Among the vibrant hues of the university campus, there is a subtle splash of muted tones. These are the final-year students, their faces etched with the weariness of sleepless nights and the weight of impending deadlines. Some wear a mask of forced cheer, their smiles stretching thinly overdrawn features. Others, overwhelmed by the sheer magnitude of their tasks, have abandoned all pretense.
The Yoruba proverb Esin ki ko ere asarele literally means “the horse does not reject the homerun”. It is a metaphor for the importance of perseverance and hard work, even when faced with challenges.
The final year at the University of Ibadan is one of the most challenging years of a student’s academic career. It is a time when students are juggling their final-year projects, internships, leadership roles, and exams. It is also a time when students are preparing for the next chapter of their lives, whether it be graduate school, employment, or entrepreneurship.
The final year is a crucible in which students are forged into their final form. It is a time of intense introspection, as they grapple with their identities and their place in the world. It is also a time of tremendous pressure, as they strive to complete their final-year projects, ace their exams, and land their dream jobs.
The faint fog in the air, like a wispy veil of memory, whispers of Christmas past. But for UI students, it is also a harbinger of exams to come.
The exams loom on the horizon, like a dark cloud threatening to rain down on their dreams. The fog thickens, obscuring their vision and making it difficult to see the path ahead.
But the students persevere. They know that the exams are a necessary hurdle on their journey to graduation. They gather in study groups, sharing notes and strategies. They stay up late into the night, poring over textbooks and cramming for exams.
The final year of university is a journey like no other. It is a time of immense growth and change, as students prepare to embark on the next chapter of their lives.
