NightengaleBen

Goodwall - The Life Changing App is the inspiring story of Dera, a sixteen-year-old student in Senior Secondary School. Dera’s dream was to sit for the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) alongside her classmates, but her parents were unable to afford the registration fees.

As the WASSCE registration deadline approached, Dera found herself in a difficult predicament. However, unwavering support from her family and the encouraging words of Mrs. Nnaji kept her determined, despite facing ridicule from others.

One day, Dera’s elder brother, Andrew, returned from his own school and shared with Dera about Goodwall, an app that had helped countless students. Initially, it seemed too good to be true, but Dera decided to give it a try by participating in Goodwall challenges.

Goodwall-The Life Changing App by Nightengale Ben-Onyeukwu

Dera cycled her pink bicycle to school on Monday morning. Looking at her, one would know that her peach-coloured shirt, pleated navy blue skirt, black tie, and peach blazer had lost their texture and colour due to constant washing. Her feet were adorned with torn, over-worn sandals.

The bicycle had a basket of exercise books in front. There were also a few textbooks neatly arranged in the basket, and when it rained, she put the books in her backpack and covered it with a waterproof sheet, placing it in the basket. However, since it wasn't the rainy season yet, Dera had nothing to fear. Nevertheless, she remained prepared for any eventuality.

As her school was a bit far from home, her elder brother, Andrew, had bought her the bicycle to help her commute to school more conveniently instead of waiting at the bus stop or walking all the way.

Dera had always hoped to get a new uniform, new sandals, pay her school fees for two terms, as well as register for her upcoming West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE). But she felt that it might be impossible for her to register for the examination. Her parents' income was not sufficient to pay for her brother's university fees, let alone cover her own school fees and WASSCE registration.

To support himself at the university, Andrew had found a part-time job as a cleaner in one of the restaurants on campus.

Threatening tears welled up in Dera's eyes, but she tried her best to suppress them as she pedalled on. Oh, Dera, stop thinking too much. You have to keep pedalling. Just a little further and you'll conquer this. You'll overcome these challenges and reach the top, she muttered in her heart, determined not to give up on life.

She wondered, for the millionth time, if going to school today was the right choice or if she should turn her bicycle back home. No, she refused to accept defeat. Instead, she would hold her head high and believe that she could weather the storm. But how? She couldn't stop questioning herself. She hadn't registered for the upcoming final exams, and her school fees for two terms remained unpaid. She wasn't even that concerned about her faded and over-washed uniform; her main worries were her school fees and WASSCE registration. If she didn't register for the WASSCE this year, it meant she would have to come back next year. She didn't want to delay her graduation rather she would want to experience the joy of graduating this year with her classmates.

Arriving at the school, she parked her bicycle in the shade of a huge tree and proceeded inside. Glancing at her reflection in the school window, she wanted to scream at how shabby she looked compared to the other smartly dressed students in their gorgeous uniforms and polished shoes.

Dera walked to the end of the hallway to read the notice board. There was nothing new on it, but she felt that after the morning assembly, there might be a notice about SS3 students who hadn't registered for their WASSCE. There was the timetable and the list of school clubs. The quotes from the principal, Mr. Johnson, were displayed to motivate the students and keep them moving forward.

Mr. Johnson made the school lively and inspired the students to never stop dreaming. Dera felt that she should write a letter to the principal, asking for some time to clear her debt. She wondered what she could write to convince him to give her a week or two for her parents to gather the money, and if her letter would be enough to prevent him from sending her home.

Chapter Two