The Sign I Carried

For many years after school, I walked through life with an invisible sign slung around my neck: “I’m stupid.” It wasn't written in ink or carved in wood — it lived in my thoughts, shadowed my choices, and whispered lies whenever I dared to dream beyond what I thought I deserved.

That sign was hung on me by a system that mistook performance for worth. Even though I earned some distinctions for matric back in 1987, I never pursued further study. I didn’t feel smart. I didn’t feel seen. The truth is, that sign wasn’t born from failure — it was born from striving.