Why I Came Online

My name is Godwin Ezinna, and if I could sum up why I came online in two words, they would be curiosity and hustle. But behind those words is a story, and it is one that started with a simple chat app and has grown into something bigger than I could have imagined.

So my online journey began years ago with an app called 2go. If you used it back then, you’ll remember the excitement of using it, from creating your profile, increasing in stars, joining different chat rooms, and connecting with people from places was all fun. For me, it was like opening a small window into the world without leaving my room. I wasn’t thinking about business, personal growth, or branding. I was simply enjoying the excitement of meeting new people and learning about different lives and experiences. The idea that someone far away could read my message instantly and respond felt like magic.

When 2go started to fade, I moved to Facebook, and that’s when things really changed for me. The Facebook space felt so much bigger. In Facebook, I noticed that people were no longer just only chatting, but were also posting pictures, sharing their life updates, starting communities/groups, and even running businesses on the app. At first, I was just a casual user, scrolling endlessly, liking posts, and leaving the occasional comment. But slowly, curiosity started asking me new questions like: could the online space be more than just a place to pass time, and can it actually change my life (like most persons I know would say)?

The answer came unexpectedly in 2017. I saw a post advertising a writing course for just ₦1,000. It seemed small, but at that time, I still thought twice before spending it. Something inside me said, Godwin take the step and buy the course. So I signed up for it, not knowing that it was about to shift the direction of my online journey.

That course opened my eyes to a new possibility that writing wasn’t just a personal hobby, but also a skill that people would pay for. So, I began offering my writing services online, and before long, I earned my first payment. I can still remember the excitement of that moment. It was really a joyful moment, not just because I had made money, but also because I had proven to myself that the internet could be more than a place for entertainment. It could be a platform for growth, getting opportunity, and financial independence too. And that was the start of my hustle.

But along the way, I found something even more powerful than the desire to earn money online. I discovered my purpose, which is mental health Counseling/advocacy. Over time in the online space and even offline, I began to notice how many people were silently struggling with mental health challenges, yet were too afraid to talk about them because of the stigma in our society. The silence was heavy, and it broke my heart. I knew I didn’t want to just watch from the sidelines, and I had to do something in that regard.

So I started speaking up. I began creating posts to educate people, encourage open conversations, and challenge the harmful stereotypes surrounding mental health. The online space became my loudspeaker and a place where my words could travel far beyond my immediate environment and reach people who needed to hear them. I’ve had conversations with strangers who felt heard for the first time, and I’ve seen how sharing simple truths online can give someone the courage to take their first step toward healing and taking care of their Mental Health.

Looking back, I see three important lessons my journey has taught me. First, small beginnings matter, from a chatting account on 2go that doesn’t seem like much, but it planted the seed of my online space journey. Second, opportunities often hide in plain sight, of which that ₦1,000 writing course I saw and enrolled for is an example. And third, purpose is the fuel that keeps you going when the hustle gets tiring on the online space.

Today, the internet is no longer just somewhere I visit when I’m bored. It’s my workspace, my learning center, my meeting place, and my stage to speak on issues I care about deeply. It has shaped my career, given me friendships, connected me with opportunities, and allowed me to make an impact in ways I never thought possible.

Curiosity brought me here. Hustle made me stay here, and purpose gave me roots here in the online space. Interestingly, I feel like I'm just getting started on this space, so I'm looking forward to great things here.

So now you know why I came online, I’ll love to ask you about your begining online journey too. I’d love to read your story too.

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