Seeing me with my numerous school friends and hearing the many nicknames they had for me, you wouldn’t have thought I was once a tiny and shy girl who started school with fear. Besides having lots of friends, I’d even play ‘teacher’ with them, gathering everyone to teach my favourite subject, Accounting. Another lesson from Mawuli School that I’ve retained till now is the siesta time; it was compulsory, and it provided great refreshment. Hence, in every office I’ve been a part of, I ensure there’s a couch where I can take my power nap. The one thing I didn’t enjoy at Mawuli School was the absence of certain conveniences. We didn’t have running tap water, only boreholes which were tiring to use. Sometimes, when the boreholes dried, we had to go offcampus, walking long distances to find water. Additionally, we had to clean the school’s pigsty as a regular punishment. Uni Having concluded our A-levels a few months prior, there were rumours that the results were now out. In my eagerness, I dashed to school the following day, feeling remarkably confident. I was convinced that my performance would shine across all subjects, particularly in Accounting. After all, wasn’t I the best Accounting student in my form? And hadn’t I taught my schoolmates to such an extent that they understood my lessons more than the teachers? Also, hadn’t I received best student prizes in the subject, during Speech and Prize giving days? I walked briskly into the Admin office, slightly annoyed by the somehow long queue. When it was finally my moment and the secretary I loved Mawuli School for my many friends. Mom compared them to my hair strands – a lot. This description fits me well. I’m not sure if I’m so social because our house was the first stop for our many relatives and friends visiting Accra for the first time, or because Mom was often away, and I was with cousins and aunties. I mean we were so communal that the cooking fire in our house never went off. Then again, maybe I was used to seeing many people at a time, having grown up in highly populated Accra Newtown (known then as Lagos Town). 17 The Birthday Journal
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