By Adedamola Taofeekat via UN Volunteers
My Past Experiences Shouldn’t Ruin My Present Life
My
name is Odofin Adedamola Taofeekat and I am a 21 year old from Nigeria. Who I
am today, who I will still become, is shaped by what I’ve gone through in the
past, either positive or negative.
Girls
face terrible and shameful situations everyday all over the world and a lot of
them are too scared to speak up out of fear that those that they value will
shun them when they know their stories. I was a victim of sexual harassment.
When
I was 8 years old, I was sexually harassed almost every day by my class teacher
when I was in primary 2. He would sit by me at the back of the class during
class exercises and touch my inner thighs through my skirt.
At
first I didn’t understand what he was doing, I would push him away gently
scared because he was my class teacher and he could’ve beaten me for being
disobedient. However, he was persistent and kept it going for over two months.
I
was never really a social butterfly as a kid, I kept to myself always and had
no friends so I didn’t have someone to tell my problems too. I knew what he was
doing was wrong but I was too scared of the consequences if I had told people.
I would always dread going to school every morning because I knew what I was
going to face, and face alone.
However,
one day after the same occurrence, I found the courage to explain to my mother
what my teacher was doing. I told her I didn’t like it and felt uncomfortable,
and the next day my parents went to the school and the teacher was fired.
Unfortunately,
some news of it got out in school and children can be mean to each other
sometimes. I felt embarrassed that they knew what happened and I got a lot of
pitiful looks and side talks for it. I was physically and mentally depressed
for more than a year. I felt so violated.
I
was a little kid that got harassed for over two months without anyone to run
to. I felt disgusted at myself at such a young age and I got a certain stigma
at school. But eventually I got over it, or so I thought.
I
was an early bloomer, so at the age of 10 I stared developing breasts when I as
in primary 4. At first I was excited thinking I was a big girl now, but my
classmates thought otherwise.
They
made fun of me saying it was abnormal to have them at that age and they went as
far as bringing up my past experience saying I was having breasts because I let
“teachers” touch me. No one wanted to associate with me then and my life was a
living nightmare.
Fortunately,
I got a double promotion to primary 6 but my mum took me away from that school
to start Secondary School. Three years later, I was almost raped in the middle
of the night by a 15year old steward working with my family. This event coupled
with my early childhood experience affected me for more than two years. I felt
everyone that looked at me knew my secrets, I was sad always and developed a
terrible case of anxiety and fear of the male gender.
I
developed a problem with the way I looked and thought my body wasn’t good
enough and it was my fault for letting my teacher harass me for so long. I
hated bodily contacts and my school mates saw me as weird. However, I had a
great family support, especially my mother.
I
began to open up little by little on my sadness and shame. Who I am today is as
a result of my past, but I have found a way not to feel terrible about it. I
realised that all the times I was sad and alone, I gave room for my mind to
re-enact those moments without control, but since
I’ve
opened up they’ve lessened and the past remains exactly in the past. I’ve
learnt to appreciate my body and although I still struggle with anxiety, I’ve
learnt to manage it with the help of family and God.
Wherever
and whoever you are, just know that you can overcome whatever you might’ve
faced or are facing. No condition is permanent. Never let your past ruin your
present, rather let it be a story to tell others that will give them hope.
Don’t be afraid to speak up. Always think about you and your well-being and try
not to bottle things up because there are always people waiting to listen and
help you feel better.
No
one can make you feel better about yourself than yourself, I could spend
forever telling you how special you are but if you don’t believe it on your own
then words will only fade way. #SharingNotShaming
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