I quit my job at SystemSpecs on the 18th of May, 2018. I was very excited that I was finally going to learn about fashion designing. All the beautiful clothes on the gram, Pinterest, other social media sites; I would finally learn to make them myself. I was excited! I took some money that I had saved for fashion school about N270,000 and paid for a three-month course in one Fashion school at Ikeja. Long story short, the school had more students than its facility could handle and for this reason, only a few students were being catered for, while the rest were just hanging. As a new person there, I was also hanging.
Everything was a struggle. The struggle for workspace, guidance from the instructors, use of the facilities, etc. I wasn't used to this kind of struggle. My three months were going gradually and so was my N270,000. I started to regret ever registering with the school. I collected my sewing machine from them as promised and left. I was advised by many people that I needed to go to a local tailoring shop to learn the basics.
I spent about a month at home almost slipping into depression before finally deciding on the place to begin my training. One day my mum came home and told me that she saw a shop that they displayed beautiful clothing with studs. This was the beginning of my problems. Mum said that they made beautiful clothes there and she will like me to start my training there. I was nervous and excited at the same time but......I was like, let's see what I can make out of this.
The next day, mom and I went to the place, permit me not to mention names. The shop was owned by a man and wife who know everything about sewing except actually using a sewing machine. They sized me up and gave us a fee of N120,00 for a year. We tried to beat down the fee and finally arrived at N100,000. When we first got there, it was only the man that was around, his wife later came in. She sized me up and asked the other people in the shop "Who is she?".....the vibes were not cool but....ok!
She called me into her inner office and started asking questions like:
- How old are you?
- Are you educated?
- How long did you work for?
- Do you have any knowledge of fashion designing?
.....I answered the questions to the best of my ability. She then gave me a stern look and said " Do not say because you are educated, you will now start carrying your shoulder". Mogbe! I knew instantly that I was in another wrong place. In places like this, they turn their interns into maids and stewards. The errands began. "Go and buy me bread, come and go to Oshodi. Don't sweep the shop, when Chidimma comes, she will sweep it. You, sweep the shop when Chidimma comes she will wash the toilet". See my life!
Don't get me wrong, I have no issues with running errands but I had a problem with the fact that the main reason I came there was to learn but that had been pushed aside because of ERRANDS! I had made another big mistake. I forgot to even gist you guys that they requested for the ceremonial crackers biscuits and a crate of malt. They specified the kind of crackers sef and type of malt. Let me leave that one. On days that I drove to the shop, I won't hear the last of it and they looked for many ways to "humble" me.
The "come and wash my plate" after eating became a norm. The bricklayer will work in the shop and it will be "Chidimma come and clean up". Why do these guys act like this? An internship is not equal to slavery! I came to the conclusion that maybe Fashion designing wasn't for me and I started applying for jobs. Not long after, I got a job at Ikeja Electric. I informed them that I will try my best to pop in every once in a while but if I couldn't, e be things!
I visited once and never went back there. I used to get upset whenever I remembered them but now, I've made peace with everything that happened. I still have my sewing machine and I'll go back to fashion designing when I have healed from the disappointment completely.
I still want to hear from you in the comments section, don't forget that there's a price to be won!
Till we meet again....your favorite melanin gurrrrrrl!
Signed
Brown Skin Girl!
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