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I once won a scholarship with a lie.
Infact, I was selected because they knew I was lying.
Sometimes I actually wonder if I’m unable to make anything out of the knowledge from the scholarship program because I lied to get in.
Infact, I was selected because they knew I was lying.
Sometimes I actually wonder if I’m unable to make anything out of the knowledge from the scholarship program because I lied to get in.
It was 2016. I was in my apartment off campus on this Saturday. One of my closest friends in uni called me and asked me if I was ready for the interview. What’s an interview?
Apparently, I had forgotten that I applied for a scholarship earlier that week.
Apparently, I had forgotten that I applied for a scholarship earlier that week.
You know that babe in school that was always attending conferences, seminars, trainings and workshops? I was that babe. Infact I couldn’t keep track of all the stuff I was registering for but if you were my friend and you didn’t link me up with any of these, we go too fight!
This particular scholarship was a production and photography scholarship packaged by an organization targeting young ladies. So I jumped up and dressed up in like 30. Got a bike and flew to the interview venue.
I never used to spend my money on uber or bolt back in uni. So for official interviews like that, I’d get there in flats, get to the venue, look for the toilet, then flip the switch to heels.
If the organization had a big compound, I’d find a corner and change to heels. Then convert back to base ten after the interview so I can fly my public transport. Rinse and repeat every time.
So I did the same on that day and got there in time.
I met the panel and the first question I was asked was about the organization’s website. OMG!!
You should already know that I never checked the website Lol. But I remembered my friend saying that they had a podcast.
I met the panel and the first question I was asked was about the organization’s website. OMG!!
You should already know that I never checked the website Lol. But I remembered my friend saying that they had a podcast.
So I jama jama-ad it. Told them about the podcast segment of the website.
Then they asked if I listened to any of the podcasts and if I enjoyed it.
Yeah yeah, I loved all the podcasts.
Oya, which one was my favorite?
Ermm the one about feminism.
Then they asked if I listened to any of the podcasts and if I enjoyed it.
Yeah yeah, I loved all the podcasts.
Oya, which one was my favorite?
Ermm the one about feminism.
I mean, what kind of female focused organization are you if you don’t have a podcast about feminism?
They were shocked. So there was a podcast on their website that they didn’t even know about?
Oya, tell us about it.
This is where I should have backed out of my lie, right?
They were shocked. So there was a podcast on their website that they didn’t even know about?
Oya, tell us about it.
This is where I should have backed out of my lie, right?
But I went on with it. Laslas, I wouldn’t get the scholarship. Let me just see this lie to the end.
That’s how I started. I told them I couldn’t remember the names of the guests on the podcast. But they talked about this and this. Na so I start to garnish and package lies.
That’s how I started. I told them I couldn’t remember the names of the guests on the podcast. But they talked about this and this. Na so I start to garnish and package lies.
The look on their faces was beyond epic.
I’m sure they must have been thinking- ah awon eleyi n pa jati jati ninu iro.
If you’ve seen me present anything, you’d know I have sweet mouth. So I made sure they enjoyed the lie atleast.
Even added my own feminism points as jara.
I’m sure they must have been thinking- ah awon eleyi n pa jati jati ninu iro.
If you’ve seen me present anything, you’d know I have sweet mouth. So I made sure they enjoyed the lie atleast.
Even added my own feminism points as jara.
After I was done, they told me they’d get back to me.
With wide smiles. You know those type of smiles those wicked HRs give you when they know they’ll never get back to you and they’re pitying all the energy you put into your application.
Yeah, I got one of those smiles.
With wide smiles. You know those type of smiles those wicked HRs give you when they know they’ll never get back to you and they’re pitying all the energy you put into your application.
Yeah, I got one of those smiles.
Imagine my surprise when I got a mail the next week, that I was selected.
Ah ahnn, I knew my mother’s prayers for me are like, sure banker but not to the point where God will overlook a very terrible lie nowww.
Ah ahnn, I knew my mother’s prayers for me are like, sure banker but not to the point where God will overlook a very terrible lie nowww.
Anyways, I went back to the place and expected them to say something. Like, maybe disgrace me and tell me how they only tricked me here so they’d show me what a terrible liar I was.
But nah, they gave me the details of the one month scholarship and where the studio was, etc.
But nah, they gave me the details of the one month scholarship and where the studio was, etc.
I started the scholarship during the semester holiday and from the first week, I knew my lie was catching up with me big time.
I was shuttling the internship from Sango to Gbagada. And the internship was arranged in such a way that your daily report was on Facebook.
I was shuttling the internship from Sango to Gbagada. And the internship was arranged in such a way that your daily report was on Facebook.
So after each class, you’d do a Facebook post detailing everything you learnt that day, tag the instructor and the organization. If you bring a model for practice shoot, your model had to do her own post too, all before 12am. Failure to do so, you were out.
Plus you had to sprinkle your sincere gratitude to the organization for changing your life, in the post.
This was super difficult for me cus while I was heading back home at 7,8pm, I had to start typing the post cus no excuses would be accepted if I failed to submit each day.
This was super difficult for me cus while I was heading back home at 7,8pm, I had to start typing the post cus no excuses would be accepted if I failed to submit each day.
That’s how on the fourth day of the first week, when I already started picking up the basics and falling in love with photography, I got to class and met the studio locked.
The instructor appeared and told us we wouldn’t be having classes for the rest of the week. Why, tho?
The instructor appeared and told us we wouldn’t be having classes for the rest of the week. Why, tho?
He said he was booked for private shoots.
Ooh, isn’t that a great opportunity to teach us in action?
My classmate was giving me the eye but I kept asking why we couldn’t stay for the shoot.
He insisted that we had to leave. Infact, we couldn’t stay around the studio too.
Ooh, isn’t that a great opportunity to teach us in action?
My classmate was giving me the eye but I kept asking why we couldn’t stay for the shoot.
He insisted that we had to leave. Infact, we couldn’t stay around the studio too.
Kilo n sele gangan?
On our way, my classmate told me what he actually meant was nude shoots.
Ooh, private as in, private parts.
Don’t laugh, I used to be so slow to the things of the world.
And that was how we had no classes for the rest of the week. And the week after.
On our way, my classmate told me what he actually meant was nude shoots.
Ooh, private as in, private parts.
Don’t laugh, I used to be so slow to the things of the world.
And that was how we had no classes for the rest of the week. And the week after.
Then the following week too.
The scholarship was for a month o.
Just because our instructor was booked with PRIVATE shoots.
I just knew my lie was at work. Karma was dealing with me bad bad.
The scholarship was for a month o.
Just because our instructor was booked with PRIVATE shoots.
I just knew my lie was at work. Karma was dealing with me bad bad.
Now imagine my irritation when the instructor told us to start preparing for graduation.
You and who is graduating, sir?
That’s how I changed it for him mehn.
Three weeks doing nothing and you are talking about graduation.
Me that I’ve not started anything with you.
You and who is graduating, sir?
That’s how I changed it for him mehn.
Three weeks doing nothing and you are talking about graduation.
Me that I’ve not started anything with you.
Funny how on some days, he didn’t inform us that we wouldn’t be having classes, so I’d spend tfare to and fro for nothing.
He didn’t know who he was messing with. I told him I was going to report to the organization, that’s how Baba ran me another month of internship.
He didn’t know who he was messing with. I told him I was going to report to the organization, that’s how Baba ran me another month of internship.
I started enjoying lol. We started going to places and events to shoot.
I was finally getting over my lie.
Til we went for a product shoot in a bakeshop and the baker gave us six bags of pastries. I’m talking carrot cake, chocolate cake, all kinds of pastries too.
I was finally getting over my lie.
Til we went for a product shoot in a bakeshop and the baker gave us six bags of pastries. I’m talking carrot cake, chocolate cake, all kinds of pastries too.
My instructor didn’t eat any of these things so he gave me everything.
I don happy die. It’s going to be a partayyyyyy in Sango tonight, I said to myself.
Until I got to Sango bus stop and realized I had forgotten four bags of my delicious pastries inside the bus.
I don happy die. It’s going to be a partayyyyyy in Sango tonight, I said to myself.
Until I got to Sango bus stop and realized I had forgotten four bags of my delicious pastries inside the bus.
The only bag I remembered to carry off the seat was the one filled with chin chin.
And I hate chin chin.
I was so mad, I even tried to chase the bus
People that saw me crying thought I forgot money or my wallet in the bus.
Couldn’t tell them it was cake.
And I hate chin chin.
I was so mad, I even tried to chase the bus
People that saw me crying thought I forgot money or my wallet in the bus.
Couldn’t tell them it was cake.
Now you’re wondering how they shamed me about my lie?
It was during my graduation.
But I wasn’t shamed. Infact, I was complimented.
They told me I had a wild imagination and that was what a creative photographer needed.
It was during my graduation.
But I wasn’t shamed. Infact, I was complimented.
They told me I had a wild imagination and that was what a creative photographer needed.
They were impressed that I could cook up such an interesting lie on the spot and that proved that I really wanted the scholarship.
Disclaimer: Please, don’t try this at home, tho.
Disclaimer: Please, don’t try this at home, tho.
It’s been four years and I haven’t done anything with my knowledge of photography.
Infact, I can barely shoot anything anymore.
I think it’s really God’s way of showing me that anything sinful isn’t for me.
At all!!
Infact, I can barely shoot anything anymore.
I think it’s really God’s way of showing me that anything sinful isn’t for me.
At all!!
