The call came on a quiet afternoon.

“Hello, is this Oreoluwa?”

“Yes.”

“This is the Nigerian Conservation Foundation. Your request letter is ready. You can come and pick it up.”

My heart leapt.

After weeks of walking under the sun, begging, explaining, praying I thought, finally.

I thought this was it,That things were falling into place. That I could exhale and start doing what I came here to do.

I wore my khaki like it was a crown that day.

I took the trip to NCF with excitement buzzing under my skin, already picturing the work I’d get to do the kids I’d teach, the nature I’d help protect, the purpose I’d finally live out.

But NYSC had a plot twist waiting.

Because after picking up the letter and submitting it to the local government office, I heard the words that made my stomach drop:

“Submission isn’t approval.”

“You have to wait.”

“It’s not automatic.”

The familiar cycle returned.

More waiting,More silence. More “Come back tomorrow.”

And suddenly, that phone call that had felt like a finish line was just the starting line of another race.

I wanted to scream.

I wanted to cry.

I wanted to ask why every step forward still felt like I was running in place.

But I didn’t give up.

I couldn’t.

Because somehow, the girl who once dreamed of standing for nature and change was still in there tired, yes but not broken.

So once again, I waited.

Hope and khaki still heavy, but this time, I was ready.

To be continued…