Independence is Golden but Sacrificial

Independence is Golden but Sacrificial

I am not too sure but I think it happens more often in most African homes where young people are always in haste to leave home and stay independently on their own. This thing happens especially when the child feels he's been humiliated and denied some kind of freedom he needs. At this point, he would start making money so he could get his own apartment. Moreover, if the money isn't coming in as fast as expected, he will leave the house to stay with a friend. This is prevalent in both boys and girls. For the young girls, most of them will run out of the house to live with their lovers. Especially the teenage girls.

Being independent is Golden but there are prices you have to pay to enjoy some of the privileges that come with it. For some families, immediately a person leaves the family house to stay on his own, they cease to take care of such a person. The person is then responsible for everything concerning himself or herself.

Here is the story of how my independence started.

As a young boy growing up in the village with my parents. I didn't really have the urge to leave and stay on my own. Though most of my mates were already living independently of their parents. Meanwhile, I came from a strict Christian home, hence you dare not attempt to leave the house.

However, I was lucky to gain admission into the university, and that marked the beginning of independence. I left home for another state for school, and for the period of four years, I was taken care of by my parents. After my course, I left for national service in another state. At the end of the national service, I began my life as an adult, taking full responsibility and not having to depend on anyone. It's been about a decade, and I have no regrets whatsoever. Despite the challenges, I still hold on and hope that light will shine at the end of the tunnel.

Most of the time when challenges came to swallow me up, and I felt like running back home to my parents, I'd just remember that things weren't too fine at home, so instead of returning home to add to their challenges, I felt it was better to face my challenges.

There are so many things I am enjoying as a result of being independent. First of all, I am only answerable to myself. I have no one I am accountable to. I go wherever I want to and return to my house without answering questions. I control my finances and buy whatever I want with my money. Also, I keep whoever I want to as a friend and many others. It is also worth noting that these privileges have been coming with challenges, for example, some days I won't have food to eat, some days I'd be out of money, some days things will not work out as planned. Most times, I will make financial decisions that I'll end up in debt and many other challenges.