By: Ojo Ayoolajesu Victoria
In continuation of our First Class Series, POSSPRESS brings you another inspiring story, one that blends academic excellence with purposeful leadership. Adeola Olaitan, popularly known as “Dee,” is not only a First Class graduate of Political Science, University of Ibadan, but also a former Vice President of NAPSS UI. In this interview, she shares her journey, study habits, and how she effectively ran the mentorship programme during her tenure as Vice President.
POSSPRESS: Good evening ma. I’m Ayoolajesu Victoria Ojo, a correspondent from POSSPRESS. Kindly introduce yourself.
Miss Adeola: I’m Adeola Olaitan.
POSSPRESS: Congratulations on your excellent performance as an undergraduate from Political Science department, University of Ibadan.
Miss Adeola: Thank you very much.
POSSPRESS: Let’s start from the beginning. What inspired you to study Political Science?
Miss Adeola: I’ve always been fascinated with the concept of international relations and international politics, I wanted to pursue a career in that field hence my reason for studying political science.
POSSPRESS: On a scale of 1 to 10 rate how much studying Political Science at UI met your expectations.
Miss Adeola: I’d give it a solid 9/10.
POSSPRESS: You served as the Vice President of NAPSSS UI for the 2023/2024 session. What other extra curricular activities were you involved in?
Miss Adeola: Prior to that I served under the NAPSS week planning committee and publicity committee for the NAPSS UI 2022/2023 administration.
POSSPRESS: On the mentorship programme, how were you able to successfully implement it during your tenure?
Miss Adeola: Firstly it’s important to have a plan even before the tenure begins. I already knew how I wanted to go about it before I included it in my manifesto, the mentorship program existed in previous administrations and I was able to find out where the lapses were and redefine its purpose to suit what NAPSSITES needed, it wasn’t the easiest task if I’m being honest.
Also I worked with the Vice presidents of other departments within the faculty and FATSSA Vice President during my tenure and we’d always have long online meetings where we run ideas through each other cause we all had the mentorship program as a plan in our individual manifestos So for me I had like-minds around me which was very important as a form of encouragement.
But what gave me an edge was I started the process early, I also paired mentors and mentees according to their needs and preferences, my inbox was open to complaints which helped to repair applicants when need be. Also constant publicity helped, the google form for application was constantly in everyone’s face I also emphasized the importance of having a mentor and mentee to as many people as I could tell It was indeed a success and a lot of effort I hope the new administration would carry on the baton.
POSSPRESS: How did you balance academics with leadership and social commitments?
Miss Adeola: Prioritizing was key for me and that helped me to balance academics and other commitments. When it comes to the hour of studying, nothing else takes my attention and once I close my books, I focus on other activities. This gave me the opportunity to focus with a clear mind and to focus on one thing at a time to give my very best to each of my commitments.
POSSPRESS: At what point did you realize you could graduate with a First Class?
Miss Adeola: Honestly I didn’t start with the mindset of graduating with a first class, I started with the mindset that I’d give my academics my very best and realized ‘my very best’ could earn me a first class. But yeah I’d say by 200 level it began to dawn on me that I could graduate with a first class.
POSSPRESS: Speaking about giving your very best, what motivated you especially when assignments and tests piled up?
Miss Adeola: The satisfaction I get when I get them done excellently well motivated me to study for my tests and research for my assignments.
POSSPRESS: From your response, I’m guessing that you’re not among the “deadline gang”. Am I right?
Miss Adeola: I don’t always have the luxury of time for every task especially for tests and assignments. Sometimes I’m forced to be among the ‘deadline gang’ due to the constraints of time and workload but I avoid it, especially for exams.
POSSPRESS: Do you study alone, in a group or both? Also is your reading scheduled or flexible?
Miss Adeola: I study alone except when I need explanation from my colleagues,one can’t always know it all, but 90% of the time I study alone.
POSSPRESS: How important were class attendance and note-taking in your journey and generally, what study habits contributed most to your success?
Miss Adeola: I don’t joke with my notes, I take notes most of the time in class cause I write my notes to my own understanding not just what the lecturer is saying, I asterisk areas I need to make further research on my own and key points for test and examination purposes and attend most of my classes. There are certain lecturers in the department which you can’t afford to miss their classes even if you’d get notes, it’s a major setback and you most likely would miss important details for test and exams. I’d say attending classes, taking notes and studying materials from the reading list on the course outline contributed the most to my success.
POSSPRESS: Your mention of lecturers brings me to my next question, who are the lecturers that positively shaped your growth?
Miss Adeola: All our lecturers in the department are brilliant scholars, very brilliant men and women. I’m so proud and honored to have been trained by them. In particular is my project supervisor Prof Aiyede, Late Prof Pogoson and I always enjoy Prof Akanji’s classes just to mention a few but I appreciate all our lecturers.
POSSPRESS: Did you ever experience low grades or disappointment? If yes, how did you recover and what did you learn from it?
Miss Adeola: Oh! yes I did. The first time I had a C from a course I took outside of the department, I never went back to that department. I learnt that I wasn’t so good in that field and I’d rather pick from other departments I believe I had an edge over I learnt at that point to take my course selection very seriously and explore other options not limiting myself to what most people would go for. Finding what works for you is very important.
POSSPRESS: In my experience, when I tell people that I’m studying Political Science, they automatically think that I want to become a politician. Is this the same experience for you and what other misconceptions do people have about our dear course?
Miss Adeola: I think there are more opportunities to studying this course than most students know, most people you’d meet would try to belittle the course and tell you it’s not a ‘marketable course’ especially in this part of the world. If your mind isn’t constrained you’d definitely find your path , make research, figure out what field captures your interest and necessary skills you’d need to acquire in addition to your degree to make your goal a reality, that’s the part most people don’t understand.For the general misconception yes I definitely heard it a lot but it really never bothered me cause I chose this course myself from the very beginning and I know what I want out of it.
POSSPRESS: I love how your responses easily leads me to my next questions. Beyond grades, what skills did studying Political Science help you develop?
Miss Adeola: Critical thinking which is very important in dealing with life after school both in cooperate spaces and entrepreneurship. Also research skills , those deep researches I had to make for test, assignments and exams I order for me to write expensively has added to my ability to make extensive research and get necessary data and information needed to navigate certain task I have now.
POSSPRESS: What practical tips would you give current Political Science students aiming for academic excellence?
Miss Adeola: Firstly find the study pattern that works for you, emphasis on what works for you not just what is popular among students. Secondly, attend classes as much as you can, it goes a long way. Lastly, study without fear, don’t let what you’ve heard about a course or a lecturer put so much fear in you to an extent that it makes you loose focus or not study as much as you ought to simply because you’ve decided your fate even before writing the tests or the exams. I try as much as possible to study as calm as possible. We really don’t give our best when we are scared of the unknown.
POSSPRESS: What are you doing currently, and what are your future aspirations? Kindly share the much that you can about these.
Miss Adeola: Currently acquiring the necessary skills for the field I’ve decided to venture into. I’m definitely going to be a career woman and I’m making efforts to attain that and build it to the level I want it to be, baby steps now but I’m getting there. I’d leave it at that.
POSSPRESS: To conclude, kindly leave us with a mantra.
Miss Adeola: I’d keep it short. Believe you can and you’re halfway there.
POSSPRESS: Thank you so much for your time ma. It’s really an honour to have you.
