Darkness is a tunnel

Reaching down its depth

Stretching out its hands

Clawing out your light

Hatching to keep you down.

#writing

#poetry

#kindle

#poem

#metaphor

#creative writing

#English

WHY I WRITE

I write as though

My heart would explode

It I never let go

Of the words it holds.

- AmaZingME

Dear Rejection

 Dear Rejection,

Your effort to hurt I see

You try to dampen my confidence

From all angles, I feel your heat

I almost drown in despair.

I find my inner self

My emotions take a quantum leap

And 'm out of your dredge

Into my territory.

- AmazingME

WHEN YOU LEFT ME IN THE DARK

 When you left me in the dark

I feared and faltered

I stumbled and fell

Still, I kept at it.

A light flickered

A ray of hope

My path was guided

To freedom

-AmazingME

IT'S NOT ENOUGH TO PREACH IT

 I sat in the second row, the left aisle in the church auditorium, listening attentively to the sermon. The preacher stood on the pulpit in a tailored and expressively ironed suit. He looked at the congregation, his face had a softened expression - his voice carried a level of urgency that could be compared to appealing to a loved one to stay away from fire. He sounded like he would burst into tears if people didn't listen. "You need to love people; love everyone regardless of whom they are, what they do. You've got to love everyone. The greatest of all virtues is love. God is love. Love your neighbour as yourself, said the preacher. 

The congregation sat calmly paying rapt attention. Mrs. Jane Doe sobbed quietly as she listened to this message of love. I scanned the faces of everyone around me; they paid rapt attention, mesmerized by his words. I thought back to my teenage years, and I remembered that the church was a loveless environment.

Everyone always castigating, condemning, mean, unfriendly, rebuking, rarely praising. This message of love wasn't new. We had listened to it at different times, but nothing changed. I saw myself walking to the pulpit saying to the preacher, "It's not enough to preach it, back it with actions". 

Just then, Ruth pinched me to get up. l got out of my reverie and realized that I had only spoken those words in my heart; I didn't have the boldness to face the church. I stood up to pray and resigned myself to the fact that the preacher will always talk about love but nothing will change. That's just life.

x

SAMPLE PERSONAL STATEMENT

Kids with special needs are marginalized especially in underdeveloped countries like mine. I began my teaching career eight years ago and never thought I would come in contact with a child with special needs as a teacher. It presented a huge challenge; it was a new terrain in my teaching journey but it was gratifying. The experiences I have garnered from teaching kids with special needs and non-special needs, and the realization that there is a huge sidelining of students with special needs has greatly influenced my interest in the field of special education, hence, my interest in the postgraduate course, Education, Inclusion and Special need.

During my time as a private lesson tutor, I had the privilege of tutoring a kid with Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder (ADHD). Each day came with new challenges and experiences. I had heard about ADHD but had no feasible experience with what it was. Teaching this kid made created compassion in my heart and I found myself working with him from a place of love and zeal. As a teacher, I have my ‘proud teacher’ moments, whenever the parents of the child exhibit excitement over the development and performance of their child. A colleague who is experienced in working with autistic children who also have ADHD shared tips with me on how to impart knowledge to my special students despite the challenges and I found those ideas fascinating. This piqued my interest in special needs education. I began a Master’s Programme at the University of Lagos, Nigeria but was unable to complete it as a result of incessant strikes. Also, I did not get what I wanted in the program, that is, understanding the role I have to play in the development of children with learning and behavioural disabilities. In my country, Nigeria, the availability of special needs education is limited.

With a burning desire to still pursue an education in special needs regardless of the disappointment I had faced in the previous course of study, I decided to enroll in the MA Education, Inclusion, and Special Needs programme at the University of Hull, which will help me comprehend how to bridge the gap between non-special needs and special needs children. The University of Hull fits perfectly into my budget and the testimonials that have been presented concerning the university are mind-blowing. 

The statement that stands out to me the most is the school has a caring atmosphere that is almost family-like. I have no reservations about the University of Hull; I am sure that all my expectations will be met.

My Instincts Work Just Fine

It's 5:30 pm, I'm sitting in the restaurant, Just Afang, savouring the serene ocean view. A lone boat catches my attention. I look at it and watch the young boy paddle the boat on both sides with a steady rhythm. I think, "What if the paddle falls into the ocean? I guess he trusts his abilities, he trusts the paddle and the ocean. He must have witnessed storms, and turbulence, yet, he is trusting that the ocean will lead him right.

My mind goes to the word, DISTRUST. I've been given enough reasons to be distrustful. I've lost gold wrapped in foil because I trusted the 'glittering gold' I saw as being exactly what it projected. But in the face of losing something great, I got something better, self-satisfying; I got me, I got to see me, to notice me. 

So, It doesn't matter the breadth of life's ocean, its depth, I'll paddle my life because I trust myself, I trust my instincts, and I trust God.

MY GOD: MY LOVE, MY ALL

MY GOD: MY LOVE, MY ALL

Your eyes, my hope,

Your nose, my breadth,

Your lips, my song,

Your neck, my support,

Your hands, my refuge,

Your heart, my life,

Your name, my strength,

Your word, my reinforcement,

Your response,I treasure.

You: My God, my love, my all.

-AmazingME