Year In Review (2021)
It’s the end of the year, and I’m wondering how I could have ever thought that this year was a blur for me. I had no plans of writing this until I helped my baby girl proofread hers, and it was like eureka! Amazing light bulb moment.
I realized that the year hadn’t actually been a blur and only seemed that way to me because I didn’t journal. I’m rectifying this next year; I’m getting a journal and documenting every step of the way.
I’m very fond of the saying — it’s the little things that matter. But I’ve realised that I sometimes also take these things for granted. Because that is the only reason I could think of that has made me ‘assume’ that this year was a blur. I put literal air quotes around the word assume because that assumption is false.
I’m saying too much without getting into the essence of this write-up. I’ll move on now, lol.
MY FRIENDSHIPS
This year, I was more intentional about making and keeping friendships. I’m not as intentional as I want to be yet when it comes to checking up on people yet, but I hope to do better next year. And I’m super grateful for all the amazing people in my life.
MY CAREER
Sometime last year, I started writing again, but I was doing something different this time—I was putting my work out there for people to read. Then I delved into proofreading and editing. Someone out there read my work and gave me a shot working with them proofreading books, and that has remained my favourite thing to do.
At the end of January, I completed my 6 months role as a copywriter on the Entity Support Team of AIESEC in Nigeria. I didn’t renew that contract because I knew I’d need the extra time to focus on school, especially after the long break.
In May, I connected with someone who has an Upwork account, and I started working with them, writing articles for them, and so the journey began. As much as it was freelancing, this was sort of my stable source of income because there were always jobs. Funny stuff? I actually have an Upwork account; I’ve just never gotten the hang of it, and I don’t think I’m cut out for freelancing in that manner even, but I just might try next year.
July brought me a stable job (or what I thought was a stable job). It was a storytelling contract role, one that I absolutely loved. However, my contract was put on hold in September after two months because they said they needed to undergo some restructuring. And there I was, back to the trenches, lol.
October, I had so many articles to write — my friends and I wrote about 40 in one particular week, and it started going downhill from there. I got burned out; I could barely write anything anymore. It was like my creativity dried up because I couldn’t even write my stories anymore.
I was linked up with someone else for a writing gig in November, which didn’t happen (thank God). They offered me copy editing work instead (back to my first love).
So, I mainly focused on copy editing/proofreading and writing web copies (I did a few of those this year). Then I also decided to explore marketing as a career path instead of just focusing on copywriting, and the opportunities have been falling into my laps (We’ll talk about these in 2022, I promise).
This year, I got so many love letters (rejection mails), mainly because I don’t have my BSc yet, but sometimes also due to the difference in time zones. I had one interview I aced and was expecting an offer letter, only to hear that they wanted someone in the same timezone for the role.
Oh well, we move.
MY ACADEMICS
This one is a total blur, lol. Maybe because of our fucked up academic system, or something else, I really don’t know. My grades are amazing and a constant reminder that if I put in more than the bare minimum effort, they would be outstanding. But I can’t kill myself still. I can’t wait to finish my second semester and bag this degree, please.
MY EXPERIENCES
When the year started, I told myself I would live more — that has been my mantra since last year. I like to think I made conscious effort to meet up with this. I’ll highlight some memories here.
NATIONAL CONGRESS (NC) ABUJA
January started off amazing with my first AIESEC conference in Abuja. I remember planning for this conference from the end of 2020 and working triple hard in December to clear up all of my wig orders in time to go back to school and prep for this trip. So while others were taking December breaks, this girl took hers in January with zero regrets.
Was the conference everything I expected? Of course not. But was it worth it? A million times over! AIESECers are the very best people, no cap. I saw so many amazing people, but I was really withdrawn (no idea why), so I didn’t really make any new connections.
INDUSTRIAL TRAINING ATTACHMENT
After the conference, we went back to school, of course, to continue from where we stopped before the Covid 19 break. We finished up lectures and wrote first semester exams, and it was time to go for IT.
I got accepted at National Hospital Abuja for my IT in 2019 because IT was supposed to be last year, but covid happened. I was to attend another AIESEC conference (NEXLDS) which would technically have been the cheapest conference for me to attend as my Local Committee Enugu was hosting it.
However, the universe had other plans, and I had to resume IT the same week as the conference. So there I was, travelling on my birthday, April 5th, because I had to resume work on the 6th. Was I sad? Yes, and mad too because NEXLDS was supposed to be ‘the’ conference for me. But, we move.
My four months in Abuja were sort of a blur. While I enjoyed my attachments, especially National Hospital, I just really wanted to go back to my habitat — Nsukka. Also, I missed another conference this period (NC Lagos) because Abuja to Lagos was way too far a road trip for me, and I didn’t have the funds to fly.
NATIONAL TRAINING SEMINAR (NTS) AKURE
October had me in Akure for the last AIESEC conference in 2021. You’re probably wondering — is AIESEC all I do? Nearly, yesss!! because there’s so much to it. NTS became ‘the’ conference for me. I met some of the amazing people I’d been virtual friends with all year, and I made some new friends too.
The only drawback to this period was that I didn’t attend any social night spaces at the conference because I was working all through that period. I had nearly 40 articles to deliver that week, so my friends and I were busting our asses to get it done while also enjoying participation at NTS. Why was I working that much? Well, the money spent at NTS had to be replaced, and first semester exams were fast approaching too.
SELFIE WEEK PH
After Christmas, I travelled to Port Harcourt to visit my brother and his family. My sister inlaw is launching a brand (@fononybabyco), and we were going to Lush Gardens for her brand shoots. Coincidentally, it was selfie week PH, so they had these amazing props set up as photo booths. Let’s just say I maximized the opportunity and took more pictures than I ever have in one outfit in my life.
MY FINANCES
Ah, this year has been a rollercoaster — one moment I have audio money, the next I have actual money, and before you say Jack, I’m back to the trenches. I made some unwise ‘investments’ last year, and from January, I had lost my money already. Ehh, I wept, lol. No jokes though; I actually wept, and up until midyear, I used to get chest pains whenever I think of that money.
Midway through the second quarter of the year, things picked up again, not so good, but much better than the first quarter. I was working, but then I wasn’t making any investments because I was too scared. That’s something I hope to rectify in 2022.
Lost some more money in the last quarter of the year — my chest gets tight for this one please, because it was avoidable. But what’s done is done, I guess — I can only hope that I recover at least some of it by January because omooo. I also hope that most of my money hanging in different places eventually find their way back, lol.
Lesson learnt — never lend more money than you can comfortably give out.
MY WINS
Uhh, I think I’ve documented some of these in other sections sha. Some others that stood out were becoming a Cowrywise student ambassador and becoming the Brand and Customer Relations Manager for AIESEC in Enugu for the 22:23 term, which starts in February 2022.
Also, another one is making the decision to find my way in marketing and taking active steps towards this goal — buying and taking courses, talking to people in the field, and taking up the opportunities that have presented themselves. I can’t wait to see what this path holds.
MY LOVE LIFE
I wish I knew what you people want to hear in this part sha. Anyways, I have the best man in my corner, one that loves and supports me to bits and vice versa.
IN SUMMARY
2021 wasn’t a terrible year, and I learnt a lot from it. I didn’t set many goals, but I did really good for myself, and I couldn’t be any prouder. I even tried a new business (sold customized tote bags) while growing my wig venture (@hervannah).
Every year has its peculiarities, but in all, always LIVE. Do the things that make you happy; treasure memories and experiences over all other things. Document, take pictures, tell people you love them, compliment strangers, share love.
Happy New Year in advance. Cheers to an amazing 2022!
And please tell me, how was your year?
p.s Here’s a link to the ‘year in review’ that spurred mine. I promise; it’s a great read — here
