Cover Image Courtesy: Vladmir Yelizarov // Unsplash
Life’s complexities through adulthood and times of hardships often mask an individual’s genuine identity. Yet, no one can shy away from the moment of truth when we have to pull back the layers of inauthenticity birthed by societal expectations to stand face-to-face with our inner self, to unveil our true essence.
For millennial women who have had to nurture themselves from brokenness and past hurts to forge new identities, a new birth beckons an awakening to authenticity and inner resilience. Three women share their stories, revealing how resilience has profoundly shaped their identities and informed their life journeys.
A Trailblazer Forged by Adversity
Nancy Baaba Paintsil’s journey to success began with humble beginnings as a police escort. Despite the mockery and bullying she encountered, Baaba recalls how she had to choose strength to “remain steadfast, fuelled by my vivid vision of a brighter future.”
The core values of hard work, honesty, and self-motivation instilled in her by her mother became the guiding principles that shaped her identity and informed her interactions with the world. “Growing up in Bobikumah, I witnessed my mother’s unwavering dedication to providing for the family.
“My father’s meager salary as a headmaster couldn’t sustain our home.”
These early lessons in resilience and determination have become the non-negotiable standards that guide Baaba’s choices and define her character.
Today, 21 years later, Baaba, 40, and the mother of an eight-year-old boy, is a testament to the power of perseverance.
Baaba hasn’t only risen through the ranks to become a Chief Inspector of Police, she is also a qualified lawyer and attributes her success to her inner resilience and the power of self-belief.
Finding Strength in a Name
At just 19, Irene Senanu Edzordzinam’s life was forever changed when she lost her father, her rock and guiding light whom she had grown up with at Tadzewu in the Volta region. With her world turned upside down, Irene knew she had to take charge and carve out a new path – not just for herself, but for her younger siblings who depended on her.
With determination burning within her, Irene embarked on a journey of self-discovery, seeking to unlock her unique strengths and talents. And it was in the unlikeliest of places that she found her first source of inspiration – the meaning of her name.
“Senanu means God gives, and Edzordzinam means I’m glad,” she reveals. “Perhaps this is why I held onto hope, even when all seemed lost.”
Irene’s journey was far from easy.
From living in a small kiosk at the Tema Industrial Area with her younger sister to battling disrespect and skepticism as a female lotto operator, Irene has persevered through a drive fuelled by her unyielding spirit and determination to create a better life.
Irene, 31, now works as a trained medical counter assistant at Lifeway Pharmacy in Oyibi, a role that brings her a sense of purpose and also enables her to support her loved ones.
The Birth of New Thing
As a devout Christian, Jane Doe (pseudonym) never envisioned her young marriage could crumble. Raised in a Christian household in Atabourso, Techiman, before she relocated to New Jersey in her early twenties, Jane actively participated in various church departments from a young age.
“My mother is a prophetess,” she reveals, “so devotion was just expected of me.”
In 2018, troubles arose after she married her loving fiancé and they began living together. Their problems were not only in the inconsistencies in the stories her husband had told her about himself while they were dating, but also, in his constant criticism of her appearance, particularly her curvy figure, asking her to “get in shape.”
Jane admits to having undergone a tummy tuck, however, “the tummy tuck wasn’t really for my husband, even though I knew it would make him happy.” She says it was to address her own health concerns. However, the surgery did little to salvage their marriage, as her husband soon left home to live with another woman.
This season of her life left Jane feeling like a failure, “especially within my church community and family, some of whom had expressed reservations about my husband before the wedding,” she says. Amidst this season of shame and failure, Jane drew closer to God, “fervently praying” for the restoration of her marriage.
It was during this period that a new passion was ignited within her – a desire to establish a ministry focused on nurturing and strengthening Christian marriages. This year, Jane, 33 and a registered nurse, graduated from a ministerial school with certifications in theology and divination.
Although her husband has not returned, Jane remains hopeful, looking forward to a reconciliation.
Whatever the outcome, Jane expresses gratitude for the experience, as “whatever has happened has revealed my true purpose in life.”