DON'T HOLD BACK

When I was a child, I made it to every noise maker list. Even before I could make noise I had made it. People got to detention for other things, mine was always talking in class. The greatest punishment was to sit quietly and do nothing, staring at the blackboard. You feel like the world is over.

I always got into trouble always for being a makmende, even though I can be awfully quiet, in spite of being genetically extroverted. Once when I was MCing I heard someone boo, was so hurt. When you are always over-expressing, you'd find yourself in more trouble.

In our culture, it is not a common place for women to be outspoken, in time I'd find myself very quiet. I'd revert into my quiet shell. I'd feel so ashamed for being noisy.

But in the words of Chimamanda who said, be yourself, eventually, you will find people who like that version of you. People who think that fraction of you is absolutely amazing. The world is full of many people, somewhere on earth, there is your kind. I did find my kind in this world. People who believe in disrupting the status quo, being revolutionary, and having bravery as one of their core values. How awesome is that?

The greatest word I ever heard from my senior, is "DON'T HOLD BACK". It was like the key to being myself. Finally, I could participate in savagery. I have considered it, that I am lucky and grateful to be left to be me. However eventful. To live loud and proudly. I think I have become greater than before of this. In one year I have become more of myself than ever. So grateful. By watching people I admired, and learning to live freely. I am drawn to savagery. People who sing on the corridors, don't know how to suppress laughter, I feel at home.

Don't hold back. Our personalities are who we are. The only thing that makes us, us. The only thing that makes us unique.

The only contribution to the world that can be made by only you. That if you were not here, the world would be different. That if you remain silent, you hurt the world, for the world would miss that ingredient that is you.

" By holding back who we are we come of us prudish and boring" So may we have the courage to not hold back