Sotubo Ayomide
Some memories will always be evergreen, they are stuck with you and you are stuck with them till the end of time. One of such memories is my first day in the Lagos State University School of communication new building. I had just gained admission into the Lagos State University and in my choice course, mass communication. The prospect of studying my choice course in the best state University in the land and the premier school of communication in Nigeria was really exhilarating. I felt proud of being a lasuite even without prior knowledge of the axiom, "we are Lasu, we are proud."
I donned my new blue long sleeve shirt with my 3/4 pant trouser and set out of my hostel to meet my course mates (I couldn't wait!🙃). And about my apartment, it was in the most dreaded area around campus, Poor people's land(PPL) as it is commonly identified among lasuites. I knew the land I was threading had consumed a lot of people with great potentials, evidenced by more recent killings in my short stint in the area. But I was unscathed by the dangers of walking in the same pathways. I knew what I had to do, watch my steps, remain indoors at night and always trusting my judgement of when to leave the apartment. At least, things were not as bad as they used too. "Boys don calm down" so I heard again and again. But I still used this opportunity to pay special tributes to those who couldn't survive like I did and also admonish residents of the area to embrace my modus operandi in and around the area.
Back to my first day in school, I went into the faculty building, unaware of the school's dressing regulations. No short pants, no slippers, no ragged jean, and some frugal dressing. I was consumed by my excitement and didn't take cognizance of this. That's normal, you'll think. Instead, what arrested my interest was a discovery that brought my feet down to earth. Yes, I was high flying in my daydreaming but seeing Mathematics in my course allocation forced the excitement out of me. My frustrations became double fold on seeing that I had to offer two maths courses in one semester. I was downcasted and knew I had my work caught out for me. It was not just a mountain to climb; it was two. I thought I was done scaling mountains in my secondary school days and this is the same with every lasuite. The reality that our first semester is a make or break semester was always demoralizing. But the same can be said to be a motivation for some (The scholars dem🌚).
I went back to my apartment downcasted after this earshaking revelation, coupled with the knowledge that I won't be allowed to wear shorts around, (My love for shorts ehnn👌). The thought itself was hell. No shorts, no slippers, a threat to my long hair I kept for over a year and two maths courses, even as a communicator. What can be more distracting as a student in your first day in school.
It all reminded me of the torrid time I had during my clearance day. I had to return home because I wore a pair of slippers and incomplete documents. Even on the second day, I still had to lobby for footwear as the marshalls won't allow me into the building without wearing one. Such is what lasuites go through. Subtle debilitation of momentum within and outside the school is the order of the day. If it's not the campus marshalls, then it is the dubious SARS officials. However, some of us still posses the ingenuity to breach their watchful strongholds. Most times, I am caught in between respecting the rules or doing what please me but like many, I resort to doing the former to avoid reducing my self esteem. (Ever reasonable Lasuites, I hail thee).
Settling into the environment was also an uphill task for most of us; considering we have to buy 'materials' and reading aids, plus we have to keep up with maintaining ourselves. Not everyone has what it takes to be studentpreneurs but the few that do are valiant and commendable. Guarding matriculation numbers with all our lives is very important as we are wary of the threat posed to our academic profiles and studentship as a whole. What's more, keeping seats for pals and friends and also struggling to fill our names in the lecturer's attendance list can curse an outburst among us. How hilarious it can be watching such instances at times! But believe me it is not so funny with you involved.
Some Lasuites like Olayiwola Idris, a 400 level student of mass communication popularly known as Babyface are not intrigued about the school as the others do. The creative free verse writer says, "adapting to school life was depressing and tiring, my schedule everyday is back to back classes most times. The multiple award winner for the Communication students association (COSA) who would rather live alone and stay within Campus, a luxury the university will not be able to afford until at least 2021. He also thinks the school is not really organised in some or most things." You may want to reckon with this statement coming from a multi award winner of the most handsome male category of COSA. You can follow him on Instagram @mbabyface_.
Awobanjo Mary, a 400 level student from the department of history and international relations and Omoregba Tolulope Olamide, a 300 level student from the department of music has better recommendations of the university. Olamide, who runs a consulting firm for small businesses and student entrepreneurship joys in the peace enjoyed in the institution in the last few years. Both of them also share the same view about the university, rating them high in standards and in excellence. Also, they recommend living with roommates, stating that no man is an island and will need a companion to share daily ordeals with.
All the same, the trio shares the same complaints. Their schedule is really demanding and schooling is not easy. Mary says, "adapting to the school was kind of tough and my schedule is always tight and stressful." Olamide also shares similar experiences as he is always busy with class, church and business.
A lot of us are like Olamide as only fellowship grounds could take us out of class for a protected period of time, being the alternative to the dour atmosphere in school. Unionism and school politics was meant to be a good alternative but the controversial nature of politics and the students perceived intervention by the school management prompts us to look elsewhere.
Despite this, the lofty heights of our alumnus societies and the milestones recorded by our generation of ever reasonable Lasuites 💪 in spite of our dirty past as a university is enough motivation to be a Lasuite. So whether we know the school anthem or not (please learn it),
We are Lasu
And we are proud
We are Lasu and we are proud 🎶
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