Several years ago, I met an old school mate at a conference. “Hello Labake, fancy meeting you here,” I greeted her with familiarity. She looked blank. I knew the look. It asked, ‘do I know you?’

“Biodun Adegboye. We were classmates in Bida.” Still no recognition. “You were class prefect and later head girl.” She nodded. She’d been those things but who was I?

In high school, I was quiet as a mouse. I was friendly but not outgoing. I minded my business and let others mind theirs. Only those close to me, heard my voice. And this pattern lasted a while till something changed me. No, someone changed me; someone named Tiwajope.

My bundle of joy weighed in at 8.5 Ibs of squalling, red-faced, energy. When she wailed, people within a 10-mile radius came running. “Aww, the little darling must be teething.”

“Put her on your shoulder, just so. Sorry, sweetie.”

“You poor thing. What did mum do?” They’d invade my space to pluck the darling babe out of my arms oohing and aahing.

On it went, the struggle between an introvert mom and an extrovert daughter. Until we embarked on a transcontinental flight to return home. As I sat bone-faced in the airport keeping a close watch on my purse and carry-on, Jope was writhing to get out of my firm grasp.

“Eyoo!” Tilting her head to one side, she called out to a toddler of about the same two years of age. “Eyoo, best friend!”

By the time we boarded, Jope was best friends with everyone. All the attention tied my insides in knots. I could only hope she’d tire herself out and fall asleep during the flight.

No such luck. “Eyoo!” Jope called out to the passengers on our row. “Eyoo,” she called out to the stewardesses, the passengers across the aisle, and those several rows down and up. I tried to disappear into the thin cushions of coach class.

“Children bring us out of ourselves,” the lady next to us said. “They remind us not to take ourselves too seriously.”

By the time she’d charmed airport security and everyone in sight, I’d transformed. Thus, as we approached the crowd awaiting their loved ones, both Jope and I chorused, “Eyoo, best friend!”

And that my best friends, is how I became an extrovert.