Steemit Ultimate Challenge 8 Weeks: How Steemit Changed An Introvert To A Street Promoter.

In response to @dobartim's contest, I want to use this opportunity to share my life story as it directly relate to the steem ecosystem. It was on the third of July, 2017. I was approved to be part of this community, with nothing to write about. I have never been a writer, as a chemist, writing about chemical structures here would be absurd because it might not actually add any value. After my introduction post, I started writing about anything that came to mind, but being amateur in almost all exciting fields meant low payout, thus the 0.01$ on my posts wasn't a surprise I deserved it. No whale or dolphin friend, so I found myself in a total new world, but yet I was on my own.

One day,

An idea came to my mind. Since I'm not good in writing, maybe I should help writers to know about this platform. I believed I could still help others, even though I can't help myself.It was in trying to help others that I eventually helped myself.

Such is life. If you help others, you indirectly help yourself

I printed my first Steemit banner with the little earning I made and the day I went out to launch it, made a post about it, I saw the difference. I understood that the best way to be relevant here is to promote the platform.I went into promotion of Steemit because I discovered that it's capable of taking me out of my house, making me meet new friends, at a time workers in my company were on standby.

After seeing the interest of people on my promotion posts

I started going out to promote in streets of Port Harcourt, Nigeria. Apart from streets, I have been to schools. The idea of intensive promotion and awareness campaign was fueled by a post on supporting promoters, made by @starkerz and @stephenkendal of the #promo-steem. Initially, I wanted getting a loan, but when I saw that it would be too much on them, I resolved to rather do the little I could with the little I had. So, as a way of assistance, they and other great steemians kept voting 100% on each of my posts, that's how I raised money for flyers and T-shirt.

How has being a promoter changed my life.

The thought of getting out there to show people a new stuff made me to usually leave the comfort of my house and go add value to people around me. I got to meet a lot of great people who I wouldn't meet if not Steemit promotion. Great steemians like @princesstj, @samiwhyte, @muchlove, @adaobi, @debby001, @errisprecious, and my mentors @starkerz, @stephenkendal, among others. They are just so many.

Most important

The people I brought to Steemit has been so grateful because Steemit has changed their lives too. A student of university of Port Harcourt told me this year that she used her earning from Steemit to pay her school fees.

It's so refreshing to know that your efforts, no matter how small, has created a lasting positive impact on someone's life.

Whenever I hear these words thank you for bringing me to Steemit, I feel more happy than I do when I see nice payout on my posts. Steemit did not only change my life, it made me a life changer, a motivator, an inspiration to Nigerian youths.

I can't fail to tell you this

I renewed my house rent with the money I made from Steemit. Yes, you read well!. It became a serious challenge because my company stopped paying salary since June 2017, feeding was a problem. As if that wasn't enough, my rent expired August 2017. The landlady threatened to kick me out after being patient till November. But all along, I was gathering every cent I earned from here. By December, I was able to pay, now I enjoy my peace. Apart from the rent, I bought a TV set, now my house is complete. ## What more can I say than to be grateful to all voters of my blog and @ned for putting up this platform for the needy.

Schools I visited during my Steemit awareness campaigns

I started with college of art and science, at Roumola, Port Harcourt. It was my first time of being to the school. I went alone and I needed to snap pictures of people accepting to join, my phone was my camera. The first challenge was how to start, it's really not easy for an introvert.

But when necessity is stronger than the fear of rejection, action is pushed out

I started by talking to students gathering in groups. The only guy I wanted getting direction to classrooms formed busy for me, told me I had to meet student affairs representatives before getting permission to talk to students. I attended university of Uyo, Nigeria and all through my 4 years of studying chemistry, people used to come to classes and talk to us without any permission. **So the idea of getting permission was strange to me in a tertiary institution setting, where freedom was at it's **. I was really discouraged, but the thoughts of going back without achieving my purpose sprung me to action. Here's the people I met there.

Ken Saro-Wiwa Polytechnic, Bori was the second school I visited.

I went with a friend for photography. I was able to locate classrooms there without asking questions, though it was my first time too. In one of the classes, a lecturer interrupted and I didn't even take a single shot there. But I moved to other classes and really met a large number of students there. Here's some of the pictures.

University of Port Harcourt was my third

It's a school I have visited many times even before Steemit was born. Thus, going there was a plus to the promotion work. I'm still having a lot to cover in these three schools, but I must say the journey from being inside my house to helping young Nigerians get meaningfully engaging their talents have been fulfilling.

I have done some videos that have been sent as jingles to our local TV channels.
You can take a look.

You can check out our Steemit anthem here

I hope to do more. This is my story!

As a motivator, I love to encourage you to join this amazing contest, let's know about you too. Here's the contest link, you can check it out