MY FIRST YEAR (FACTION)

 HOW I TELL MY STORY. 4

The first breeze that blew through my path as I entered UNN that very day was the realization that I am on my own. Nobody actually cares in that university environment. As I was waiting for my batch to enter, two young men came to me and dealt with me. One was a photographer and the other was a cyber cafe guy. 

The cyber cafe guy came first. He requested to see my examination entrance slip which I showed him. He heaved and told me that I was lucky. He told me that if not that he just checked it, that I would have been disqualified from sitting for the examination. He informed me, with all seriousness, that everyone in that place was with their colored print-out and that those without theirs would be disqualified. 

This actually rang a bell in my head since I had never sat for post UTME examination. Out of fear, I followed the guy who asked me to come so that he would print the colored one for me. He told me the amount was 1000 naira. I checked what I had with me and thought of other expenses that might arise. I told the guy that I was only with 500 naira instead. He then said that I looked very innocent and bright, and because of that he wouldn't want me to miss my exam. He agreed to take 400 naira. I was happy, not knowing that it was a one-chance experience. I thought he was a good person

As I moved out from the container where he took me to print the notification slip, another guy with a camera followed me immediately. He told me that the Passport in my examination slip was not clear and that if I don't snap another passport and pin it on the slip, that I would be taken to be writing the examination for another person. That too got me. I wasn't really with much. And the guy had insisted that he can't snap one or two or even three passports. He said that it's done only in pairs of four and that the price was 800 naira. After all said and done, he collected 600 naira from me saying that he just wants to be of help and that when I finally get admitted that I shouldn't fail to patronize him.

It was in the same way that I was made to buy a hand sanitizer and facemask. Of course none of these counted. Nobody requested for my examination slip. I was already furious by the time I finished with the exam because I had been deceived. The money I came with was barely enough to take him home. As I was sitting, thinking about my life and how I would trek a great mile to get to where the amount I had could carry me, another group came and unfortunately, I transferred my aggression to them.

It was a guy who said he was a member of a particular fellowship group, CFS if I am not mistaken. He came to preach repentance to me. Initially I wanted to ignore him but the guy was persistent so I brought out my own bible and we began to argue. I guess the guy was new with bible shaa because he couldn't answer his mouth. I proved everything he said wrong and began to preach to him. At one point the guy told me that he would be back and disappeared. I later saw him preaching to another lady just close by. When he saw me, he hid his face. I wasn't even bothered by that. I had more pressing issues to solve-how to get to my house.

A step away from the library gate, walking towards CEC, I saw a man (whom I later knew to be one of my lecturers and even, a professor, prof Ukonu) who was interviewing students that came to sit for the exams. I loved what I saw and imagined being the one handling that camera or microphone. When I got closer, he tried to interview me but I declined. And one way or the other, he got to know that I applied for mass communication and he smiled and told me that it's fine, that I would do it when the time is ripe. I think it's now that I understand that statement, "when the time is ripe".

From there, I was lucky to see someone who helped show me the department I aspired to be in. After that brief tour, she as well helped me and my two friends to get to odim gate. That day, I saw the beginning of shege. Trekking from mass communication department through stadium to Franco pitch and then, that long road to odim was not funny. Also, from Odim gate, we walked (with my friend who was going back to obollo afor) through the Immaculate Heart of Mary catholic church at Ajuona obukpa and then bumped out at Ugwu sister. This took us not less than two hours. It was there that we now got a tricycle that could carry us to our different destinations with the amount we had. That day was hell for me.

The next time I came was when I was preparing to resume school, when I came to look for accommodation. You won't believe what happened.

Kenewrites