Work experience is a struggle
Nigerian employers want you to be young, but they also want you to have years of experience under your belt. Nothing could possibly prepare you for this, and the reality slowly sinks in after you’ve applied for a couple of jobs you won’t get because you don’t have the adequate experience required for the job or the industry.
Alarms are the worst
Waking up every morning is a struggle because no matter how long you sleep, you will always wake up tired. And most of the time, your alarm will be the thing that rouses you from sleep, much to your irritation. But you need it to wake up, so you reel it all in.
You won’t get a break from working
During your time in school, you could decide to stab as many classes as you want, and nobody will notice. Do you want to try that at your job? Yes, You will always be tempted to, but you know it won’t end well.
Bills. Bills. More Bills
No matter how much you earn in your 20s, you will always struggle with money. And you know what? Nothing wants to make you give everything up and be on auto-pilot when your pricey phone screen breaks at a time the only thing keeping you going is the sight of your next payday.
Feeding is a big deal
You will realise just how much of a lifesaver your mother’s homemade food was, and you will miss it all the time, especially when you track how much you spend on your feeding. You will feel wasteful, but you will hardly do anything about it.
The first signs of an illness send you into panic
The ‘ordinary’ fever you would normally take for granted now has a powerful hold over you, filling you with dread at every point. Also, you realise how expensive healthcare is; one visit to the hospital and your account balance will bleed. Ugh!
Weddings are overrated
Remember the good days when all you had to worry about was what you were going to wear to your friend’s birthday party?
Now, your friends are getting married and making it your problem because you have a shitload of parties lined up. You will enjoy it for a while, but after you’ve been roped into buying your third Aso-Ebi in six months, you will begin to see how much of a hassle it is for you.