BY
MEDUGU, OJOCHIDE SUNDAY.
This is a special dedication to all new students-JAMBites and REMites. With this piece, I welcome you the “wide, wide world”. The caption of this article will surely leave many pondering.
Back in the days in SSS 3, when we were bidding farewell to Secondary School, the commonest admonition to us started with these words –“As you are going into the wide world ………” This was meant to make us prepare to face the challenges that life outside Secondary School will present. This is because, moral and disciplinary restriction ends in the secondary school.
Expatiating, punishment for waking up late, keeping a dirty school environment, coming late to the assembly ground, failing to do our assignments, missing classes etc stops at that level.
Literally, part of the “wide, wide world” is the tertiary institution. The University, Polytechnic and Colleges of Education all fall into this category. In the University (this our primary constituency), you are more or less on your own, free from parental care and with virtually no prefect to caution you when you go wrong.
To navigate through this system successfully, we need to develop the right mindset. You should determine in your mind to do the right thing always, including obeying all rules and regulations. At this stage of life-youthful age, we are engrossed with exploring anything explorable and going into every adventure. It is necessary that you make the right friends and keep the right company always. The earlier we attach ourselves to our respective religious groups, the better.
Remembering that your primary aim of being here is academics, is very important. With the determination to excel, success is definitely guaranteed. Recognize genuine STAYlites (Old Students), who will give you the right advice and direction. Your attendance to lectures counts because legally, if you don’t attend 70% of the lectures of any course, you aren’t qualified to write the exams. Assignments are to be done as at when due and submitted appropriately. Constant study is inevitable as “fire brigade approach” might mean planning to fail. Aim high i.e. aim at leaving with First Class and not a Pass Degree.
Finally, as certificates are awarded in character and in learning, we should be of good behaviour. Like the old saying goes “remember the child of whom you are”. Advances from the opposite sex should be treated with caution and you shouldn’t let the love for anybody override what you came here for. Make sure you don’t go to any place without knowing exactly what goes on there. Alcoholism, smoking and all forms of immoral behaviours are to be discarded.
Heeding these few tips and many others, will surely guaranty your success. Your destiny is in your hands; you can make or mar it.
No comments:
Post a Comment