family and friends (which I didn’t manage as well as I should have). Then create a list of everything I needed with its estimated cost.

What kind of look was I going for? I had previously created a board on Pinterest for my look but I wasn’t even done selecting the pins. So, my dears, I was in fret mode.

Canopies for reception is a usual thing for such occasions but I knew I wanted to celebrate with people that knew me and understood my journey. So, I decided to do something small at Roots Restaurant and Café. But here’s the twist. My sisters were coming from Awka so I already had a number I was working with.

      

Back story.

I was born and brought up in Lagos, Nigeria but concluded my tertiary education in the Southeastern part of Nigeria (University of Nigeria, and Federal Polytechnic Nekede to be precise). My parents currently live at Ogun state so I wasn’t expecting any of them. Only for me to turn back in my kitchen and see my very own mother (in the flesh!). I screamed. I didn’t see it coming. Everyone knew except me.

Now you see the twist here.

This is not the end of the gist o.

I’m not excellent with strategies and planning but I know someone who is (Imma!). So, she gave me the idea of adding deadlines to the list I made previously. That helped a lot. As the days went by, my plans were coming together (Special shout-out to Enugu Vendors that deliver efficiently. God bless the work of your hands). My dress was made by Kemz Koncept , hair by Marima’s hair, makeup by glammed by esie, shoes by JayGlobal, and photography by Nemz studio (and my gees). How can I forget chef zeeny’s small chops that my sweet sister got me?

Everything didn’t go exactly as planned. There were some delays, and the bolt driver that took us to the mini reception venue had very terrible customer care (he even started calling my mother names at some point) but I was too happy to care.

One thing you should know about occasions is that you’re dealing with human beings. Things may not go exactly as planned but don’t let these things steal your joy. Like me, bear these in mind:

-the reason for the occasion

-the presence of those that matter to you

-gratitude to God for the blessing of celebration

-pictures and videos you’ll have as sweet memories

Don’t ever forget to live in the moment, dearssss!

There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens…

Ecclesiastes 3:1 NIV