FROM KAIMA’S DIARY…
Emilia, a determined young woman with a visible baby bump, stood before the hiring manager, her résumé clutched tightly in her hands. She had rehearsed this moment countless times, yet the weight of its importance never lessened.
“Sir, can I get a job?” she asked, her voice strong despite the fluttering in her chest. “I brought my CV with me. I can promise you that I am one of the hardest working people you will ever meet. I am 3 months pregnant, but that does not affect my ability to do my job. My child’s father does not live with me, so there will be no complications with taking maternity leave early as there is no one else to care for my baby but me.”
The manager, a middle-aged man with a furrowed brow, regarded her with a mix of curiosity and concern. “Miss, I can’t just offer you this job because you’re pregnant. And that means you’ll need to take leave in your 8th month to prepare for your baby. That might cost us a lot.”
Emilia’s heart sank, but she stood her ground. “Sir, that is against the law which I know protects against discrimination of any kind. It’s a protected characteristic. It is not fair to reject me because of my pregnancy.”
Emilia continues to stand her ground, not backing out. She promised herself to give her baby the best life, and she was determined to do it. She wasn’t going to leave until he understood her.
With the determination in her eyes, the manager decided to welcome her onboard because the fire in her eyes spoke out more than her words could speak.
Upon her resumption, Emilia never let the company down. Her promotion was coming quicker than she expected, and in no distant time, she rose to a director. One day, on her birthday, she decided to address the youths in her church community, and below was part of her speech…
“Today, I stand before you not just as a woman, a mother, or an employee of a company, but as a testament to the power of perseverance and belief in one’s own worth. Life often throws us into the deep end, expecting us to either sink or swim. Three years ago, I found myself standing at a crossroads, pregnant and alone, with the daunting task of securing not just my future but that of my unborn child. It would have been easy to succumb to fear, to accept defeat in the face of societal expectations and stereotypes. But I chose to fight”
She continued, “we must not accept the world as it is. We can shape it into the world it should be, one of equality, inclusivity, and respect for all.”
As I embark on this new chapter, I do so with the knowledge that my journey is not just for me, but for all those who will come after, who deserve to chase their dreams without fear or prejudice.
For I alone can’t change the world but together we are unstoppable.
Emilia, a determined young woman with a visible baby bump, stood before the hiring manager, her résumé clutched tightly in her hands. She had rehearsed this moment countless times, yet the weight of its importance never lessened.
“Sir, can I get a job?” she asked, her voice strong despite the fluttering in her chest. “I brought my CV with me. I can promise you that I am one of the hardest working people you will ever meet. I am 3 months pregnant, but that does not affect my ability to do my job. My child’s father does not live with me, so there will be no complications with taking maternity leave early as there is no one else to care for my baby but me.”
The manager, a middle-aged man with a furrowed brow, regarded her with a mix of curiosity and concern. “Miss, I can’t just offer you this job because you’re pregnant. And that means you’ll need to take leave in your 8th month to prepare for your baby. That might cost us a lot.”
Emilia’s heart sank, but she stood her ground. “Sir, that is against the law which I know protects against discrimination of any kind. It’s a protected characteristic. It is not fair to reject me because of my pregnancy.”
Emilia continues to stand her ground, not backing out. She promised herself to give her baby the best life, and she was determined to do it. She wasn’t going to leave until he understood her.
With the determination in her eyes, the manager decided to welcome her onboard because the fire in her eyes spoke out more than her words could speak.
Upon her resumption, Emilia never let the company down. Her promotion was coming quicker than she expected, and in no distant time, she rose to a director. One day, on her birthday, she decided to address the youths in her church community, and below was part of her speech…
“Today, I stand before you not just as a woman, a mother, or an employee of a company, but as a testament to the power of perseverance and belief in one’s own worth. Life often throws us into the deep end, expecting us to either sink or swim. Three years ago, I found myself standing at a crossroads, pregnant and alone, with the daunting task of securing not just my future but that of my unborn child. It would have been easy to succumb to fear, to accept defeat in the face of societal expectations and stereotypes. But I chose to fight”
She continued, “we must not accept the world as it is. We can shape it into the world it should be, one of equality, inclusivity, and respect for all.”
As I embark on this new chapter, I do so with the knowledge that my journey is not just for me, but for all those who will come after, who deserve to chase their dreams without fear or prejudice.
For I alone can’t change the world but together we are unstoppable.
✍️ Chikaima Zita Unachukwu.
