A week ago, the University of Ibadan threw open her magnificent gates to welcome “tiring” students to the second semester of the 23/24 academic session. However, to the returning students, the University gate was left open by the school management after the university failed to give a break between the first and second semesters. Through the mumbling and grumbling, returning students have no option but to return to class and “enjoy” hours of lecture each week.
The early weeks of resumption are slow with few academic activities and most faculties still bent over the drawing table perfecting a timetable for the semester. Classes are seldom held and all arms are at akimbo waiting for the “final final final” draft of the timetable before resuming lectures, sometimes, this takes up to two weeks and all that’s left is nine weeks of rigorous academic activities or not. To some, their semester starts from the first lecture while for others, resumption is slated for when CA begins.
Unlike the first semester resumption, most freshers have now lost their naivety and outgrown almost all telltales that betray them for being new to the system. Their naive walk steps, speech patterns, improper address of lecturers and disposition to attending lectures change and they feel more comfortable in the system, they fancy themselves staylites and look forward to progressing to 200lv as they walk the corridors of their faculties proudly.
The second semester is tricky- everywhere you look, there is music blasting on loudspeakers. In your class group, there’s a social butterfly sharing BCs for a supposed party of the session. Moving from person to person is your social director selling speeches to invite everyone to the association’s picnic, cultural night, special hangout and dinner all at once, good luck saying no. Also, your walk to the school library for a session of night reading does not save you. Walking past you are girls in fitting clothes and inviting makeup accompanied by boys in sneakers and fashionable tops heading to the latest party and if your conviction to read is weak, you might keep your books in your bag and follow the pretty-looking girl or the next handsome boy that walk past you to the party.
But, hey, no one is demonising social events or criticising you for chasing some fun after weeks of relentless academic pursuit. Every ounce of dopamine you get from attending these social events you’ve earned for your weeks of hard work. Essentially, the message is having a proper academic and social life balance. The process that all work and no play employs to make Jack a dull boy is the same process that all play and little/no study will employ to make Jack an “advice to withdraw” student if Jack fails to strike a balance.
Amid parties and other social activities frenzy lie sporting activities with sporting activities like the HOD cup, Deans cup, inter-faculties or inter-halls and other sporting activities taking space simultaneously and you’re either participating, cheering, or carrying caskets to the venue (I don’t know why, ask ZIK boys). This and others point to the importance of having a proper schedule and knowing which activities to participate in or not to survive the second semester and make it to the convocation list.
Lastly, tests and examinations cannot be escaped and are always around the corner and being lost in the euphoria of other activities affect grades negatively. It is imperative to note that aside from social and sporting activities, it is also important to schedule the time spent on extracurricular and religious activities. It is tricky how much time these activities also consume.
To freshers, staylites and myself, it is imperative to pick events to attend, the activities to get involved in and have a disciplined study schedule. Do not dance away your time at the Trace concert on Friday, underperform in an impromptu test on Monday and finish the semester with low grades.
