My Four-Year Journey Turned Five-Year Plus
My journey as an undergraduate in OAU
I walked into the OAU campus thinking I’d be out in four years. Spoiler alert: it took five years+
Let me take you on a journey…
2019: The beginning
You have just resumed at OAU. I still remember the smile on your face when you entered your hostel, which you would move out of 11 months later. I remember you, your mum, and your brother fighting back tears at the car park before you left Lagos; it was sad seeing everyone go. Remember, Temidayo Musa ordered you an Uber but didn’t go with you to the park because he knew he’d miss you and didn’t want to get emotional.
Your aim was simple: to graduate. It's amusing now, but all you wanted was to pass through the university and mark the register that you were there. You were a teenager, full of smiles and dreams, but without much insight. Your plan was to go to class, return to your hostel, and stay under the radar. For a while, you succeeded.
To describe how unnoticed you were, on your first birthday on campus, most of your course mates didn’t even know you existed. Lol.
You despised—and still despise—the course you were studying. Spending 4+X years on a course you saw no future in was disheartening. The irony is that you chose this course with your own two hands. You thought you would grow to like it, especially because you planned to do ICAN after all. You figured ICAN would complement your BSc. But here you are, still disliking this course. As you graduate, one of your biggest regrets is not dropping out and pursuing what you really wanted: Accounting.
Every day felt like a chore — going for lectures and sitting through classes you had no interest in. You made more friends from Management and Accounting, and you watched your friends in the Department of Management and Accounting thrive; they were living your dream, or, should I say, they were studying your dream. Meanwhile, you were stuck in a cycle of indifference and frustration. You made the decision; you have to live with it, right?
I also remember how much you tried to transfer to Management and Accounting. You almost picked up the transfer form but you had a discussion with your part-adviser and he told you that transferring might cost you your studentship if it’s unsuccessful and that even if it’s successful, you might have to start all over from 100 level again. While the former was true, he wasn’t honest with the latter but you were too scared to take the risk so you just had to let it go.
Your first year wasn’t glamorous; in fact, it was frustrating. Remember the days you’d call home to say you needed money, and they’d watch their phones ring and not pick up your calls? It was as though they left you to starve and suffer. I also think it was because they thought you were in Ile-Ife and they didn’t think you’d need money for anything, as if the people in Ile-Ife accept sand and stones as payments. Now that I think about it, that’s irresponsible, I hope you don’t treat your kids that way. Wait, how did you survive on that weekly allowance you were receiving then? Esther, you were saving 50% of your weekly allowance as though it were more than #2k per week. That explains why you looked like a broom in your 100-level pictures 😂.
And how could we forget about your favorite lecturer in your first year, Professor Ologbenla? He was a visiting professor, and he always had a nugget of wisdom to share in class. His mantra, "Brain sharpens the brain," still rings true.
You also made some lifelong friends during your first year. Beatrice became your friend after someone mistook you for her. Faruq became your buddy when he wished you a happy birthday. Lanre, who daughter-zoned you. Folarin caught your eye because, let’s face it, he was a good-looking guy! 😂 Then there’s Mr. Francis, who you met during registration and instantly clicked with because he was just so cool. Promise, who later became your roommate and friend. And let’s not forget Mr. Peter, who made sure you passed SSC 106.
Remember your housemates, Esther (Your namesake)? She could be a handful and entitled, right? And then there’s Kunle, the brainy law student who sometimes lets his smartness get to his head — He’s married now, by the way. Kabirat was the chilled and sharp neighbor who always had a cool vibe. Iyanu was your roommate and buddy. And Maami? She was the mom of the house, always welcoming and caring. I wonder how she’s doing these days.
Speaking of extracurricular activities, Esther, you didn’t attend any seminar or summits in your first year. You didn’t even attend your department’s freshmen’s party! You were so uninterested in everything that you didn’t care if you were missing out.
2024: The End
You’re about to write your final paper as an undergraduate at OAU. There’s a smile on your face as you write this but unlike that of 2019 when you resumed OAU, this smile is not so much out of excitement but from relief that this long journey is finally ending. You’ve transformed from a student who just wanted to graduate to someone who inspires others. You’re not invisible anymore. You’re not just graduating; you’ve gained a whole new set of skills. You’ve attended conferences, even went to a party (though you didn’t like it), and you’ve been invited to speak at events—more of which are surely on the horizon.
Honestly, you can’t stand this school, and you even advise others to choose different universities. You gained admission in 2018, finishing your first year by December 2019. The COVID-19 pandemic took away a year of your academic life, delaying your 200-level resumption until 2021. Then there was an internal strike at your school, so your third year didn’t start until 2022. That year, you even started a business making tote bags, and you made over 300 bags. Woohoo! Businesswoman! But then the ASUU strike hit on February 14, 2022, and didn’t end until October 14, 2022. Another pause in your academic life, but this time you made the most of it by focusing on your tote bag brand, Tote Attic (even though you no longer have time for the business). You also started learning a tech skill by picking up data science and AI. A smart move that opened up new opportunities.
You resumed school for your third year in October 2022 and finished in June 2023. You got your first job as a junior data analyst, although you lost the job later on. You’ve started sharing your thoughts on LinkedIn, and people love reading your posts. You’re building a brand for yourself, and you’ve grown so much. Due to the slow academic calendar, you had to stay home for four months before finally resuming your final year. By now, you’re tired of school and just want to move on.
You’re no longer relying on your parents; you now work with an international company. Maybe pain really sharpened your brain. You still don’t like the course you’re studying and don’t feel like you belong in the department, but it is what it is. God has the best plans for you.
One of the best things that happened to you in OAU was meeting your best friend, Adeshola. There’s no one who understands you quite like she does. You’ve made other friends too, and together, they’ve made this whole journey a bit more bearable. Shout out to Beatrice (My sister), Oluwatise, Precious, Mr. Francis, Victor, Ultimate, Promise, Gidwise, Ifeoluwa, Oluwaseun, Vivian, Deji, Toyin, Winner, Esther, Kenny, Kabirat, Kola, Lanre, Faruq, Fathiu, Michael King, Mr. Peter, Bode, Folarin, Rokeebat, Amarachi, Joshua, Bennie and every other person that made your life easier.
You’ve grown emotionally and mentally, finding clarity about your future. You’ve learned to love yourself and enjoy life’s simple pleasures, like food. You now eat a lot and don’t cook as frequently as you used to. Five years ago, you would’ve denied this happening.
Finally, in July 2024, you wrote your last exams as an undergraduate. It’s a moment you’ve been looking forward to since the day you first set foot in OAU. The journey was long and filled with ups and downs, but you’ve made it to the end. Here’s to new beginnings and whatever comes next! Here’s to heading straight for the top.
As I close this chapter, I’m learning that sometimes, the best experiences come from the challenges/delays we never anticipated.
I wish you all the best. Esther Oluwaseyi, The world is your oyster; go and do great things!
Thank you so much for taking time to read ♥️♥️♥️
