Crushes and Dating

By Joy Essien

Crushes and dating is a book pratically written to help teenagers understand their feelings, manage their crushes and answer other questions on dating. It contains information every teenager should know so as to make the best decision for their life and future in general.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Success Publishing House
• Release date: Aug 16, 2021
• ISBN: 9798201753948

Joy Essien

Joy Essien also known as ‘Aunty Joy’ by her teenage community is a Life Coach for teenagers. Through her platform on Instagram and YouTube, she regularly inspires teenagers and young adults with her encouraging posts on mental health, emotional empowerment and academic excellence. She is the founder of JoyDefined Initiative, a body that partners with schools and individual parents on educating teenagers on adolescent related matters and equipping them with the right tools to overcome different challenges peculiar to adolescents in order to ensure excellence in their academics and other areas of their life. Aunty Joy believes firmly in building strong teenagers by helping them thrive above challenging situations, make better choices for their future and foster friendlier relationships between them and their parents. She is a graduate of Mass Communication from Babcock University and has undergone trainings in Child Psychology and Life Coaching. Together with her Husband, they run a Teenage Ministry called Young Ecclesia Nation and are blessed with a beautiful daughter.

Book preview

Introduction

I

remember the first time I got asked out by a boy, I was about 11 or 12 years old and in Js1. He told me I was pretty; he had a crush on me and would like to be my BF. All I had been told about boys then was that they were dangerous and I shouldn’t get too close. So, I said No and started to snub him. But as time went on, I too began to crush on him. Ha! Where did those feelings come from? I’m a good girl, with strict parents and tight moral values. How dare I develop a crush? Confusion and misinformation filled my teenage mind as I didn’t know what to do.

I constantly beat myself up for having those feelings; not only was it weighing me down physically, it was also affecting my concentration level in school. My lack of information and a trusted adult I could talk to led me to handling these feelings in a very immature way. 

Dear teenager, I want to assure you that there is nothing wrong with you and what you feel but what you do with those feelings makes all the difference; and that is why I have written this book. To help you understand what you feel, why you feel that way, and what to do about it.

This book is written in a format that is interesting, relatable and very easy to read. It will lead you to finding answers to your questions on crushes, dating and handling feelings for the opposite sex, especially when you read it objectively. As you read, please take note of two recurring headings Prep time and Self-Examination. Their role is to help you consider some other points not stated in the conversation and ultimately help you realign your focus in life.

So, read on and I believe you will make the best decision for your life.

Love Struck

G ood morning class , settle down quickly and bring out your ‘Joys of Motherhood’, Mrs Chimba said hastily as she made her way to the far right of the board and wrote down ‘Literature’ in her scrawny handwriting. Today we would be read__

"Ahan, but ma, we don’t have literature today," protested half the class.

I know, I swapped periods with Mr. Gbenga, Mrs Chimba replied frowning. He would be using my own period for tomorrow.

"Haa ma, some of us didn’t come with our books."

That’s alright, those of you who have yours can pair with those who don’t. Do that quickly!

Ma__

"Keep mamming me there. If you like, you can leave the class, but when you see the questions in your mid-term exams, don’t say I didn’t teach you." 

The fear of examination was the beginning of sanity as those who didn’t have scrambled to find a partner. Debbie looked around and noticed everyone had paired up–everyone except Frank, yikes! She could feel the knots in her stomach as her heart began to beat fast. Thoughts of their last conversation played through her head.

Madame you better find somewhere to sit or get out of my class! Mrs Chimba barked to Debbie who was now the only one standing.

Hey Debbie, Frank called out as he waved his copy of the book in the air. Seeing no other option, she dragged her feet towards him in anticipation of the dreaded talk. 

I see you have been snubbing me, did I offend you?

‘Offend whaatt!’ She muttered to herself.

He had literally played out a movie in her head; he did anything but offend her. As