Hi there!
Welcome to my World of Escape! My name is Tolu (or Lulu) and I created this Medium account in January 2020.
I started writing since I was five or six years old, pretty much like every other Nigerian kid who attended primary (elementary) school and took English Language classes. However, my English language teachers never failed to inform my parents or I, that I was good at writing. That my writing take-home assignments, my essays, for a 6-year old, were filled with honest expressions, strong vocabulary and superb continuity that told the kind of stores that sucked you in. Every "How I Spent My Christmas Holiday'' essay made them want to send me back for another one so I could write one more story about it. Over 10, I would hardly score less than 8 and sometimes get the highest score 9 because 10/10 was for them. In secondary (middle/high) school, I continued to enjoy writing. Especially poems. I wrote for the school magazine, our fledgling News Press, and the Literary & Debating school club. But when an offer came to publish my own poetry book, I took flight.
In University (college), I moved that writing fervor to my Instagram. I wrote the longest captions that would usually hit the word limit. I realized then, that I had more to say and wanted to say it. I did some research and found this place where I could write for free. This medium where I could express myself to myself and share with others too if I wanted. It felt like writing on Instagram again, like a public diary, and here I am still writing to my heart's content today...yet to be blessed with the gift of brevity.
Enter 2020, around the very thick of the pandemic, I picked up writing again. Then I moved to the US from Lagos, Nigeria to study for a Master's degree in October 2020, and now a young professional residing and working in New York City!
In my young adulthood, writing has now become a form of escape. My form of escape. A safe place too if you will, from my belligerent past, dark thoughts, sad days and even from mushy feelings, lol. Even when I thought to write behind a pseudonym, I just couldn't...because it would make paradox, the freedom I sought to feel. Indeed, there is no greater agony than bearing these untold stories within me. I write to feel free and I sincerely hope that you feel even free-er when you read from me. I mean that.
I am sharing all of these with you because I'd like you to understand from whence my journey comes and also because I HATE to leave out any details. I'm finally embracing this God-given talent and I'd love for you to read, follow, subscribe, applaud and even leave a response to let me know your genuine thoughts & opinions, just like my English Language teachers always did. I'm here now, mostly because of their support and belief in me. Imagine what yours could do too :)
Thank you, and welcome again!
To Caged Birds now set free 🕊🕊🕊,
Tolu
(Signed: Jan 7, 2023)
