SC-S29/W4- Nostalgia Of The Liitle Me : People Who Shaped My Childhood

Memories are like building blocks in our journey of life

Who is the person (or people) that shaped your childhood the most?

Childhood for me was filled with beautiful memories and there were several people that shaped my childhood but the most important was my parents and siblings especially my immediate elder brother.

I come from a family where I have 3 brothers and a sister. We are all bonded but I was more closer to this particular elder brother of mine. We behaved like twin, but he was older with like 4 years.

His name is Isaac which means laughter and guess what? He is full of fun. He makes the whole house laugh with his way of life, I guess he took that from my mum because my mum is a born comedian.

my brothers and the one who shaped me by the right

While growing up, my brother Issac wasn't just a brother to me, back then he was my greatest motivation to life besides God. Yes I confess there were times he led me to do bad things like fight and all but then I think he was only acting like a child.

He shaped my childhood with fun, lessons, and life experiences that I can never forget in a hurry. He is one of the best things that ever happened to me as a child.

Just recently we met as a family and the topic of the day was me and my brother. I was visiting his wife how he threatened guys to stay away from me as a growing child, how he carried me to places, taught me things and even made me cry most times. Oh what beautiful memories we have together.

What is your earliest or most memorable memory with this person?

Oh I have alots of memories with my brother but since you asked for the most memorable one I would share with you this story.

Story story...

I had just finished my primary education and was planning on moving to secondary school. By then my brother was already in secondary school of course he is older with 4 years.

There was this particular school I loved and wanted to attend. The students of that school seem very intelligent so I just wanted to be a part of it. I told my brother about it and he encouraged me to apply for their exams. I told him I wasn't sure I would pass their exams. He laughed and told me that he would help me.

my cute self and my siblings enjoying the holiday

My brother started having home lessons with me until I wrote the exams. On the day of the exams. He walked me down to the school. As we walked, he kept reminding me of how smart I am, he told me that nothing is impossible for me to achieve, infact that morning, he gave me one of his favorite shoes to put on as a show of support and symbol of success.

When we got to the school, I entered, he stayed back waiting for me to finish writing my exams. When I was done and I came out, I saw him walking up and down the school reception. I asked him what he was doing and he said he was praying for me. He said he started praying for me the moment I got into the hall. I felt so emotional. I hugged him and we went home.

That memory never left me..that was the most beautiful thing I have ever seen.

How did this person guide, support, or discipline you during childhood?

I have shared how my brother showed me support during childhood so now I will share how he guided me.

My brother was like the first private tutor I had growing up. Guess what? He taught me how to read the clock or better still how to tell what the time is.

I remember at that time we had a very big clock in our living room. And each time I was asked to go and check what the time is saying, a get confused. My brother noticed it one day and took me by my hands to the living room.

That day he showed me in a simple way how to tell time. I have never seen it that way before. Infact I was so happy and thanked him guess what? The next day in school during our mathematics hours, the teacher walked in and said he was going to reach us time. I laughed because I was already ahead.

He gave an exercise on time reading and I was the best that day, I felt like a celebrity. I came home so excited.

What values, habits, or lessons did you learn from them?

My brother taught me a lot of life lessons like been caring. I saw how he took care of me and was sensitive to the needs of others. He gave when he had, and went out of his way too.

I also learned how to be proactive and provide solutions to problems rather than just complain and do nothing about it. My brother while growing up was a problem solver.

I remember one time we were watching television I and my siblings and suddenly the television went off and refused to come on. My other siblings began to panic because my parents warned us that day not to watch television, they told us to read our books.

My siblings didn't know what to do, this particular brother of mine went into my Dad's room brought out some electrical tool and before we knew it he dismantled the television at that age, we were all afraid that what if he made the situation worse? But guess what? By the time he coupled the television, it was as if nothing ever happened to it.

We were shocked and happy at the same time. Till date my parents never knew what happened that day. Today my brother is an engineer although not an electrical engineer but a mechanical engineer.

How does their influence still reflect in your life today?

The influence of my brother in my life is immeasurable. I see a reflection of him every day in me.

Today I see how smart and intelligent I am and I attribute most of it to him. I see his strength too because he encouraged me to be strong. One time to test how strong he has trained me, he encouraged me to fight with a particular guy. Hahaha

I because sociable because of him, at one point in my life growing up, I felt I was becoming timid but he made me throw away that character and became friendly with people. He would always ask me to go out with him to wherever he was going. Today I easily get bored when am all by myself at home doing nothing because am no longer into myself anymore. I have becoming more outgoing.

I also see the influence of been proactive at problem solving. He made me learn this too. Rather than whale over spilled milk, I try to find solution. This made me very independent not depending on anyone for my needs. And I think I love it. Today I have grown into a fine independent woman not having the entitlement mentality .