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Hello members of Hivenaija community, it's a privilege to participate in this week’s prompt again. The prompt for this week really hit home as independence has become my reality right now. So the prompt for this week is:
>Independency - When is the first time you felt truly independent or older than your age?


I had to grow up quickly because I am the first child and my mum left us quite early, so I had to take up so many responsibilities at an early age
The first time I ever felt independent was when I had to go for my National Youth Service program, I had to go all the way to the North, and at that point it was just my and myself alone, I was to fend for myself. 

Although I didn't have to get an apartment because I was given one by my PPA (Place of Primary Assignment), so that wasn't an issue, but I had to cater to all of my other needs, as there was no daddy or mummy waiting somewhere for me to run to. 

![IMG-20230709-WA0019.jpg](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/fredaa/23zGqBmP5i9STF2UGpHyFof2trjTDmpyBy3bXppTwdzd4GgBrvPSoiNPAETRFjEJJCWH6.jpg)

I think that period was more like a learning phase of what real independence would look like, I had to even send some money to my siblings from the little I was getting. Fast forward to last year when the independence really dawned on me, so after I finished my NYSC, I didn't get a job immediately, I had to stay home for a year or two, although I did some menial jobs, but I wouldn't really count them. 


So early last year I got a job in another city different from where I reside, so I had to go stay with my aunt and her family for a while, pending when I would be stable enough to get and move into my own place. During the period I was with her, I didn't have to feed myself, so feeding and accommodation were covered as at that time, all I needed to think of was transportation to and from work. 

Finally, the time came for me to leave and move into my own place, the first huddle I had to cross was that of finding an apartment, I never knew that finding an apartment here in Lagos could be likened to a job because it would definitely take a toll on you. I went around in circles as most places were beyond my budget, and those that were within my budget weren't to my liking, I searched and searched, and at some point, I just wanted to move in with my friend, as my aunt and her family needed to go on a vacation and I didn't want to be around when they leave. 

But as God would have it, just in the nick of time I got a place I liked, although there were some shortcomings, it wasn't something I couldn't handle, and finally, I was able to pay for the place. 


![phil-hearing-IYfp2Ixe9nM-unsplash.jpg](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/fredaa/23wMY9qsMeewha3NSbzDwR1jcc2PvsNBbL65yS7prMQU1YctGxiN6LaQZpkZVM8v8PtFa.jpg)
[Source](https://unsplash.com/photos/trees-beside-white-house-IYfp2Ixe9nM?utm_content=creditShareLink&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=unsplash) 

We all know how finding an apartment isn't the end of the journey, you still have to get stuff to be able to actually live in the house, I made a list, and got the stuffs I needed, but I'm still actually getting things till today Hehehe.

So it was during these periods that it actually hit me that if I didn't do these things nobody was going to do them for me. 

Then there was the issue of my siblings having to meet me for some of their financial needs, as my dad isn't really financially buoyant right now. The recent inflation in my country hasn't been funny at all, because the basic things that we need, are gradually becoming more of a luxury.
So all of these things combined together, have really been a real test on my independence. But in all, I have and will continue to overcome. 

Thank you for stopping by, I hope you enjoyed reading my little journey to independence</div>🥰🥰

**All images are mine except otherwise stated**

Posted Using [InLeo Alpha](https://inleo.io/@fredaa/my-journey-to-independence)