Call Me Ajala

Hello everyone!

Welcome to another trip down memory lane. 

In the spring of 2022, after an eventful few years of school filled with challenges and triumphs, I earned my master’s degree.

During the academic sessions, I moved to a new country far from family, attended classes in person, experienced online classes, and then had to quickly readjust to in-person classes again. I even caught Covid at the beginning of the final year, which meant isolating and recovering while juggling schoolwork. But by God’s grace, I made it through.

Graduation season was exciting not just for me, but also for my family and friends, who celebrated this milestone with me both virtually and in person. Before the big day, I had planned some trips to unwind after the mental stress of my final semester, but some of those plans fell through. So, I spent that time catching up on much-needed rest and recharging for what was ahead.

I had big dreams for my graduation look. I researched and found a dress I loved, ordered it from Nigeria, and bought matching shoes from Aldo. to my disappointment, the dress didn’t fit. Thankfully, I had a backup dress that I had also gotten from another Nigerian designer, even though it was a little too big. My tailoring skills (shout out to boarding school training!) came in handy, and I spent a few hours the night before graduation day making adjustments.

Planning for the graduation celebration wasn’t without its challenges as well. My friend and I initially considered renting a hall, but high costs and restrictions made us rethink that plan. Instead, we worked with a more familiar venue and contacted vendors for Nigerian food and snacks. Some amazing family, friends, and church members also pitched in to help with items that were out of budget or hard to get. I’m so grateful to everyone who made that day special.

Here’s a breakdown of the menu—we went all out!

• Jollof rice | Fried rice | Stewed chicken | Moi moi
• Cake | Cupcakes 
• Stewed gizzard | Puff puff | Suya | Meatpie
• Ofada rice and stew | Amala, ewedu, stew, and gbegiri | Poundo yam and vegetable soup

As the graduation day drew closer, loved ones began flying in from different parts of the world. Unfortunately, my parents couldn’t attend due to visa processing delays, but they were there in spirit. 

The graduation day itself was wonderful. I saw classmates I hadn’t met in person because of Covid or hadn’t seen in years. The university tried to ensure our names were pronounced correctly by requesting for phonetic spellings and audio recordings ahead of time. On the big day, we also received cards to help with pronunciation.

It was a beautiful moment to celebrate not only with classmates but also with the wonderful friends, family, and loved ones who showed up for me.

Looking back, that day still holds so much joy for me. It reminds me that even the hardest journeys can lead to the most beautiful moments.

What about you? Is there a moment in your life that makes you smile every time you think about it? I’d love to hear your story.

Here’s to more reasons to celebrate!

Cheers!