When a cloud has a silver lining

IN some works of fiction, the storyline hits you between the eyes from page one. With others, it’s a subtle process and that’s okay too. So where does Clouds fit into? In truth, it’s not clear. This is a novel with a thrilling concept at its core. It plays out the role of most African parents and the academic sector in the child’s choice of a career.

Despite the background and upbringing of our main character, Zere, it didn’t quench the fire burning inside of her. Every day she wakes up with a hope in her heart to achieve her desired career in the midst of the clouds hovering her daily life and the lots of family drama. Clouds do not only show a state of weather; it also refers to our cause of gloom, suspicions, worries and troubles, but these clouds should not affect our mindset towards achieving our targeted goals.

The story highlights the life of a teenager obsessed with music. She regards it as a lifelong career choice but was constantly disrupted by her mother’s choice already programmed for her from birth. Her mother had an ugly past with the said musical career which had led Zere to be popularly known as a bastard. Her mother didn’t want a repeated past and she also wanted to win as a good parent. So she forced Zere into studying sciences because she believed that those studying sciences were serious minded and usually successful. The aftermath of this decision reveals the place of passion in our lives; Zere’s passion supersedes her mother’s will power to correct her ugly past. All her mother’s efforts to see her daughter win through the sciences was cut short as she was imprisoned for a murder case, and in search for help, Zere stumbles on a rough path of sexual molestation. Her life typified the “use what you have to get what you want” mantra.

Yet, despite the number of girls experiencing sexual harassment in schools, only twelve percent said they ever reported it to an adult. Some researchers claim that sexual harassment is so common among girls that many fail to recognize it as sexual harassment when it happens. Girls fail to report incidents of sexual harassment in school because they are regarded as “normal”. Their lack of reporting was found to stem from girls’ fear of being labeled “bad girls” by teachers and administrators who they felt would view them as provoking how they were treated. They also feared the condemnation of other girls, some of whom were shown to be unsupportive, accusing them of exaggerating or lying.

Many girls see everyday sexual harassment and abuse as “normal” male behavior and something they have to ignore, endure or maneuver around.

Zere struggled to uplift her family’s name even without the knowledge of who her father was. She maintained a sneaky way of achieving her dreams with or without support, even in the midst of the life tormenting situations around her. She met bullies in her class who made her feel little or nothing of herself too, but she held on to the tiny voice in her head that still believes in her. Like the Bible rightly said, “the gift of man makes way for him and he shall stand before kings and not mere man”.

Over the years, questions on how to achieve career goals have been asked by many teenagers. While some got the answers they needed, others were unable to. Many teenagers face the challenge of choosing between the careers they desire and that desired by their parents, guardians and peers. Some teenagers have ended up going to school to get the degree or profession desired by their parents before venturing into their career goals properly. Others who were unable to pursue their desired career ended up wallowing in sorrows and regrets of the decision imposed on them.

In Africa today, many youths and teenagers suffer from the desired or forceful choices made by their parents in the name of being more experienced or meaning well for them. These teenagers undergo daily bullying, insults and mockery in school and from the society at large and they are unable to report to their parents as a result of fear of being misunderstood or scolded. Some teenagers have suffered as much as being scolded by their parents for not doing excellently well in this imposed career or field. This challenge has caused many youths to drift away from their desired career and that of their parents into becoming bad eggs in the society in order to get through this bullying and mockery. On the other hand, some have ended up depressed, unfulfilled, incompetent and nonchalant.

This book exposes some challenges that most African teenagers encounter while growing up and chasing their careers. It specifically points out the girl-child situation, which pictures how the girl child passes through challenges and harassments ranging from gender inequality to sexual molestation, coupled with the fear of speaking up because they do not want to be labeled as unfortunate by the society.

In African tradition, the girl child has been suppressed in doing the best she could because she is believed to be the inferior gender. This has led to many dreams being cut short, unreachable or even hindered.

The story in this book was inspired by real life situations gathered from different people and crowned up with a little imagination. It also gives a heads-up on how to handle challenges and stick to one’s career goals regardless of where one finds oneself. It also goes a long way in inspiring teenagers and letting them know that they can become what they dream, regardless of the situation they are in.

This book is also aimed at encouraging parents and guardians to, instead of force their children to chase their undesirable career, rather advice, guide and support them in achieving and fulfilling their dream careers. Most teenagers tend to breach healthy communication links between them and their parents because their parents or guardians do not support them in achieving their goal. Research and psychological studies have shown that teenagers are more productive and successful when allowed to go after their desired career goal.

This book is an inspiration and a reminder to African youths and teenagers that their background and situations around is not a yardstick for them to relent or stop in the quest of achieving their desired career. Rather, they have the opportunity to strive harder to get things done while being respectful and obedient to their parents and guardians. This will help them discover their true self if they are struggling to find purpose in life.

It is on record that youths with similar challenges have also succeeded in the course of achieving their desired career. This was made possible by relentless efforts and optimism.

So, I encourage all teenagers and youths out there going through the challenges of achieving their desired career to remain strong and consistent in this course. “Luck Is What Happens When Preparation Meets Opportunity”. This quote by the Roman philosopher, Seneca, reminds us that we make our luck. The difference between the lucky and unlucky people we have seen before is their perspective to life.

Clouds is quite an exciting and inspiring read, capturing the demands and attitude of anyone who must win in a chosen career. It also lays emphasis on the girl child. But the book is certainly for everyone.

Henry Blessing Nerat is an author and a poet who has successfully published amazing novellas and poems. She developed passion for writing at the age of 11 when she wrote her first novellas University of Life and Revenge of Nature alongside her Collection of Poems which was published in 2014 at the age of 14.

She acquired her O’ level results from Rochas Foundation College, Jos in 2016. She was later offered admission to the prestigious University of Jos to study Electrical/Electronics Engineering. She ventured into politics and became the only first year senator representing the Faculty of Engineering.

In March 2020, during her tenure as the Chairperson on Security Committee in the SUG parliament, she hosted a security summit themed Security/Safety Tips on Campus and Sexual Abuse Awareness. She is a volunteer with the Man O’ War club, University of Jos where she serves as the Director Of Special Duties. She serves as the special adviser to the NUBES President on special duties.