Memoir of my time at the university of Jos: everything I did wrong before I found the right footing.
THE END OF THE BEGINNING
“Struggle teaches you a lot of things, and I am happy that I witnessed a rollercoaster ride. The journey has improved me as a person, and made me more mature”.
Hey, this is more of an exposé and it's especially dedicated to students who may have made some mistakes already, and to also help prevent you from making some which may seem unavoidable but are in fact, silly mistakes when you advance and look back. It's been 6 years of bearing the title ‘student’ and now, after so many nights of reading and praying, crying through confusions, fears and deadlines, I can finally take a bow and add a feather of success to my cap.
To say it was a journey would not be an understatement, because a journey can be smooth, bumpy, slow, fast, jolly, boring, unexpected or planned.
This journey of 4 years with an EP definitely contained a bit of all of the above-mentioned, and since I've overcome, I'll gladly pen down my struggles and achievements to encourage you who's coming behind, that you can, and would do it too.
Now, where do I begin?
I got admitted straight from secondary school in 2017. Before then, I'd not really considered life as a university student. I was only interested in serving my 4-year sentence, graduating and finally being free from the troubles of school assignments, but some experiences in my first year put me in shock.
The university experience CANNOT be described as a walk in the park. There's space for relaxation; taking in fresh air, admiring flowers newly in bloom, sitting under a big tree and enjoying a cone of ice-cream, but only if you want to graduate as an average student. I deliberately didn't say ‘only if you want to fail’ because of course, all work and no play makes Sewuese a dull girl. Nobody has revealed what all enjoyment and no work makes Sewuese, but deep down, Sewuese knows.
Do you believe in luck?
Before I jump into my big reveals, it's important to mention that I was really lucky, especially in my first year. Prior to the first day of resumption, I'd heard, watched and read about life on campus, I even had preconceptions and a mental map of how my lecture days would go. I wanted to be Genevieve Nnaji of Mass Communication department; wearing heels and fine dresses for lectures 😅. Haq! I'd also heard about missing results and how people suffered in the hands of lecturers, and until today, they're all just hearsays 🙏
On our way to the gate after lectures sometime in 200 level. From the left; me, Foluke, Kyenret, Melody, Idee, and Peace.
I have a sky-blue dress shirt to give a damsel who's been in distress as a result of trekking all around the market, scared to ask questions, therefore, finding it difficult to find one for herself because she's still tied up in confusion, probably from coming from a different town, like I was.
The first stage of my reveal has to do with confusion and childishness.
I used to be very terrible with locations, until I learnt the hard way. I got lost finding my own apartment off-campus and had to call my cousin who'd found the place for me to direct me.
In 100 level, I was so clueless about filling all those papers, and I allowed fear marry me all the time without flowers, but I found people who kept giving me directions to the faculty of Arts during the period of registration. I also found people who didn't see my soft leather leggings and oversized sky-blue top and shiny wings blazer as an avenue to mock my sense of style, at least not to my face. I remember this one time, I called this particular girl I'd met during registration more than 5 times in 10 minutes to ask for directions to a place we'd been together, more than once. She was patient, she kept taking my calls.
PS: If you find confused people, please be patient too.
I've outlined some points below which I hope would be helpful to you as you advance on this journey.
- Submit all documents you're required to submit to the appropriate channels and guard your important documents with the fierceness of a mother hen.
I'll advice that you get a long-lasting bag to keep them safe from 100-400 level.
I lost my original documents immediately after matric, and that was totally on me- carrying them everywhere with me in my flashy laptop bag which had them, to school everyday. They were stolen with my bag one time when we were asked to drop our bags before entering the faculty. I'd already registered at the department and faculty and I didn't need to carry original copies anywhere anymore, but I DIDN'T KNOW! I was so confused, I was basically held by the hands from the beginning to the end of 100 level; from directions to places, directions on how to fill my forms, and many more.
You'll be okay, just pay attention and dont get tired of asking questions.
- You'll make friends at every new level, I'll advise you find ones who'll help you achieve your goals.
Let them be able to properly blend school and social life. You can't be bored all the time, Sewuese!
I walked with different categories of people at different stages; those who knew why they were in school, those who hadn't realised why they were in school and were just lucky to get admitted, and those who saw the higher institution as an avenue to explore their freedoms.
Even in my confusion, I knew who and who I needed, and otherwise.
- Find and hold instrumental people within and outside the department. My first roommate (a medical student) knew so many cool people. I didn't intentionally set out to meet and connect with so many doctors in training, but I am so grateful that I have.
- Did you not apply for mass communication? And yet, here you are, right? Now that your direction has changed, fasten your seatbelt, switch gears, turn your favourite playlist up and enjoy the ride.
“Sometimes, it's the journey that teaches you a lot about your destination”
Mass communication encompasses every sector and if you're patient enough, you'll find out that there's no better course out there. I applied for Law and my course was changed, but since I didn't really know what I wanted to be from the on-set, I just settled, and in 200 level, I realised that this is actually what I should have prepared for. I've always loved writing, reading books, and speaking publicly, but I wasn't invested enough to know that I could study and hone these interests.
- Do not join people to make fun of weaker people. The tables can turn. You're so smart now, aren't you? 300 and 400 level would test your patience and you'll wish you didn't have anyone out there to please because you'll be on the verge of damning it all to he**. Physically too, we're not the drivers of our lives. The driver may one day decide to remove a bolt and there'll be nothing to do then. So instead of being a sh*t person, carry people along academically and otherwise. I know someone in my class who was bullied and made fun of because they were small and confused, but now they're so confident and even intimidating.
I didn't see the need to look down on any of my mates because I was also finding my feet too. As I advanced, I continued to see the beauty of being able to wave all my classmates ‘hello’ with a smile.
- Attend all social events in the department pleaseee, they're never so much anyway. My friends and I attended all the dinners from 100-300 level and we're definitely turning up to our graduation dinner. We've had to trek to Farin Gada twice after the after-party, and once, we were fortunate enough to get a lift to Naraguta to crash. All those nights were cold but they're experiences I'll never forget.
Photo credit: my archives.
First AMCOMS dinner I attended with my friends in 2018.
- Obey your body and sleep when you're sure you've done enough. You can only go on when you're fueled. Remember to keep the right people in your corner who'll encourage you.
I didn't study hard in 100 level because I didn't have study partners and the town was too cold for me and I was ‘smart enough’. I didn't fail, in fact, I did impressively, but a 3.33 could have been a 4.33 if I had put in efforts, don't you think?
- Do not take papers and cheats into your exam halls. Cheating is a result of distrust in one's abilities. Do you really not trust that you're good enough?
- Please join the student chapter of the NIPR (National Institute of Public Relations). It's a lifetime opportunity and you may not realise it now, but I know a number of people who have been up and down their State of residences/work, looking for the State's chapter of the NIPR.
Read the benefits of joining the NIPR here https://sewuesenaze.blogspot.com/2019/12/nipr-unijos-chapter-holds-gathering.html?m=1
Also, get all the certificates you can lay your hands on. They'll definitely count for something one day. I joined the NIPR in 100 level because I knew that every opportunity given in school would definitely not be a waste, I used 500 naira then to buy myself a lifetime opportunity. It's 1,000 now, but you can abstain from awara and zobo for a week to get it, can't you?
You're human, you'll make mistakes. When that happens, calm yourself down and remember that there's always a chance to do better. When you pay attention, you can easily spot faults in your moves. Do not wait until it's too late to adjust.
In 200 level, when you begin to pick departmental electives, try to blend your area of interest with one other. For example, a broadcating student can take a PR elective in 200 or 300 level just in case. Nevertheless, ask questions when you're not clear.
You're most likely ‘not’ going to bump into Prince charming who'll throw your books on the floor and simultaneously be staring at you and helping you pick them up, so I'll advise that you find prince charming by associating with the right crowd. Be intentional about being around the right people all the time, it's really instrumental for your time in school. You'll not always be reading, sometimes you'll be lonely especially if you do not have family here.
After moving with different categories of people every other semester, I finally found girls who have held my hands through this journey. Kyenret Rinwat was my first real friend after I'd wandered and wandered, and since 2018, she's been in my corner; correcting, patiently guiding me with filling out my course forms, encouraging, and laughing at me too. I wouldn't have it any other way though. I have 4 other girls who I've walked to the gate with all these years, sharing gists, fears and care and it's made my time here worthwhile.
Remember that this is my own reveal. Someone else can narrate how he or she found a crowd of party goers, mingled with them from start to finish and still did excellently. That's their bag, but for you, weigh your contents, find the appropriate size of bag for you and fill it as much as you can carry.
Blogging came as a result of my blogging and webcasting elective in 200 level, I'm thankful that I liked the challenge Mr Jimme poses, which made me pick courses he was involved in all through. I'm also thankful that I paid attention to my skill that early.
I've not been the intentional blogger, I've made mistakes in so many areas but I've learnt and I am still learning. This final semester, I took advanced photography where I learnt how to be a better photojournalist and it's taught me the rules of posting pictures; captioning, attribution, clarity, complementary, timeliness. I've learnt a lot and I am hoping to hone this skill greatly as I continue to advance. If you're still willing, I'll ask you later in future to support.
“Struggle teaches you a lot of things, and I am happy that I witnessed a rollercoaster ride. The journey has improved me as a person, and made me more mature”.
- Banoj Bajpayee
You're on a mission to better yourself, at least, an aspect of yourself. You've come this far, would you finish PROPERLY or just finish?
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