The Land of Dreams and a Cheater’s Paradise
Four years ago, my life was at its pinnacle. I had recently completed my undergraduate degree with first-class honours, gotten my first managerial job at the age of twenty-two, and I was sure I had met the man I would spend the rest of my life with. I met him at work, and despite my rule of never dating a colleague, I fell for him. We embarked on what seemed to be a beautiful romantic journey. After dating for a while, we opted to move in together. That was my first time living with a man, but it was a seamless transition that prompted me even to introduce him to my dad. My father and I weren't and still aren't very close, so that was also a first. Though I didn't hesitate to tell my friends and family members about him, I hadn't declared our relationship at work. He would pick me up and drop me off half a block away when we commuted together. We would then greet each other at work as though we didn't spend the night wrapped in each other's arms. I felt like a teenager all over again and was undoubtedly having the time of my life.
DonziikinzPublished 2 days ago in Confessions
How I Scored 8.5 Overall on the IELTS General Test
If you are reading this, you probably already have an idea of what IELTS is and its purpose. In case you are completely clueless, the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) measures one's proficiency in the English language in four sections. These include: speaking, reading, writing, and listening. Each section is scored using bands, with the maximum being 9. The four bands are then averaged to determine the overall score, which for me, was 8.5.
DonziikinzPublished 15 days ago in EducationI Will Remember You.
TW// homicide Dear Nevia, Do you recall the first time we met fourteen years ago in the ninth grade? I was the new kid on the block and fearful of being the outcast. I had just transferred from another school, and everyone in our class had already known each other for at least two years. But for me, I knew no one. I dreaded stepping into our classroom that first morning as I did not know what to expect. Was I entering a scene from Mean Girls, or was I going to be greeted by genuinely friendly faces? It turns out that I was lucky; it was the latter. Your face was one of those friendly faces, the kind that made all my doubts melt away. At that point, I knew everything was going to be okay, even before we got a chance to exchange words. Apparently, I am not the only one who felt this level of comfort around you.
DonziikinzPublished 19 days ago in HumansJai, The Soul Food Queen
Public scrutiny. If you have a social media account and a vast number of followers, then you’ve probably been subjected to this at some point in time. Many of us are all too familiar with the concept of scrolling through comments on social media posts about celebrities or influencers and seeing odious comments belittling these individuals. Many can ignore it, but many also fold. Jai Nice represents the former. Despite the unrequested criticisms, she perseveres and stays on her grind. Now, let it not be said that I think Jai is perfect; like many of us, she is far from it. However, I find her determination and ambition to be meritorious regardless of her demeanour or what is portrayed as her “unpalatable mien.” Some may say I’m seeing her through rose-coloured glasses, but I gladly accept that as someone who values female empowerment. In a world where it is the norm to vilify women in the spotlight, I think it is necessary to have individuals who intentionally chose to celebrate the successes of these females.
DonziikinzPublished about a month ago in Feast
From Prison Cell to Sales
Imagine being wrongfully imprisoned for two years for a crime you didn't commit because your identity was stolen. Now, imagine that the person who stole your identity was someone you least expected, your best friend. That is Elle's story. She lost everything: her business, her home, her friends and also her dog. This is typically the storyline you'd see in the movies, so it is mindblowing to think that someone actually had to endure this. However, what is admirable is hearing that Elle experienced this without letting it define her. Instead, she came back bigger and stronger than before. Elle's cautionary tale is definitely worth sharing as it might be just what someone needs to work their way out of a rut. If she could transform her life after being betrayed, imprisoned and mistreated, then I promise you, you can overcome anything!
DonziikinzPublished about a month ago in Motivation- Third Place in Black in Business Challenge
Blossoming In STEM... And Other Spaces
Yamila is a Dominican Republican who relocated to Canada to pursue her tertiary studies in Biology on a full scholarship. Suffice it to say, she has been making big waves ever since. Yamila Franco is a force to be reckoned with, and I don't mean that in a cliché way. I battled with writing this as I tried to decide how to do Yamila's story justice. I felt her list of accomplishments was too long to squeeze into just one article. Regardless, I chose not to pass up the opportunity to use a medium like this to share her achievements with the world. She is just that good.
DonziikinzPublished about a month ago in Journal 
Envious Souls
Lindsay glanced at the clock on her bedside table and noticed it was 5:49 a.m. She was alone in bed, and the sheets on Mark's side were cold and unwrinkled. He was still with his mistress, she thought. Though Lindsay knew that Mark was cheating on her with his brother's ex-girlfriend, Charlotte, she was hopeful that they would fix things. But, she knew her chances were slim. Not only was he with Charlotte, but she was also pregnant. Unbeknownst to Mark, Lindsay had found an ultrasound image in his jacket pocket. Charlotte was twelve weeks pregnant and six months away from giving Mark the one thing he wanted the most, an heir to his family's empire.
DonziikinzPublished about a month ago in Horror
Honouring Black Academic Superstars 🙌🏾
As I co-planned Black History Month events at my university in February 2020, I found myself reflecting on the barriers to success for Black students in my immediate environment. The one that stood out to me at the time was financial barriers and their associated opportunities for relief or lack thereof. After perusing the list of financial awards available, I noticed that there was no award specifically for Black students despite there being awards for other identities. Being a Black student who dabbled in activism, I knew that I had to embark on a journey to change this promptly.
DonziikinzPublished 2 months ago in Education
