There are moments in life that quietly shape who we become, without us even noticing. I like to call these “full-circle moments”
Back in secondary school, I remember when the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) launched a campaign to reduce accidents and promote road safety.
helpingThey reached out to schools from all 20 local government areas in Lagos. Now, looking back as someone in brands and marketing, I like to think of it as one of my first little “marketing briefs” (lol). We were just “agency kids,” tasked by LASTMA with spreading the message that safety is everyone’s responsibility.
Little did I know, I was part of my first “campaign” before
I even knew what a brief was. Ironic, right?
helpingI was in SS1 then, and the topic, “Safety: A Collective Responsibility for All,” seemed like a good way to keep busy over the holidays. So, I began writing, not expecting much.
helpingAt the time, I thought it was just another assignment, but I now realize it was much more than that. With what we had learned about essay writing, I knew it as an expository essay. So I went all in, researching journals, books, and articles.
In my research, I discovered the importance of regulating truck drivers' hours so they would mostly drive at night. With less traffic after dark, there’s a reduced risk of accidents, fewer pedestrians on the road, and a smoother traffic flow for all.
It is eye-opening to see how a small change like this could significantly improve safety and efficiency on the roads. That simple essay gave me a new understanding of road safety and the role we all play in it.
After I submitted the essay, I didn’t think much of it. When school resumed, though, the principal called me to his office. Usually, that meant trouble, so I was definitely nervous.
But to my surprise, I learned that I was one of 20 winners, and my essay had placed third in the state!
helpingMe, the boy who did his homework out of holiday boredom, had ranked third in Lagos? And to make it even more surreal, the governor himself would be awarding us at the State House. That day, I received my first laptop, a prize I never imagined I would get from writing an essay.
Back then, even mobile phones weren’t as common as now, so I felt like I was in another world, standing among winners. My principal even encouraged me to rewrite the essay and share it with the school, hoping to inspire others.
Soon, there was a slogan circulating: “Be like Timothy.” It was a kind of campaign in itself (excuse the brand person in me!), encouraging students to think and do more.
Fast forward to now, more than a decade later: I find myself working in the transportation sector, designing safety campaigns and leading safety projects to help protect people on the roads.
helpingI realize now that the essay planted a small seed in me that somehow grew and led me here. This reiterates my philosophy of life: the lessons you learn along the way are just as important as the journey itself.
What seemed like a small task at the time shaped my journey in ways I could never have imagined.
To everyone who dreams, who writes, who believes, even when it doesn’t seem perfect, you never know where it might lead. A simple essay, a sketch, a childhood goal are all valid.
There are moments in life that quietly shape who we become, without us even noticing. I like to call these “full-circle moments”
