LIFE'S CALL FROM THE BAR

So, the 27th of November 2018, was the day I got the welcome call into the Nigerian Bar. 5 years at the University, 1 mandatory year of internships and 1 year at the Nigerian Law school, Ladies and Gentlemen, it all came down to this day. Please, don’t ask me how I feel, this piece says it all.

Those welcoming words were made and I realised, this is it. In a way, life in another dimension begins with this call. As many things ran through mind, I could’t help but relate this new association with life itself.

So let’s pretend the Nigerian bar is a liquor bar and you just arrived. The bar man, ready as ever to serve you whatever you demands from the beautiful array of the variety of drinks displayed on the shelf.  Yes, I was intentional with the word demand, as I am of the opinion that as it is with life, the Nigerian Bar will only give you what you demand and not necessarily what you deserve. And if karma decides to push you in the direction of what you deserve, trust me, I have seen many people, lawyers included, demand with much resilience from life what they want, so much that the universe connives with them to convert their demand Into what they deserve. Just demand and it is yours.

Also, in this shelf there is a variety of options. Likewise, with life, we are often presented with an ocean of opportunities. You want to be an oil and gas lawyer, intellectual property lawyer, an In-house Counsel, or you just want to slay everyday in court,  and if like the proverbial Jack, you feel capable enough to be a pro in all of the above, why not, just name it and it’s yours. I have realized that often times we are scarred by the opportunities we intentionally missed rather than the ones we took and failed at. And if you feel like none of the drinks on the shelf suits you , nothing stops you from walking out of the bar in search of a better place. Truth is your Law degree does not come with a ‘by fire by force, do or die” bomb waiting to happen. If you decide to find your happiness somewhere else, believe me, this universe will not judge you, but on a lighter note, if the world people hold otherwise, do well to point them in the direction of Falz. An unconventional Lawyer who has created a niche for himself in the entertainment industry, so much that the dude can settle the frustration of a whole generation with what Is chicken change to him and he will not even do it with his flawless Law degree. Like I said, Life will always give you what you demand and not what you deserve, just demand and it is yours.

Finally, if you are like me and indecisiveness has become a prayer point at Shiloh on a yearly basis, I still believe nobody is rushing us. The bar man, just like life, is paid to serve you. Take your time, explore, test the waters, till you find what carries the fulfillment you crave. Try and try in as many areas you feel the passion to follow. Afterall, how will you know if  a path is yours or not, when you have never been there. In the end, your career is a big part of your life and no one will help you explain to your maker what stopped you from fulfilling the purpose for which you were created. For some of us, something as easy as deciding what to eat as breakfast is almost a difficult as choosing a marriage partner....however in the end, your satisfaction will come from knowing that you made the best decision at your own pace.

This is a starting point for us. Believe it or not, eyes are on you, your parents and guardians earnestly await the fruit of their Labour. I bet your village people want to see how much all those books you blocked their vision with will help you earn. Take your time my friend, nobody is rushing you. In the end...what will matter most is the means to the end...because the means will always be a true reflection of the end.

Blog post by Titilola Afolabi Esq