My name is Adanna Jackson-Idoko and I am young, ambitious and have a big heart.
I went to live with my father’s sister in Barataria at the age of three, after my mother passed away. My aunt and uncle were more financially capable of giving me a better future. But I live in San Juan seven years now, with my dad. I have no memory of my mother; only a photo. I have six other siblings, three boys, three girls. I’m the last.
I went to Newtown Girls’ RC and passed for Tranquility, but transferred to Bishop Anstey East. I liked school. Now that I left it.
I regret not being focussed in school: it prevented me from getting a stable job with a comfortable salary. I have plans to go back to school. That’s the only way I could acquire the wealth that I have intentions of accumulating.
My husband’s name is Prince Ene Idoko. I’ve been with him a year now.
He cooks Nigerian food for me, like ochro soup! With different meats in it, like in the Nigerian movies. I would love to go to Nigeria. But it’s TT$21,000 for a ticket.
I would love to have kids. But the financial situation isn’t what it should be yet.
It’s a hard thing, to make your way in the world: to acquire a home, a car, a little job. I watch a lot of motivational videos on YouTube that helps empower me to think more positively. It helps in my everyday situations: instead of telling myself I can’t do something, I tell myself I can.
I’m a firm believer in God and Christianity is what I follow but I don’t like divisions when it comes to God. And I admit I’m a backslider when it comes to going to church.
I’m not much of a Carnival person. I was never much of a big limer.
You have to hold on to something. If is not money, you have to hold on to God.
I like alternative rock, R&B, a little bit of soca. And I’ve begun to like Nigerian music of late.
A lot of people say I speak very maturely, for my age. Is probably because of my past. I’ve had a lot of job and personal experiences for age 24.
I grew up very, very sheltered with my aunt and uncle, very little access to the social life: no cellphone; had to dress a certain way; Disney Channel was my favourite because that was the only one I was allowed to watch. That forced me to run away at the age of 16. And play big woman, curious to see what life holds. I’ve done a lot of living for my age; but that’s what makes me special and stronger.
My hero is my same aunt I ran away from, who is like my mommy. I admire the class and calibre of woman she is.
Now that I’m out here in the hard world, I’m realising the value of a dollar. Things were given to me when I was young. Now, working and cooking and cleaning and making a life with my husband, I now seeing what it is to be an adult with responsibilities.
I have a big heart. Seeing how people [are] treated out here, I [want] to be either a motivational speaker or even a prime minister. I want to have a grand impact on the people I live amongst. A lot of people have it hard and don’t have anybody. I’m one of the people who might feed a vagrant when I get pay. Is hurt my heart. And I say to myself, “If ever I was in a position to make that different, I would”. That’s why I say I have a big heart.
Some people with money have hearts. Working in customer service in Westmoorings, I’ve met a lot of them. Not all of them snobby in attitude. Some are really, really nice people.
I hope one day, if I can’t be a prime minister, to open a non-profit organisation geared at helping people that need help. To become a prime minister, you have to join a political party and it’s a bit corrupting to have to deal with people who have already corrupted the system. I wanted to make my own path but everybody telling me it not likely.
A Trini is somebody free-spirited, hardworking and love to lime.
T&T is my family: full stop.
Read a longer version of this feature at www.BCRaw.com