Tecla

Heroism has nothing to do with skin colour or social status. It is a state of mind and a willingness to act for what is right and just. Knowing what you need to know actually drives out fear. For one to change a wrong situation, you do not need to be an expert, all you need is the urge to take the right steps.

Tecla is a girl who was from a humble background. John, who was her father, worked as a night guard in a mansion that belonged to a famous businessman in town. Unfortunately, Tecla had lost her mother at quite a tender age. A grass thatched hut that was almost collapsing was what she termed as home. Two pairs of tattered dresses was what this girl proudly owned with no shoes to accompany the clothes.

Since childhood, Tecla’s life was not swift. Taking three meals per day for the family was an opportunity that descended from the heavens. Tecla managed to join a neighboring school that was three kilometers away from her home. Having to walk six kilometers daily did not stop this little angel nor did it discourage her, for she understood that life is like riding a bicycle. To keep balance, you must keep going.

Tecla was frequently stopped from continuing school since her father could not afford paying her  school fees in full. True to the adage, “in the quest of knowledge, always remain hungry, be a fool and yearn each day to learn more,” Tecla was determined to follow the road of education and she tightly clung on to it. In school, Tecla was rudely abused by her school mates who also made fun of her tattered uniform. She was often referred to as a church mouse.

Every time that she thought of the many insults she received, she would walk to one of the hut’s corners and cry herself to sleep. Her dearest father always reminded her that strength and growth come only through continuous effort and struggle. Despite the many challenges Tecla underwent, never did she think of giving up.

Positive thoughts generate positive feeling and attract positive life experiences. Positive outcome were seen in Tecla’s results. Despite being insulted, Tecla emerged as the best performed student in the school and broke the school’s performance record. Tecla’s father John was overwhelmed and was very proud of his daughter. Those were not the times when scholarships were offered. No matter how willing her father was to allow Tecla to join her dream university, his financial status could not allow him.

Tecla understood this perfectly well and every time she thought of the fact that she would have to drop the thoughts of joining her dream university, tears of sorrow cascaded down her chubby cheeks. Life had to move on, despite this fact. One sunny afternoon, as John prepared to leave for work, he called his daughter and started off a conversation. He had heard that in the mansion that he worked in, they needed a house help and wanted to know if Tecla would agree to work there. After much reasoning, Tecla agreed to go work in the mansion since she would at least earn and start saving for her university fees.

After an interview with Mr. Geofrey, the mansion owner, he was more than glad to have Tecla working in his house. She was provided with a room to stay in and was shown around the mansion by Stacy, who was to become her workmate. Life at Mr. Geofrey’s mansion was not as hard as she had expected it to be. Actually, it was a lot simpler. Her duty was to ensure that the furniture was sparkling clean, do the laundry using a washing machine (which she was taught how to use), wash the utensils using a dishwasher, and that was all for the day.

Tecla would spend the rest of the day walking around the mansion and admiring the expensive furniture, vehicles, and beautiful spa, always praying that she would get to own more than she saw. In the many months that Tecla lived in the house, she continually asked herself whether Mr. Geofrey has a family — children to enjoy what their dad had, and a wife to enjoy the company of her children and husband.

It was not long before Tecla’s questions were answered. Mr. Geofrey’s family returned from a tour they had taken to Italy. Her boss had a beautiful lady for a wife and a middle-aged guy for a son. He was the only child. She was amazed by how the family lived in love and harmony and her wish was that she would enjoy such company. She later on swore that her children would have the best life — life that she had never gotten to enjoy since her first gulp of air.

Mr. Geofrey’s family was also joyful and welcoming and once they were introduced to Tecla, they were pleased to know her. Everybody within this family’s compound was termed as part of the family and was included under the title “Mr. Geofrey’s Family.” Tecla was delighted to have agreed to take up this job. Tecla enjoyed having the family love around her, but she did not forget that the key to happiness is really progress and growth — constantly working on yourself and developing something.

She was determined to develop something after working for this family and that was fees to pay for her university studies. The more Tecla lived with this family, the stronger the bond was built. It was not long before Tecla because best of friends with Steve, the son to Mr. and Mrs. Geofrey. Someone who did not know the two of them very well would mistake them to be siblings or even lovers.

The two were used to each other. Steve would help Tecla do her chores so that they could have more time to go for walks or on a drive. It is in the walks and drives that the two would share their life stories. Steve was touched on hearing all about Tecla’s background and he promised that he would do everything within his reach to ensure that Tecla would surely succeed.

Tecla was more than happy after this promise was made to her. Soon, Steve introduced her to some friends of his who offered to give her a part time job that paid excellently. Before starting her part time job, Tecla had to sign some papers of partnership. Tecla’s job would be that of delivering some packages to the respective customers — as simple as that. All the jobs Tecla got happened to be simple.

Since then, it became Tecla’s routine to always give excuses of taking walks from as early as 11 am, accompanied by Steve. Having been a good girl, and trustworthy, nobody questioned her weird “walks.” When you want to succeed as badly as you want to breathe, then you’ll be successful. After two years of multitasking, Tecla had truly become successful and was now a multi-millionaire. With this, she quit working for Mr. Geofrey and moved in with her uniquely designed, spacious, four bedroom, all-ensuite house.

Tecla had also managed to build her father a three bedroomed bungalow built on a two-acre plot. It is also within the two years that she had pushed her relationship with Steve to a higher level and they were now lovers. Tecla had made her dreams come true. Her father John was proud to have Tecla as a daughter. He had moved from extreme poverty to extreme riches through the help of his lovely angel.

Tecla’s father drove a Toyota Prada while Tecla herself had a variety to choose from, all thanks to Steve, who had helped her hit her goal. But the question for many was: how did Tecla achieve all this? Well, from the part time job, Tecla had happened to be paid half a million as her first salary, and after being a loyal employee had been promoted to be the main distributor. She was now the boss. In her business, she was known as “Lady Joy.”

Lady Joy was all over the media, being the most wanted criminal in the country. She was known for being the main drug trafficker in the country, and that is where her wealth came from. Steve was her supported, but (luckily for him), nobody knew of him, not even the media. Though wealthy, Tecla’s life was not the same as when she was poor. In fact, she now preferred her poor life.

Tecla was always in the hide-out to escape the authorities and thieves. Her life was at stake, and she felt threatened. She remained in caves, and a simple trip to visit her father was impossible. Her business friends had turned against her since she had surpassed their expectations and had become wealthier than they expected. No place was safe for her.

Life went on life this for such a long time, until her loving father decided to have a father-daughter talk with his child to know the truth. Tears cascaded Tecla’s face as she narrated on how she started drug trafficking to her father. John was angry at first but he understood his daughter’s desperation to acquire wealth.

After a lengthy talk, John advised his daughter to quit the job and send a letter to the media explaining her resignation in being a drug trafficker. Since she was known as Lady Joy, nobody would ever get to know that he true identity was Tecla. True to her father’s advices, Tecla decided to turn a new page in life. She moved from being a drug trafficker to the old, kind, lovely and generous Tecla that people knew. Love does wonders. After Tecla reformed, Steve also chose to go back to the good son he was.

Sometimes you have to go backwards in order to eventually get where you want to be. Tecla decided that what she had acquired would be better shared out to people who were in need. She therefore built Grace Children’s Home and placed it under care of Stacy, her former workmate, and donated a great portion of wealth to it. With this she felt great and forgiven. She also built a school and placed it under the care of her father.

With the new transformation, Tecla was now a free citizen. She had a freedom to do all what she wanted. She now had a safe future. Her life was not complete until she officially wedded Steve. Mr. and Mrs. Geofrey were in-laws with their former night guard, and their daughter-in-law was their former house help. But all in all, they were happy to be family.

You were never created to live depressed, defeated, guilty, condemned, ashamed, or unworthy. You were created to be victorious. Many occurrences may take place before you attain your victory, but always remember that optimism is the faith that leads to achievement. Nothing can be done without hope and confidence.

Our future is of great importance and it values a lot. What we do, the actions we take, contribute to how our future will be. The past should be the past. It can destroy the future. Live life for what tomorrow has to offer, not for what yesterday has taken away. Life is tough but so are you.

You need to learn to let go of whatever it is that makes you think you are not good enough. Because that’s how you’re going to beat this. When you learn that you matter and that the future holds great things for you. Do not be afraid to make mistake, to stumble, to fall because most of the time the greatest rewards come from being and doing things that scare you the most. Maybe you will get everything you wished for. Maybe you will get more than you could ever imagine. Who knows where life will take you? The road is long in the end, the journey is the destination to a safer future.