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YOU CAN CATCH UP WITH THE TRAIN

 


I walked to dad after my graduation ceremony. I couldn't let my joy of finishing High School consume my dream of becoming the youngest Aeronautic Engineer. This has always been my dream. 

What really ignite my dream was the mystery behind the movement  of heavy metals in the air when I was young.

I really wanted to unravel this mystery.

It has always been my dream ever since my old man coloured my ever yearning idea of becoming an aeronautic engineer.

He had told me that I could travel to any part of the world, meet with people of diverse races as an aeronautic engineer.

"Dad! My graduation party is over and you promised me that if I should make good grades in my high school, you were going to secure admission into the university of my choice to study aeronautic engineering."  Dad... What next? I asked inquisitively.

My dad, a kind hearted man who always wanted me to have a go at what ever that will make me happy, smiled and said,

 "Son. You know I will always help you catch up with your train. I have done everything to make sure by next few months, you will be in the university to pursue your dreams."

With this words and the smiling face to intensify my dad's seriousness, a new life sprang up inside me. 

I couldn't hold my joy with the assurance my dad gave me.

By the turn of the year, I was already some days away from my  15th birthday, how time flies,I wondered.

My dad walked in to my room handed me an envelope and asked me to go ahead and open.

Guess what? It was admission letter to study the very course I have been dreaming about, AERONAUTIC ENGINEERING.

 "Yes! I made it."  i rushed at my dad and gave him a warm embrace.

My dad too was overwhelmed with joy that he gave me a smile I have never seen before. 

My 15th birthday in a few days was overshadowed by the envelope my dad handed me.

Lying down on my bed, i ponder on how lucky I was to have things worked out the way I have ever wanted.

The following year i was an undergraduate pursuing the very dream that I have always had.

***********

On a Thursday morning, immediately I received the information that our final semester results for year 3 was uploaded online, I ran out of the noisy class to go check it out for myself at the school café.

Just then at the café, my phone rang and guess who? My mom.

"Hello mom!... I picked up the phone with a smiling face to break the news that my results was excellent. 

With an inaudible voice, I could tell that mom wasn't her usual self.

 David!... She continued before I could break the news, "Your dad is..... your dad was admitted this morning at the hospital."  Hanged the phone. 

At the café, I stood like a ghost, I didn't know where to start, I had to quickly rushed home to find out what was wrong with my dad. The only person that has always helped me catch the train.

On getting home, I saw my mom soaked in tears.

My mom on the sight of me, wept the more and in her wet eyes, told me that my dad has passed on from car accident he had that morning.

In disbelief, I couldn't hold myself. Every thought ran down my mind. Everything happened so fast before I could tell.

My dreams was scattered and I was certainly missing the train.

I became so depressed after the death of my dad and it took a toll on my academic performance.

I wasn't the usual A grades student anymore and the following semester I had to rewrite more than five courses due to failure. The failure i have always been afraid of. 

In my final year, my academic performance came to a purse and I became a school dropout.

A year after, my classmates were all graduates while I struggle for survival.

I started life afresh, this time with determination not to allow the ups and downs of life weigh me down anymore. 

With my savings, I managed to see myself through school pursuing the same dream that I nearly gave up on dreaming.

9 years on, with the help of my mom, I was a graduate but at an older age.

An older graduate who life has taught so many things. A graduate with desire to catch up with the train and this time with  little or no help.

You too can catch up with your train.

Don't rush and don't compare your life to others. 

Life has it own way

✍️ Patrick Ekong

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