SHINE YOUR EYES, DEAR FRESHERS || By: Yusuff, Uthman Adekola
Source: uckg.org
You see, you all are like precious dews of the morning; you make the school bubble with freshness. Even the ‘stalites‘— sophomores, penultimate students and finalists alike— cannot but smile, because your admission into the university serves as a point of reminiscence to us. As a result of this, dear freshers, I do not want you to fall prey to regrets, for your fingers are too fresh to be bitten so soon.
Dear freshers, I don’t really mean to write you some lines of poetry or, perhaps, something that looks like it. But how best do I express my joy for your successful entry into the Premier University of Ibadan, the first and best amongst others? How best do I sing praises of you all who have braved the storm of exams, rammed through walls of stress and got yourself the institution you have longed for? How best do I celebrate those of you who must have sought admission for more than once or twice until now that your doggedness has got you here? Indeed, you all are the real MVPs and ‘daz how star do’. You are stars, glittering; shooting stars, dazzling. I ‘stan‘.
Now, here you are. Registrations and orientation activities are in full throttle as you all gradually settle down and get adapted to the new environment. You must have made new friends too— that’s expected, especially for those who naturally get along with others easily. The experiences with your roommates being new faces too, it must have been interesting and fun (or, in another case though, you might still be observing one another without really talking yet— well, I guess it means you are like me. Lolz).
Anyway, let’s get down to the real business of this article. You must have noticed that the title of this piece is quite like a call to action as to the need for you to be cautious. It simply tells you all that, while it is normal for you to be excited as new students of the university, you should please not let the excitement plunge you into certain pits. These pits, sorry to say, are almost everywhere in the school: from the school’s main gate, to the various halls, to faculties, to departments. But, mind you, I actually am not referring to potholes on the road or anything like them. The pits referred to here cut across the financial, the moral, the academic and many more that typically affect any student on any campus.
More to the point, the financial pit is the first and foremost of what I have found quite urgent to discuss. It is there to swallow you wholly, since you are still greenhorns. Definitely, a number of you must have been financially ‘slapped on the face’ by some cabmen who wouldn’t bother explaining the difference between ‘Drop‘ (which carries only one, or two persons who pay N150 altogether) and the normal taxi (which carries four passengers for N30 each). Well, if you’ve been a victim of that before, now you know. And if you’ve yet to be a victim, hey! please hold fast to this knowledge!
Still on the financial issue, please note that you’ll soon begin the payment of associational dues like hall dues, faculty dues, departmental dues and the like. Perhaps you’ve already begun paying them or probably seen a list of these dues? Well, the list normally includes such payments as for basic dues, freshers’ welcome, ID cards, shirts, excursion, dinner and others based on the discretion of the ‘excos’/execs. But, NOTEWORTHILY, you all should know that the basic dues (plus freshers’ welcome, maybe) are the only logically compulsory payments.
All other payments, including excursion, dinner, ID cards (not the university’s) and shirts, are not compulsory; they are just a matter of choice based on how well your pockets can dance. So, with this knowledge, I believe you should be able to stand for your rights whenever you’re being coerced to pay for items other than the logically compulsory basic dues (and probably the freshers’ welcome also). In extreme cases, you could contact a senior mate for a better informed, confident, and maybe amicable, intervention.
In addition, you need to take cognizance of the moral and the academic pits too. These, unlike the financial pit, could be dangerously attractive and beautifully destructive. Nevertheless, as the liberalist that I am, I think morality isn’t a one-way thing; however, dear freshers, there are societal benchmarks of course, and we know this. There are certain values you must have learnt from home, too. In short, freedom from home shouldn’t lead to an escape of a discerning mind needed for critical and conscious thinking. Well… Can morality or uprightness really be adequately preached? (Hahaha… I doubt it). We all know, however, that a word to the wise is enough, isn’t it?
No doubt, every student’s primary assignment is the academic studies. Therefore, you all, like the ‘stalites’, have to become jealous lovers of your studies. Romance, hug, kiss and marry your books very faithfully because your school fees, registrations, dues and the stresses you’ve gone through are dowries already paid to the academic bride. But.. #ThinkAboutIt is everything only about the academics? What of extracurricular activities like going for internships, sports, campus journalism, leadership and administrative roles, amongst others?
Certainly, certain extracurricular activities afford you the chance to garner work experiences even without actually working in terms of the labour market. Dear freshers, your success is satisfactorily assured when you work hard and smart, pray (if you believe in it) and prepare yourself for life after school, especially by engaging in leadership extracurricular activities essential for capacity building. For this purpose, rest assured that there are many organisations you can join on campus; you only need to join one or two. But, as a caveat, please don’t overdo the extracurricular activities in a way that negatively affects your academics. Wisdom is virtue!
Basically, let us all open our eyes and minds, dear freshers. Let nobody force or influence you against your own values, provided it isn’t an ugly value— I mean, everyone knows what’s good or bad. Importantly too, concerning the payment of dues, do remember that only the basic dues including payment for the freshers’ welcome programme are logically compulsory; all others should be based on personal choices.
Make you shine your eyes o…
©YUA
