Ajayi Ayodeji Bernard

BRICK BY BRICK

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At ten years old, Bernard loses his father and with him, the security and future he thought he could count on.What follows is a childhood interrupted by hardship. As his family struggles to hold itself together and the life his father built slowly disappears, Bernard is forced to grow up earlier than he should. By thirteen, he is carrying blocks, sweeping shops, stocking shelves, and taking whatever work he can find just to survive.But survival slowly becomes something more.Through school, setbacks, family struggles, friendships, heartbreak, and countless moments when giving up seems easier, Bernard discovers an unexpected escape: creativity. A camera becomes more than a tool, it becomes a way to tell stories, dream bigger, and finally see himself as more than the circumstances he was born into.Brick by Brick is a raw coming-of-age story about loss, poverty, resilience, family, ambition, and the painful journey of becoming the person you were always meant to be.Because sometimes, life doesn’t give you the foundation you need.You have to build one yourself.

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