Campusconnect engagement contest week 3:My experience on campus as a new student in my university by @lordchuddy

Hey everyone,

I'm glad to be a member of this community and today I will be participating in the contest which is tittled "My experience on campus as a new student in my university".

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INTRODUCTION

Before getting into the university, I had this mindset that everyone within the four walls of the university already has a mapped out plan on what exactly they want to do with thier lives. It was as if everyone I know already has their lives planned and ready to execute while I remained with a lot of confusion and indecisions.

It was really hard for me while I continued to admire those who already made choices of what they want to be and how they want to go about it. One question I continued to ask was "How am I expected to make a life decision without the full knowledge of what my options are". How am I supposed to choose to be a doctor without knowing what it feels like to be a pharmacist or an Engineer.

I continued to feel pressured especially when I see or hear others boldly stating what they want to spend at least 4 years of their lives studying. It was a if time was fast running away and without coming to a concrete decision, I decided to let things play out while I follow sheepishly.

WHAT IS THE ATMOSPHERE LIKE

Welcome to University of Nigeria Nsukka

It was a hot Sunday afternoon yet I was feeling so cold as I waited for my cousin to come pick me from the pack. While I was waiting, I was observing the environment and it was as if everyone was having a hectic day. Clearly, I wasn't the only freshman who just arrived as I also saw some confused faces struggling with big bags while walking hand in hand with either parents or those who I referred to as the town runners.

It didn't take much of a time for my cousin to arrive at the park and we both set out for the main school.

I had no idea where I was going or where I was going to be spending the night because I made no concrete arrangements. I was only asked to start coming and knowing that I have few relatives who were currently in the same school, I didn't bother much about accommodation.

I followed my cousin until we both entered the main school environment and headed straight to the boys hostel. On entering one of the rooms, It was like nothing I have seen before😂. Over 12 boys where scattered inside the room with most of the spaces already occupied with buckets, pots, toiletries, bonks, and unarranged dirty and clean cloths.

Noises where everywhere both inside and outside with most of the boys shirtless and sweaty. A quick introduction was made by my cousin as he handed them over the banana that I bought at the park before showing me where to drop my bags.

He stayed only for a while and left with me having no idea where he has gone to or if he was ever going to come back.

Being unfamiliar with the occupants of the room, I decided to start pressing my phone while I hopefully wait for my cousin to return in other to at least show me where to bath.

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Some hours later, my cousin returned and we walked around the hostel building thus allowing me to take note of places with the reading room being the place that caught my interest the most with the reason being that it appeared to be the only place in the hostel building with less noise and people.

As we continued to walk around, an online friend who was also a freshman joined us and we all set out to explore the main school environment.

My cousin took us to our respective faculties and lecture theaters after which we set out to see my other relatives who are females thereby making thier hostels to be suited at the other part of the school.

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After the whole adventure, we returned back to the hostel and my cousin left and didn't return that night. During the night, there was no space to sleep as the main occupants of the room have already occupied all the available beds.

I didn't bother much but took few books and a thick blanket and left for the reading room. I went straight to the extreme where I spread my blanket on the reading desk and slept.

Few hours later, I was already hearing noises outside. I opened my eyes and realized that it was Monday morning already and I have to prepare for lectures.

I picked up my things and went back to the room where I collected my bathing soap, towel, and sponge and went straight to the bathroom. The eyesore inside the bathroom is not what I can describe here for it is best to be witnessed 😭.

I had no choice but to bath there and immedately left and got ready for lectures. On getting to the lecture theater, It was different from what my cousin showed my the day before. It was full of students, both old and new and with me not knowing anyone, I went in search of the class representative.

After I found him, I collected the course timetable from him and that was where I saw that I am 4 hours early to the class I will be having for the day.

While waiting for the class, I decided to head to chitis restaurants and take my breakfast. After taking my breakfast, I used their toilet for God knows I can't make use of the toilet back in the hostel.

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I completed my first class as an undergraduate without talking to anyone except my class rep who I initially got the course timetable from.

After the class, I called that my friend that I met online who was also a freshman and we both set out to look for lodge outside school. I took the lodge search seriously for I know that I can't continue sleeping on reading desk every night and waking up earlier than I am supposed to in other to catch the bathroom on time or forget about bathing for the day.

It took us almost two weeks to get a lodge and within that two weeks I slept so uncomfortably on the reading desk, bathed as early as 5am-6am so that I can meet the bathroom a bit better after the posters must have cleaned, and having to buy food everyday at chitiz restaurants so that I will get to use their toilet.

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Some of the people I met during my first week in school

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I actually met with some persons during my first week in school. Most of them were friends I met on UNN aspirants WhatsApp groups.

One of them was Gerald who ended up becoming my roommate during my first year. Another person was Innocent who happened to be in my department but was as confused as I was.

These were the people I talked with during my first weeks in school until I started getting to know some other persons in my department especially girls😉.

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Did we later turn out to be greater friends

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Yes, my friendship with Gerald and Innocent has since grown with Innocent later moving to my become my roommate during my second year.

I'm now in my final year and currently sharing a flat with Gerald while Innocent still remains a very good friend who still visit me especially during exam period in other for us to read together.

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I invite @Jueco, @solexybaba, @simonnwigwe, and @mato445 to participate in the contest.

CC,
@whitestallion

_{10% to @campusconnectng}