“Do you remember this time last year?” That was the question I was asked on the night of 2023 Memorial Day as I looked at the Hope Tower decorated with candles and thickened by different emotions such as pain, hope and gratitude. Naturally, I could not help but think of this time last year. Even though the scenery of the memorial night this year was exactly the same as last year, there was something different. I had experienced something different; growth. Ralph Waldo Emerson once said “What lies behind us, and what lies before us, are tiny matters compared to what lies within us.” Both the smallest things and the more obvious things exhibit growth. I think that dancing and acting helped me grow.
I felt a different way when dancing. Dancing occupied my mind and made me feel like I was a different person. I used to watch a lot of YouTube videos of different dance choreographies when I was younger, and even though they were too complicated for me, I would aim really hard to learn them. I eventually began to get the hang of it. I didn’t really dance when I first got to JMC as it was abundantly clear that there were far better dancers than me, so I stopped. It was then that I truly discovered the appeal of drama. I will never forget the numerous short dramas we performed in Junior School, during which Mr. Jijingi would commend our abilities and point out areas for improvement. Since then, I’ve wanted to participate in the End-of-Term production, but I had been struggling with stage anxiety and commitment . For me, the latter was more of an obstacle. I always ended up backing out since I found it very difficult to dedicate all of my weekends for a term to drama preparation and rehearsals.
However, the problem with wasting opportunities is that eventually you would come to realize the tremendous opportunities you may have had if you had been brave enough to use your abilities and gifts. At the start of this year, I made a personal commitment to push myself outside my comfort zone and aspire to do more. People frequently underestimate the attribute of being open to growth. It’s a challenging trait, particularly if one has grown accustomed to their comfort zone. To my surprise, I participated in the End-of-Term production, where I danced and acted.
I am therefore rather pleased with myself for being able to overcome my stage fright and commitment issues as I think back on this year’s Memorial night. I acknowledge and value the development I’ve undergone in the last year, which has helped me become more devoted and self-confident. This year, I made a commitment to dedicate more time and energy to bettering my abilities, as developing talent is essential for increased productivity. I get very emotional on December 10th because I am moved to memorialize the 60 people who gave their lives in the greater battle against impunity in Nigeria. When I ask myself, “When I look back, how am I going to make the most of every opportunity that I have been given?,” I would take pride in being able to say that those lives were not lost in vain. Given the opportunity I’ve been given, which I shouldn’t take for granted, I would continuously work hard to reach my full potential.
Chizorom Mckayle NJOKU
Class of 2025