Hi friends, I'm so pleased to be part of this beautiful community.
My name is Ukpai Chioma margret, I hail from Ebonyi State in Afikpo South local government area, which is located in the Eastern region of Nigeria. I am the second daughter of my parents, we are actually five girls only. My father died of poison when we were still very young and since then it has just been my mum, i and my sisters. We live in Lagos, in Okota Cele Express road precisely. Lagos is known to be the most populous city in Nigeria.
After the death of my father, things became really difficult for my mother. It wasn't easy for my mother and sisters to survive, my mother had to do all sorts of menial jobs to cater for our needs, so we wouldn't go hungry and to pay for our school fees. We struggled really hard, we sold items on the streets of Lagos, walked long distances because most times we couldn't afford transportation fare, we did all these just to feed and survive. Mothers are indeed very self sacrificing.
My high school days wasn't easy as well, it was a big struggle for me to meet up with payments for school fees and school supplies. I was flogged countless times at school due to delay in payment of fees, i was punished and helpless. I trekked miles from home to school because my mother couldn't afford to give me transportation fare daily, i thought of running way, i thought of giving up, i was at my breaking point, i had gotten to my limit or so i thought. Then i took a drastic decision.
I decided to go and live with my father's relatives, it was against my mother's decision but i had to, for her sake. Atleast she would only worry about taking care of four children instead of five children. I made myself the sacrificial lamb for my mother's sake and that of my siblings. Living with my father's relatives started off well within the first few weeks, i was happy and i felt welcomed, things was going on smoothly as supposed but then suddenly everything changed from the third week, their attitude towards me changed, i was now being treated like an outsider, i was made to do all the chores and still handled their businesses. I would cook, clean, wash and i went to school late because i had to walk walk a long distance to school.
I hid everything that was happening to me from my mother, i didn't want her to be sad, i lied severally that I was fine even when i was in pains from beatings recieved from my aunt whenever i made a mistake
No matter how long it takes, i can never forget my experience during my stay with my father's relatives, i keep praying each day that i heal from the emotional torture and physical abuse that i went through there. I'm grateful i survived, I'm alive and here today sharing my experience with you all.
I'm a graduate of psychology and I specialize in children with special needs such as down syndrome, autism, children with learning disorders and behavioral challenged children. I really enjoy working with these children because I help them learn to build themselves up by overcoming challenges and managing situations that restrict them due to their disabilities. Working with children with special needs have taught me to be thankful for what i have, to be more appreciative, approachable and kind towards all.
It has helped me to view life differently and to make good use of my time wisely, spreading love and helping the needy even though i don't have so much. Giving is actually from the heart, you don't need to have so much before giving out to others. Giving also doesn't necessarily have to be material gift alone. We can choose to give out our time, energy, skill and show love to people around us. This will put a smile on faces of so many people and their lives can be changed with just an act of little kindness.
I love my job because it's a way of giving back to the society by helping these special needs children learn to develop themselves and have a positive impact in the different society they belong to, thus building them up for the future.
I love cooking, writing, movies and outdoor activities. I really love cooking a lot because its give me joy. putting the ingredients, spices and herbs together to form something tasty and seeing people eat them with so much gratitude makes me really happy. I love anything related to cooking, I'm so passionate about it that anyone who comes close to me notices within few hours that i love to cook.
I also like writing a lot because it helps me put my thoughts together and I express myself better in writing. I also love writing because it helps me to be more real, it helps me to be confident, it helps me to be coordinated and to be relaxed.
I got to know about HIVE through a spend HBD workshop conducted by @beauty197. Seminars was held and I learnt how the HIVE platform operates, how to set up HIVE account, funding my wallet and how to spend and at the same time earn using HBD.
I must say that I'm grateful I took the initiative to participate in this project, because i enjoyed a lovely shopping experience and i will be also exploring other sections of this platform. I will also play my own part in contributing positive to the team as I share my experiences and also learn from others. I'm open to making new friends and learning new things.
Thank you beauty for this wonderful opportunity you have made known to me, i will use it well to impact in the lives of people in this platform and in the lives of those around me. I'm open to correction, unlearning and relearning new things together. I won't take this opportunity for granted, i promise.
I'm happy to start this new journey with you all. I'm ready and willing to comply with the platform rules and create original contents.
Thanks as I anticipate a receptive welcome. Love you all.