Summer Fantasy

photographed by Valerie, clothes and bag by Vintage Treasure

"I work hard, I work so hard to become somebody in the future and I know sooner or later God will put a smile on my face and my soul will found joy."
says Eric an aspiring artist/rapper who works as a scavenger in the slum area to meet his needs and so he can save up some money to rent a studio so he can record his songs and hopefully make his dreams come to pass.
No one in his circle of friends know his actual job as a scavenger. He said he likes to keep it that way so he can feel worthy to be able to speak to his friends.  

This fact devastated me because this is actually how society runs and this is exactly how people look up to their peers.
One earns respect from what they do or what they have and not because of who they really are.
Terrible truth in society creates false judgment which determines the rank in society.

There are millions of Eric whether in Lagos or in other part of the world who takes their worth from their job and measure themselves from their title. This is severely sad !
When you come from the haves everyone couldn't careless about your carefree life, your minor behavior, everything seems permissible and can be settled by money.

But things turn 180 degrees when you come from a simple family with average job and common school. Often time people like Eric has to deal with peer pressure because they want to be accepted and liked by their peers.
Things doesn't get easy when they try to live up to society's expectation, they will feel unsure about themselves, less confidence that leads to insignificance.

So first and foremost one must understand how valuable they are as an individual and that no amount of fortune can degrades the fact of how equally unique and precious each individual is.
Last but not least never place judgments on others as this may help them to respect you.
And always "treat other people the way you want to be treated".

"Do not pretend that people 

become great by

doing great things. 

They do great things

because they are great !"