Aluta Continua

You know that time we just graduated from secondary school? We were the happiest on earth after writing JAMB, WAEC and NECO. We believed that we wrote well, so we relaxed happily at home. Oya na. Time for admission came. We waited and waited,no admission. We turned prayer warriors. Every morning, "Oh Lord God in Heaven!" Some of us even changed courses. Still nothing.

Then, God said it's time. We were given admission. Joy was the only thing seen on our faces. We didn't even bother thinking about the finance, physical and mental stress involved. We were just happy. We were like, "we'll cross the bridge when we get to the river." Now it's that bridge that it almost breaking us apart.

Hmm. The real deal started when we entered the university. From the gate sef, things were strange. We started getting broke and stranded. For people like me that depend on my parents, every week we cried out on the phone, "Daddy! My money has finished again o!" And the old man will heave a weary sigh.

Oh, lectures started. Is it the morning lectures? We ran and struggled to get a seat in a class that's not even enough for 50% of the class (I'm talking about my department here). We suffered in the heat and all, just to get a certain CGPA. Time to submit and stamp documents at the faculty, another issue. It was as if they sent those people at the faculty for us, 'cause you know one thing they give you instead of what you went for? Frustration!

For those staying in the hostel like me, our stomach suffered. We became used to eating (most times) tasteless food that the quantity is far greater than the quality, all to survive.

We sit every morning brooding, "Ndarr! Why is life like this? Me I want to go home oo." For a school like mine, there's light o, but immediately you start celebrating that there's light, they take light as if they were waiting for you to jubilate. We go home for break, but have no choice than to come back for assignments, tests and exams, if not, you're considered a dropout.

Time for assignments, tests and exams come. You read and read, almost reading your brain out. But these people will set questions that get you pondering and wondering if you actually read. In the end, most of them want you to do one thing, sort. But then, we're midway through the journey. We started it, we'll end it, come what may. "Aluta," they say, "must continue." I am El Shava.