Elias 4:23🩶

Here to inspire before I expire.

[Elias 4:23🩶 @es___jay]

Follow me for a quick follow back now.

[Elias 4:23🩶 @es___jay]

@Reya8q app name ?

[møønjerry.eth @m00njerry]

One of the time I cried like this was in 2016, and I still remember it vividly.

Back in secondary school, my class teacher, Mrs. Togbe, was also our English teacher. She was a very strict woman who believed deeply in education. She didn't tolerate laziness or excuses, and she always pushed us to aim higher.

One thing that made her liked me was my voice.

I was in SS2, around 14 years old, just hitting puberty, and my voice had become unusually deep. My name was first on the attendance register, so every morning, before I even answered "Present, Ma," she would imitate my deep voice. The whole class would burst into laughter.

It became our little routine.

Even when the class got noisy, I could never whisper without her knowing. My voice always gave me away.

During one holiday, she invited a few of us to school to help mark examination papers. After we finished, she sat us down and spoke to us about life.

She told us she believed in us and wanted every one of us to continue our education after secondary school. Then she said something that has stayed with me ever since.

She said, "If any of you ends up dropping out and becomes a commercial bike rider or a bus conductor, don't greet me when you see me."

We all laughed and confidently told her that would never happen.

Life had other plans.

In 2015, I lost my dad. My mum's business collapsed, and everything changed. By 2016 I was done with school, I had no choice but to work as a commercial motorcycle rider in Ibadan to survive.

One day, while waiting for passengers, I saw a woman walking toward me.

As she got closer, I recognized her.

Mrs. Togbe.

My heart sank.

I couldn't even lift my head.

She walked up to me and asked, "Bike man, are you going?"

I couldn't answer.

I just kept my head down, overwhelmed with shame.

After waiting a moment, she walked away and boarded another bike.

The moment she left, I went home, parked my bike, lay on my bed staring at the ceiling...

...and I broke down.

I cried harder than I had cried in a long time.

Not because I was ashamed of honest work.

But because I remembered that conversation years earlier, and I felt like I had become exactly what she never wanted for any of us.

Looking back today, I realize life is far more complicated than we imagine when we're young.

Sometimes, people don't choose the path they're on.

Sometimes, they're simply doing whatever it takes to survive.

That experience has stayed with me ever since, and even today, I still remember it like it happened yesterday.

[Elias 4:23🩶 @es___jay]

@onaswurld ask for aza too boss

[Notbothered @onaswurld]

Like and retweet the giveaway post

[Elias 4:23🩶 @es___jay]

Number 7 🐐

[Jetioluwa 💜 @Jetioluwa1]

Spend that money boy

[Elias 4:23🩶 @es___jay]

@Jetioluwa1

[Elias 4:23🩶 @es___jay]

well

[Nami₊˚⊹ ᰔ @psyuttik]

humans who keep tweeting with 0 likes fear nobody😭

[Elias 4:23🩶 @es___jay]

garri and epa ?

[dinner @bywxle]

oven baked flower and protein stones again this morning💔 when does this end lord 😞

[Elias 4:23🩶 @es___jay]

lord whatever Fireboy said in his prayers

[Elias 4:23🩶 @es___jay]

😭

[Dami @Doseofdamii]

@therealtunmise Come back in 17 months

[Elias 4:23🩶 @es___jay]

nah your birthday egbon 😂

[#WorldPresident 🌎 @Zlatan_Ibile]

Who dey do birthday why everybody put Baloon for mouth

[Elias 4:23🩶 @es___jay]

@lord_orukpe R4QPTA

[Elias 4:23🩶 @es___jay]

@lord_orukpe i do

[Elias 4:23🩶 @es___jay]

why you go get stretch marks for face ?

[Elias 4:23🩶 @es___jay]

@madeinbcn1 @aresotik please can you guide me through the one you think it’s best

[Elias 4:23🩶 @es___jay]

One day I will say a permanent goodbye to poverty

[GFY @gfy_26]

One day I will say a permanent goodbye to poverty

[Elias 4:23🩶 @es___jay]

motunrayo😂

[Big Uncle @Usmanashafe]

“The person I am dating opened a container shop for me but I didn’t know he is a Vulcanizer, and I can’t dates a vulcanizer, so he asked his people to come and carry the container he opened for me”

A less privileged lady said she can’t settle for less 🤭