The admission list was out and I saw my name, I Was the 7th person on the list. I was so happy, the kind of happiness can be likened to when a barren woman of 16years suddenly gave birth to twins. That's how I felt when I got admitted to the university after staying home for 7 years.

Firstly, I said to myself, once I start school I won't be part of any association, group, even if it's a student government. I told myself I won't be close to any person, get into any relationship or unnecessary affiliation with people. It will be me, my books & blogging.

When I started school, I kept to my words, I was a pseudo-introvert. One day, my friend, who was also my roommate, suggested I join the Chapel’s media team since I'm into media stuff. I agreed but I said I will join after my 100L: At least in 200Level, I must have been used to the school system and also have a good CGPA. “Besides, I will spend four years here,” I told him.

200Level came, he asked why I'm yet to join the group in the chapel, I said, my courses are much and blogging is taking my time. Though I had genuine intentions of joining a subgroup in the fellowship I kept saying “My primary aim coming to Wukari is to study”.

Finally, I made up my mind to join the subgroup but the 2019 election was around the corner, we left for the polls and I had lots to do.

During the polls I got heartbroken which I almost lost my sanity - It was a rough time for me, I couldn't even concentrate and exams were by the corner.

Immediately after the polls, school resumed and it was barely two weeks to start exams but unfortunately, a little misunderstanding happened in the school and we were asked to go home for two weeks. Dear readers, I had no chance to join any subgroup. Soon 2weeks elapsed and we were back to school to sit for exams.

I had exams to write, so there was no time to join any subgroup in school coupled with the fact that I was hard broken, the heartbreak was the most painful experience I had had in recent times- my GP dropped massively and I had my first carry over in my favorite, Chemistry. I finished my first semester exams in 200 Level, I couldn't join any subgroup in the chapel, hopefully, I will in the second semester.

We resumed the second semester in 200L, I was saddled with the responsibility of raising my GP from the toll the heartbreak had on me. I needed to go back to at least 4point even if it won't be first-class. I was resolute to improve my GP. “I can't join any subgroup in the church till I was able to improve my grade” I made up my mind. Besides, I have 2 years to go.

300Level came, the first semester was too demanding for me, 13 courses and all of them were 3 credits fourses with exception of practicals, and I still have a carryover course; virtually every day, I stay from morning till evening at school. Dear readers if you empathize with me, you will know that I still don't have time to join any group in the church.

Before I knew it exams came and we started writing, I wrote four courses including the carryover course with utmost determination but the COVID19 pandemic took a toll on us and we were sent home. I have been home for the past 10 months and as I write I'm yet to join the subgroup. “Do I Still Have Time”?

Let me pause a little and ask you, dear readers,

Is there a convenient time to join the group?
Is there a perfect and convenient time to do the right thing or say the truth?

One funny reality I will be faced with is once school resumes, we will be rushed in the bid to cover-up and after the first semester I will be going for my industrial attachment (IT) for six months which is in a different town from the school and I can't join the group because it's in a different location.

After IT, I will be in 400L- Final year student and final year project will be waiting for me, probably I will still say there's no time - I had no time.

Back to my question again,
Is there any convenient time to join the group?
Is there any perfect and convenient time to do the right thing or say the truth?.

Friends, I kept on looking for a convenient time to do the right thing, to do that which I was meant to do and from my story, it seems there was no convenient time. The truth is, If I had joined, certain things might probably fall in place but I was bent on my convenience.

The best way to start is to start!

Probably you're in a toxic or abusive relationship and you keep consoling yourself with “The grass is not always greener at the other side” and waiting for a convenient time to break up? Will there ever be a convenient time?

Probably you have an idea that will add value to humanity & salvage the plight of the masses but you are still looking for a convenient time. Will there ever be a convenient time?

Or you have a bad addiction, that you want to stop, you want to exit that cult group or stop masturbating but you're waiting for a convenient time to do so.

Perhaps you want to propose to your fiance or you're interested in someone but you are waiting for a convenient time to do so, I hope while you are busy waiting for convenience, someone won't seize the opportunity.

Take that big step
Make that move
Exit that abusive relationship
Start executing your dreams
Propose to that lady
Quit that bad addiction
Stop waiting for a convenient time which might probably not come.

When the prodigal son discovered he had threaded the wrong path for too long, he didn't wait for the convenient time, he said to himself, I will go back to my father and apologize. He didn't wait for convenience but went back and thousands of years after we still read about him.

Conclusively, I will urge us all to know that no matter how far you have gone in the wrong way, you can always turn around to take the right path.

There is no convenient time to do the right thing because the best way to start is to start. Stop waiting for conveniences.

Musa Affos (Rhapsodi) Is a Blogger& Social Media Activist

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