Dear Overwhelmed you-It's Time

Dear Overwhelmed You,

Let me tell you a little about me.

I was the girl who hawked bread under the scorching sun in Port-Harcourt Nigeria, weaving through traffic, calling out to strangers, hoping to sell enough to bring something home. I was the girl who walked miles just to get to a cyber café because back then, there was no WiFi, very poor electricity, but I refused to let my dreams be buried under a bad network and poor infrastructure.

I was the girl who sat in front of a desktop computer , staring at job postings in countries I had never been to, wondering if a girl like me born into struggle could ever have a chance.

Before I knew how to maximize the online space, I tried To-Go( a chatting site then), but it didn’t do much for me. Then, I turned to Facebook to connect with friends, but I still didn’t find what I was looking for. So, I started using Google to search for opportunities. I opened a Yahoo Mail, then a Gmail account, because I wanted to receive updates about scholarships as a young undergraduate.

One day, during one of my countless Google searches, I found out about the Chevron Scholarship. I was excited, but my small phone couldn’t do much, so I walked to a cyber café and spent hours browsing all the requirements. With the help of the experts, i applied and waited. Out of 1,500 students, only two of us were awarded the scholarship due poor communication of information. That scholarship funded my 4yrs university degree.

I still remember the moment I got the news. I sat there, staring at my name on the school's notice board, my heart pounding. Me? A girl from a struggling home? Chosen? It was at that moment I realized the power of the internet. If I could find this, what else could I discover? What other doors could open?

Fast forward to 2020, I dusted off my LinkedIn account. At first, I didn’t know what to post, so I simply read what professionals were sharing. I wanted to understand how they thought, what they talked about, how they built careers online. I was searching for something—anything—to help me move forward.

One day, while browsing the internet, I found a site offering free Virtual Assistant training for young people in Africa. I enrolled, determined to use the internet for good. I learned how to use Google tools, manage emails, organize data, and assist busy professionals remotely. It was a whole new world for me.

I started talking about what I could do on LinkedIn. At first, it felt strange, almost like shouting into the void. But then, people started noticing. My inbox began to fill with messages. "Can you help me with this?"

"Are you available for work?"

Before I knew it, I was working with professionals from different parts of the world, all from my small corner in Nigeria.

Then, one day, I saw World Pulse on my feed. A platform where women could share their stories, connect, and inspire each other. I joined, and for the first time, I didn’t just read about other people’s journeys, I shared mine.

That single act changed my life. I got my first podcast appearance through World Pulse to share my story on the Empathy Youyou Meme Show hosted by Mimi Nicklin . I have connected with women from different countries, each with their own struggles, triumphs, and lessons. Reading their stories daily gives me strength, reminding me that my journey, no matter how small, was part of something bigger.

Today, I source for opportunities online and share them with teenagers. I now know how to use Google search effectively, and I help young girls discover websites where they can learn valuable skills. I run a WhatsApp community where I share resources, job leads, and opportunities to help others grow.

I have had the opportunity to join a team that taught young people about the power of the internet in a program called ICT Evangelism for Teens and Children. I’ve also joined several movements dedicated to helping people make good use of the internet—because I know firsthand how life-changing it can be.

We are bringing the world together through the use of digital space for good.

But one of the things I am most excited about is my latest project—EduLift for Indigenous Teens.

I have written the plan, structure, and budget for this project. I am actively looking for sponsors and partners who believe in this vision and want to help me pilot this initiative.

OUR MISSION in EduLift exists to bridge the gap for indigenous secondary school students and university freshmen in Nigeria who struggle with financial limitations.

Our goal is simple: 🔹 Help them secure funds for their education 🔹 Equip them with high-income skills like Virtual Assistance 🔹 Provide access to scholarships (local & international) 🔹 Support them academically through online tutoring

I know what it’s like to be that young student, staring at a screen, desperate for an opportunity to change their story. I know what it means to feel stuck, to have potential but no access. I know what it's like to lose parents and even an older sibling to HIV/AIDS but this is why I won’t stop.

I didn’t back down when I was selling bread in traffic. I didn’t stop when my small phone couldn’t open scholarship portals. I didn’t stop when I had to walk miles to a cyber café just to send an application.

Am just getting started.

Step by step, I keep moving.

I believe in the power of the oline space.

I believe in the power of education, skills, etc.

So you see, Dear overwhelmed one, we are not stopping but going forward, using the digital space to speak up for good, to source for relevant information and to take actions.

So many women on World Pulse are doing it. I read about their initiatives daily, check out their sites, and stay inspired to keep doing mine.

Dear overwhelmed one, the digital space has alot for you and now is the time to take advantage of it with the rise of AI and others.

I am not special, but we all are.

You are special my Dearest One.

I see you. I believe in you.

And the world is waiting to hear your story.

I will continue my story soon but till then, keep going no matter how overwhelming things might get.

Get on world pulse, read stories, connect and stay motivated as we celebrate this year's International women’s Day as we are reimagining digital space.

With love and strength.

Gold Firstman