I Don’t Want To Be a Mechanic, I Want To Be a Baller.

Image credit: kiddiemajigs.co.za

“ What do you want to be when you grow up?”

I remember getting this question at every function when I was younger and my answer was always the same.

“I want to be a doctor.”

The goal was simple. Become a doctor and help people in need. But who was I kidding? Almost every child at my age gave similar answers; the famous big 3 is what I call them. A doctor, lawyer, or an engineer — with the occasional accountant or banker thrown in for good measure. They seem to be the only ‘honorable’ occupations in an African household.

I ended up studying Human kinetics at the University of Lagos. Surprisingly, it wasn’t a total drop off as I still gained some of the medical knowledge I desired and also engaged in sports that hugely impacted my life.

The older I get, the more I realize how naive we were as children. How did we think we had that figured out at such a young age? We had no idea how the world works. Some of us still don’t have it all together but personally, one thing is certain.

“I want to be a baller!”

Everyone has their definition of what it means to be a baller, but when I heard Burna boy say this, I snapped.

“For this life I dey, I want to be celebrated. Don’t wanna waste my days; I want to spend them on enjoyment.”

This is it. This is what we all want. This is who a baller is. He cracked the code, allowing our softly spoken thoughts and positive affirmations to emerge in a less complicated form.

Being a baller provides a sense of security, comfort, and safety — not having to worry about bills or where you’ll get your next meal, being able to support your loved ones, having access to certain things in life, and so much more. Sometimes, life tells us that we will not always have these liberties, but the trenches taught us that we can.

As I continue on the path fate has chosen for me, I smile as I recall the 10-year-old who chose one of those generic answers and wonder, “What if I told them I want to be a baller?”