Throwback to Freshman Year; Experiences and Advice to Freshmen

By Charity Olufokunbi 

It's a new academic session where freshmen would be struggling to get their registrations done and returning students would be settling down to update their files. This pressman intends to know NASESITES' Memorable/Unforgettable experience as a fresher.

"I remember being a very 'serious student' as at first semester, 100 level. I was zealous with my academics and football (all I did was read my books and play football) but never really mingled. My network revolved around my roommates, floor mates and course mates and didn't bother expanding it, I continued this trend for a while until this particular event involving my hall of residence (Zik hall) came about. It was a gathering of zikites and people from other halls but we zikites seem to be having the most of the fun. I genuinely loved the melody and gyration in the air, I literally wanted to feel among. Then, there came this time when the gyration became heated and bants came in (zik was having the upper hand) and this particular staylite started asking the freshers of their halls to know the non-zikites among us and fish them out for banting, then it got to my turn, this guy didn't believe me, he said somehow I don't look like a zikite, he turned to the other freshers to confirm if they've ever seen me in zik before, they shook their heads and it dawned on me, none of these guys I was with were my roommates nor my floor mates or course mates that can bail me out. I was just doing lots of explanation of how I'm a zikite, no evidence. I felt so embarrassed and disgusted afterwards, I reflected on the situation and realized I need balance in both social and academic life and that is what I have been up to till now, and I'm happy I'm a bit well known in my hall, even in my faculty.”

My advice to the freshers: “Learn to invest in your social wellbeing as well as your academic wellbeing. Anyone who leaves a tertiary institution with nothing but academic excellence alone is a wasted fellow. You need to learn life coping skills, entrepreneurship and other things and this is only possible if you balance your academic life with your social life. So my dear friends, my advice in short is that wherever you are in this institution of learning "just be relevant".”

Meroyi Similoluwa, 200 Level.

“As a newbie in a 'new land', I knew nobody. I was still like a baby taking his first steps, trying to be firm. You know, as freshers registrations here and there, it was tiring. On this day, I was to meet a lecturer. And, I already knew that in UI, you don't give the wrong titles to lecturers.

The person who gave me the name of the lecturer I was looking for, added no title. I walked to the department and met a man. I asked, after the formalities, "Sir, I am looking for Ojebisi (my name as the example). I am not sure if the person is a Ma or Sir."

The man looked at me and asked me to follow him. Instead of taking me directly to the lecturer I came for, he was taking me around and telling the other lecturers he met on the way how I just called the name of a lecturer anyhow... Blah blah blah. 😅 He stressed me. He finally took me to the lecturer though, but not after giving me a tough time.” 

 Advice to Freshers : “Don't call a "Dr." "Prof." Don't call a "Mr." "Dr." And the like.

They cherish it a lot here. Also, for the female lecturers, it's simply, Dr. Ojebisi. There is nothing like "Dr Mrs Ojebisi.. 

Ojebisi Eunice, 200 Level

"First off, lemme quickly point this hard fact out "know what works best for you, ignore the masses and begin do it on time" As a Fresher, my first semester was pretty fun and straightforward bagging a GP of 3.75 and I was on the right track to a first class but then comes second semester, I was so nonchalant that I didn't care much for studying, I saw people doing TDB and wished I was like them and I eventually tried it 😀 😊 Disclaimer it was a terrible experience I didn't learn shit.

I knew my reading habit but was eager to follow the masses and since it didn't work out I got even more less concerned with my books until after results came out I realised that I almost carried over a course which everyone seemed to pass and amazingly my course mates, wonderful people wanted me to pass too and thought I'll get higher grades than them 😀 😊 😄 I proved dem wrong 😅😅😅.”

Advice to the Freshers : “Don't let other people's seriousness make u feel less of yourself, know what works best for you and get to it on time...... I wish to see you guys excellent results and greater heights”

Nwosu David, 200 Level.

"My 100 level was filled with thrilling moments and also some down times, some of which I might not be able recollect. We could however say that there are some experiences that you just might never be able to wipe off your memory, and just like everyone I've got one. 

I, Precious, cried in the middle of a lecture!!!🥺

Okay... So how did we get there? 

The previous day, a course mate who happened to be in the same hostel as I came to my room seriously ill. She came to ask me for a favour which included me texting a lecturer whose class we were to have the next morning that she wouldn't be able to come to class because she was very sick. She said she couldn't type so I should help her send a message to the lecturer which I accepted to do out of compassion. I sent the lecturer a message via WhatsApp that evening with all joy and gladness of mind. I saw that he read the message but then he didn't reply, but in my mind I was still feeling like a good course mate. 

I went to class the next day feeling all fulfilled and sat with all confidence in the class. The lecturer walked in and the class was going smoothly, not until when he suddenly asked "Who was the person that messaged me yesterday night?" So I raised up my hand from my seat to signify that I was the one. He looked at me for a split second before he then asked me to check my WhatsApp to see if I could still see his picture on his dp. I checked and discovered that I actually couldn't see his DP again so out of all innocence and curiosity I replied "No Sir". Then it was his next statement that broke the Camel's back "That was because I blocked you". I was very confused at that moment and wondered what I did wrong and before I knew what I was doing I felt tears drop on my cheeks and tiny sobs began to come out, I tried my best to make sure no one noticed since I was sitting in front of the class. He noticed the tears and didn't help matters as he announced to the whole class that I was crying. He then asked why I was crying, I couldn't talk so the sobs became louder and then I heard some people chuckling at the back. I couldn't lift my head. That was when he said sorry and then he unblocked saying we shouldn't send him a message at night again.”

My Advice to Freshers: Know your lecturers and their rules and make sure not to break them. Also, make sure you learn to control your emotions, no matter how bad it is try to bottle it in till you are in a private space. It's not so cool breaking down in public, it could be real embarrassing.”

Oguh Precious, 200 Level.

"I came to UI with the thought of strictly facing my academics and getting myself involved in NO social activities whatsoever. That was a jokes on me because it took only few weeks and little push from my friends for me to want to be my faculty's freshest fresher (that is miss fresher).

I didn't think I'd win it at first but I knew I had something worth putting out there. My talent!! Winning the contest didn't come as a surprise and it also served as my stepping stone to being Miss NUESA.”

My advice to you dearest fresher is... Do not be limited to academics alone. There are lots of things to explore. Create platforms for yourself. Seize opportunities. Put what you do out there. Don't be complacent. You can be on first class and still be the best rapper/singer/poet (or whatever you are) in UI. It all just depends on you.”

You've got this💯💫

Olayiwola Olatinuyo, 200 Level.