I don’t even know where to start from. I just feel like letting this off my chest because honestly, I’m tired. Mentally, emotionally, financially… I’m drained. I’m a student, and to be honest, I practically fend for myself in school. My mom is a teacher with a small salary, and she’s using most of her money to take care of my younger siblings in secondary school. So sometimes, even the little she sends for my upkeep comes late, and before it even gets to me, I’ve already borrowed money from friends just to eat or buy small things I need for school. During the holidays, I told myself I couldn’t continue like this, so I decided to start a business. I didn’t want to sell perfumes, clothes, or shoes since everyone around me was already doing that. I wanted to be different. So I started this aesthetic wall frame business… those cute customized frames people use for home decoration, motivational quotes, and all that. I was able to gather some money and I used it to start up. At first, it felt like a good decision. I was excited, made samples, put them out, and got some orders. But recently, it’s like everything just stopped. For over two weeks now, I haven’t gotten a single order. Not one. The frames I made with so much hope are just sitting there in my room like decoration, and every time I look at them, I feel so sad and frustrated because that business was literally my hope for survival in school. And now, it’s like it’s failing. I’m starting to lose interest, not because I don’t love it, but because when you keep pushing and it feels like nothing is working, you get tired. To make things worse, before my mom could send me my little upkeep money this week, I had already borrowed from friends just to eat and buy some essentials. She sent ₦5,000 today, and after settling the debts, I’m left with ₦500. And honestly, I don’t even know whether to cry or laugh at this point. I’ve been trying to think of other businesses I can do, but in a student environment, it feels like everything has been done. Everyone is selling the same things, and I thought by doing these frames, I’d stand out, but even being different is not enough sometimes. I don’t know if it’s consistency I’m lacking or if it’s just bad timing. I don’t know how to keep going when it feels like nothing is working. I just know I can’t give up because if I do, how will I survive? I don’t have anyone to fall back on. I just had to let this out because maybe, just maybe, someone out there has been in this situation before, or someone knows a business idea that thrives in student areas apart from food business because I can’t have time for that due to the nature of the course I’m studying (a professional course), or maybe you just have advice on how to stay consistent and keep your head up when things are tough. I’m just a young girl trying to find her way, and right now, everything feels so overwhelming. I’m exhausted, and sometimes it feels like I’m carrying too much for one person.
Also read: Nothing Seems To Be Working