Beyond the Call: Navigating Leadership, Personal Life, and the Pressure of Student Expectations

Opemipo Olukoga 

On a Saturday evening at exactly 9:00 PM, Ola decides that reading in the library is a good choice. He strolls from his hostel, relieved that the school has a platform where studying is made easier. If he were in his hostel, he knows he would likely fall asleep or spend time watching TikTok videos. After being granted entry into the library, he takes his books, his laptop  and places his bag in a locker. Other students have done the same. He moves away from the locker and steps into the reading area, choosing a chair in the corner of the room.

After reading and taking breaks to rest, at 4:50AM, he prepares to head back to his room when a noise jolts him. An unkempt man in old Ankara moves toward him, clutching his laptop from his table, with another laptop hoisted on his chest. The man has been raiding the gadgets of students who had tried to take naps, and the noise has woken them up as well. A gang follows him, shouting and clamoring at the man who has stolen their devices without an ounce of pity.

Ola fidgets as the gang chases the man, who tries to hide, dodging them at every turn. With trepidation, he checks the time: 5:10 AM. He dials the Student Union President’s number repeatedly at 5:13 AM but receives no response. While the man is eventually nabbed and the gadgets are returned, Ola wonders if the president ignored the call or was simply too busy at that moment. Relieved to have his laptop back, Ola sighs, steps out of the library, and walks to his hostel, still in shock but humming in victory as he goes.

Student leadership is a significant role that requires maintaining accountability, upholding democratic values, making sacrifices and creating a supportive environment where those being led can thrive. Whether at the union, faculty, or departmental level, the well-being and comfort of those under leadership should always be a priority. 

While some student leaders have faced criticism for being absent during critical moments, others have been labeled as unresponsive and inaccessible, often accused of being present only during campaigns but unreachable once they have assumed their elected positions. However, some students conclude that the accessibility of these student leaders may decrease due to the increased responsibilities they now carry, as they balance academics, personal life, and their commitment to serving others in fulfillment of their campaign promises.

Undoubtedly, students expect their leader(s) to embody the qualities of a servant leader—being accessible, compassionate, courageous, and demonstrating skillful decision-making that positively impacts those they lead. But then the question arises: “Is this ideal impossible to achieve?” What happens when natural circumstances lead some of those you lead to mistakenly believe you’re not fulfilling your role as a student leader? And how should you respond if others among those you lead support this perception? Only those with resilience and thick skin should consider taking on a student leadership role, as it requires more than just a title, fame, or popularity to truly succeed.

A common misconception among students is that student leaders should be accessible at all times, even if it comes at the expense of their health, academics, and personal lives. While this expectation is not entirely unfounded, it can be unfair to criticize student leaders for their absence during critical moments without giving them the opportunity to explain. If their absence was due to factors beyond their control, such criticism may be unjust.

A controversy similar to Ola’s unfolded between the Student Union President, Aweda Bolaji, and a particular student, as highlighted in a tweet on the popular platform X. Some students criticized the idea of calling an individual at 5:00 AM on a Sunday and expecting a response, arguing it was unreasonable. On the other hand, Ola shares the perspective that, as a student leader, availability should be expected at all hours. Yet, some feel that students have unrealistic and unfair expectations of their leaders. 

In response to the complaint, Oloye explained that the timing was too early, especially on a weekend, and that he should be allowed to rest. However, Ola believes that as President, Aweda should be available to serve his peers around the clock, even at midnight. 

Aweda further mentioned receiving calls in the past from students about issues such as roommates disturbing them with prayers and needing help editing course forms. While these concerns may seem trivial, they highlight the broader expectation that student leaders must address any issue, no matter how minor, despite their heavy responsibilities. 

While many students believe that Aweda has let them down, particularly following the school fee hike controversy, the decline in electricity, and the neglect of ABH students during power outages; some still defend him, arguing that, as a student, Aweda cannot be expected to do everything. Without doubts, student leaders may deserve understanding but this should not be an excuse for remaining indifferent when those they serve are in distress, nor should it justify inefficiency or a lack of commitment to their promises.

In conclusion, the core issue is that student leaders, like anyone else, have personal lives. Although they may be seen as responsible for serving a large number of people who elected them, they too deserve rest and should not be criticized or blamed when they are absent during critical moments, especially if they offer legitimate explanations for their absence.