So today happens to be my Alma mater's 61st birthday.
Of all my fond memories in the school,the one I most cherish till date was the impact Madam Sheila Solarin of blessed memory had on me.
Madam organised English tutorials then and focused mostly on Essay writing. Later got interested and decided to join. Even though I was a science student, I seriously considered switching to Arts when I wrote an essay and she scored me 15/20.
If you knew the woman I'm talking about in her lifetime, that I had scored 15 would be a big deal to you too. She's white and from Scotland but had to move to Nigeria after marrying the great sage, late Dr. Tai Solarin.
I remember the feeling and how I savoured that day for a long time. Got to my hostel (B4D) and opened the page where 15 was written and had it as my pillow for the night. Such was its significance to me. Even though I graduated from a science class, literature and the love of writing never left me.
If anything, madam giving me such score and only circling out with a red biro just very negligible errors I had made in the essay gave me that boldness to always express my thoughts fluently in writing.It doused the fear I had for writing.
Madam Sheila can't give you a 15 and you just let it go to waste. I'd forever be grateful to her as she rests on in the bosom of the Almighty.
As I celebrate Mayflower school today, I celebrate her contributions to my life and for her patience in guiding me in Essay writing despite the large number of students she had to work with.
Long Live Tai
Long Live Sheila
Long Live Mayflower
Hip hip hurray
Student number 13506 reporting for duty!
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