EXPERIENCE AS A NEWBIE @ THE UNIVERSITY OF IBADAN

EXPERIENCE AS A NEWBIE @ THE UNIVERSITY OF IBADAN

I was very glad when my admission letter was posted to me. It read thus:| “You have been offered a provisional admission to study Pharmacy in the University of Ibadan.” My parents rejoiced with me and instantly, shopped for necessary materials that I would need for the long first journey out of our cozy home to the ivory tower of learning where I knew no one.
On my first day on the campus of the university, I sauntered in like a coroneted Kabiyesi, a Yoruba King, going to take over the reign of authority in his domain, only to discover that it wasn’t an easy task ruling. My experience, that first day shattered all my romantic notions about an easy life on campus.

The first experience that changed my idea of life on campus was my inability to secure an accommodation that first night. I had to sleep in an open lecture theatre when I could not get anyone to accommodate me for the night. In the morning, I washed my face with the free-flowing water tap in the faculty and behaved as if I enjoyed the night out. Night out indeed!
As if to let me know that I was out in the wild with no one but I to carter for myself and make my decisions, ‘day one’ turned out to be a much rosier day than ‘day two’. I had to get clearance from the Admissions Office, and then proceeded to the Loggings Office to find out which hostel I was posted to. All these involved long queues in the merciless tropical sun with no one caring whether we the Jambites were scotched by the heat or not. I got to the hostel about 3pm and was told that the Hall Warden has closed for the day and that I should come for allocation the following day. At this point, I could no longer bear it. I busted out crying. One of the potters looked at me with disdain and surprise while one of them took me to an inner room, may be it is called the potters changing room and asked why I was crying. I narrated to her my ordeal the previous day. And she felt for me and called one of the stalites, a name for students who are not newbies and asked her to accommodate me for the night. That was how I escaped another night out in a deserted and lonely lecture theatre. Having got accommodation and registered for the courses I had to take, I was expecting to be told where the lecture room for newbies is located I later learned that the university is not same as the secondary school where I came from. In the university, lectures are done in various lecture rooms. No particular room is designated for a given class or level. . I missed some lectures and had to copy notes from my co-students.
Although my experience was very disappointing, as a stranger in a strange environment, it was in the main, full of fun and adventure. Mind you, this was the first time I was alone without my parents and senior ones to take decisions for me. I was on my own. So nice to be my own boss I thought. But it was demanding. That was my campus experience!