The Relocation I Cried For Never Came

When my call-up letter came out, I stared at the screen for almost five minutes.

This can't be right, Out of all the places I imagined serving, the state I got posted to wasn't even on the list.

I remember calling my mum immediately, Mum I can't stay there for one year.

She tried to calm me down, but I had already made up my mind. Before camp even started, I was researching relocation processes, asking questions in WhatsApp groups, and listening to every rumor flying around.

While others were enjoying camp activities, I was counting the days until relocation applications would open.

I just wanted out.

When relocation approvals finally started coming, the tension in camp was unreal. People were celebrating. Some were packing already.

I logged into my dashboard over and over again.

Nothing.

I checked again, Still nothing.

That day was one of my very sad night .

Not because the state was bad.

But because I felt stuck in a place far from home

I felt like everyone else's plans were working except mine.

Months later, something unexpected happened.

I stopped trying to escape, started living, meeting people in the community

I became involved in my community. I met people who genuinely cared about me. I got opportunities I never imagined. The same place I once called a mistake slowly became a place I called home.

The funniest part?

When POP was approaching, I found myself wishing I had more time.

The state I once rejected had given me friendships, memories, opportunities, and confidence I didn't have before.

Looking back now, my biggest culture shock wasn't the language, the food, or the environment.

It was realizing that sometimes the things we desperately want to run away from are the very things that shape us the most.

NYSC taught me that disappointment is not always a dead end.

Sometimes, it's just destiny arriving in a package you didn't ask for.

And as call up later is out, I wish all the pcm all the best

Ibadan is my suspense state of service and I fell in love with it....