Reading this week's prompt, a lot of thoughts ran through my mind. There's this popular saying that goes "Money changes people." Do i agree to this saying? Of course not, personally i don't believe money changes people, my reason for saying this is because I've seen people who we grew up together, but because they became successful at an early age they turned their backs on other people.
Personally, i believe money don't change people, rather it brings out there true personality and who they are inside, they were only humble because they didn't have enough, so to get help from other people, they have to stay humble. People don't change overnight just because they become successful, the truth still remain that, they've always been like, but they lie low and didn't want their character to surface so that they could still get help and favor from their friends and relatives when they need assistance.
Come to think of it, have you ever seen a poor/ middle-class person being proud or arrogant? I've never seen, I don't know about you reading this. Probably you might have come across one or two people. This reminds me that back in my early years in university, i used to have a very close friend. We literally did things together. As of that time, i had more money than she does, i didn't see it as a problem. I had a supporter (my dad) .
My dad would always send me money for upkeep every week. Sometimes, I won't even finish the one he sent the previous week, but my dad kept sending me money for upkeep regardless. On the other hand my friend had no supporter, she was the one sponsoring herself through school, i didn't know what it felt like going school without a supporter, but what i know for sure is that going to school without any one supporting you was hard abd difficult.
Since she was my friend, I'll always share my things with here, literally everything i owned then, from my clothes to my food, i shared everything with her, even when she couldn’t afford to stay in school hostel, i accommodated her in my room, in summary i treated and loved her like my own sister. I loved her so much, some of our course mates doubted that we were just friends, they thought we were siblings. Sometimes, whenever i have extra money from my upkeep, I'll always share it with her. She was also nice to me. She treated with so much love and care as well, and our friendship was going fine.
Fast forward to when she started dating a final year student in campus, he was doing well for himself, he would always buy gifts for my friend, take her on dates, send her money for upkeep and take her for shopping. I was so happy for her, I was happy that things were finally going well for her. It got to the point that she no longer needed my assistance for anything, i was happy as well. Things were going fine between us, no quarrels, fights, or arguments. But i noticed she was drifting away from me, she'll barely reply my text, sometimes she'd even ignore my calls, and whenever i spoke to her about it she'd say "It's not that deep" it's not like i was calling to ask for help or money, i guess here true character was gradually surfacing.
One fateful day, we were asked to pay money for a project for a particular course, i didn't have enough funds on me, and my dad had not send my weekly upkeep, i needed the money for project urgently, the only option i had was to go ask my friend for help, and probably refund her when my dad sends my money. For the first time, in since we became friends, i decided to ask her for help since she had the means.
She told she didn't have money on her and her boyfriend haven't been giving her money. I understood and left, the money in question was 5,000 naira, which is 2.5 HBD.
I had this feeling she was lying to me but I was sure and i had nothing to proof it so i just kept quiet. Later that same day, on our way home after school, we were walking home and walked passed a boutique, there was this beautiful white dress in the mannequin. The dress was so beautiful, we just couldn't over look, then my friend suggests we go in and ask for the price, i was reluctant at first, because i don't like pricing when i don't have money, she even told me she doesn't have money as well but she'll like to know the price of the dress.
When we went in and priced the white dress, the vendor said he's gonna sell it for 20 thousand naira, after much bargain, he finally agreed to sell it for 17 thousand naira and in my presence, my beloved friend paid for the dress. I was shocked! Just few minutes ago you didn't have money, so how manage were you able to get 17k to pay for a dress?
I was so pained, i spoke to her about her actions and she said i was just being childish. I couldn't just continue being friends with her, i cut her off entirely, i can't be treating you nicely and you're being stingy towards me, forgetting how i use to help her back in the days when she had nothing.
This is to tell you that money doesn't change people rather it reveals who they are on the inside.
