In all honesty, we were warned. From casual remarks by senior students to full-blown orientation sessions. The speed, the volume, and the demands that would be placed on our time were facts all mentioned to us. However, when it finally arrived, most of us were caught unawares. It was not due to a lack of preparation for some of us, (the rest of us know ourselves), but the sheer volume covered in a relatively smaller period.
Resultantly, many members of the class, including me, are behind on our personal study of coursework despite the number of hours put in. Sadly, with each additional lecture attended, the distance to be bridged only grows as one lecture ends up requiring several hours of study. Unsurprisingly, this has also led to the prevalence of subdued panic among students – a state of mind I believe is not limited to our department nor our university.
An additional ingredient to this cocktail mix is the upcoming Physiology first in-course test slated for the 31st of May which imposes a deadline in the minds of many. After all, past experiences have shown that most departments have a habit of scheduling tests within the same time frame, hence no one can afford to focus on studying Physiology alone.
The presence of all these contributing factors makes the current situation an optimal breeding ground for increased levels of mental health issues and instability – a cause for great concern. Since this happens to be Nigeria’s un-ideal educational system, it would be foolhardy for us to make our complaints to the lecturers. Consequently, the only option within our sights is to do what students in this country do best –adapt. While it certainly isn’t the easiest of options, one can attempt to quell the panic by taking things a day at a time and consistently making an effort despite the hopeless feeling that could come from considering the bigger picture. Little drops of water, they say, make a mighty ocean: an apt phrase that describes the amount of work before us.
Onyinyechi Osisiogu
