Why Joining University has been a milestone

Multimedia University of Kenya newly built multipurpose library.

Photo by: Jemsa Media

Back in high school, we were often being advised, “gentlemen, work smart and attain that c+” (minimum entry grade to university as of 2019). “Thank me later, it doesn’t matter what course you will pursue in campus, just get that grade”. We would be told. These were words mostly from our school principal, numerous pastors and clergymen and women, who would troop into our school compound, every Sunday, and of course motivational speakers, Jack of all trade these ones. As usual, we would laugh them off most of the times. Mob psychology, guided most of us.

Needless to say, majority of these great people back then, had accolades in higher education, and we were simply tapping advice from the horse’s mouth. People who spoke from experience, and left us wallowing in our imagination of what university looked like. Our principal would say, “my sons, in campus you will have freedom, you will meet beautiful women, leave alone those you chase around aimlessly in your symposiums. In campus, girls are so many and ready to mingle. Hot like hell. You won’t be restricted to one attire; you will have a variety to choose from.

Indeed, majority of these tales and motivational talks we received back then, have come to pass, and I’m a living testimony to some of this, except for a pool of ladies in campus, always ready to mingle, whom am still searching for, four years down the line. But for freedom, I can’t complain, campus has a lot of freedom, especially if you went to a boarding structured high school. This schools were literally hell on earth. Here I’m in campus, two classes a day, four to five classes a week, culmination with one of them failing to take place, isn’t this freedom ladies and gentlemen?

But there is a different kind of vibe that comes with joining campus, I personally have experienced. No one pokes his or her noses into your business, leave alone your parents, unless they are a little bit paranoid. Here, you get a chance to actualize yourself. Be it academically, mentally, socially or even financially. You want to interact and make friends, the choice is yours, you want to hide yourself in the hostel the whole day, the choice is yours, you want to procrastinate your assignments the choice is yours, you want to party and waste yourself, imagine the choice is yours and in extreme cases, you wish to abuse drugs, boy oh boy the floor is yours. University is a pure bliss my friend. You get a taste of your own medicine and just how you like it.

Arguably, the shyness that comes when you first join campus, gradually fades off as years go by. Life toughens you until you know what confidence and high self-esteem means. In a nutshell, nobody cares about you, you are on your own, you only have you. Moreover, you generally don’t want to look timid, shy and introverted, after all this years of higher education. You simply want to show the world, what it means to school in a university. While in high school we were being guided like sheep heading to the slaughter house, in campus, that’s 'nonsense', you are even encouraged to go party and enjoy your life. After all, isn't this the reason you spent so many sleepless nights, back in high school to reach here? It’s only in campus where your classmates laugh at you, for carrying two different types of pens to class, wearing official clothes, having more than one book, don’t mention covering that book, that is now a disaster in itself, how dare you cover a book in campus, you should be ‘ashamed’ of yourself for ‘committing’ such a scandalous ‘crime’. You will for sure, headline memes that week, if you dare did that.

But believe me, all these acts are pure happiness, as funny as they might sound to you. From class lecturers hosted by witty lecturers, some of whom may intimidate you to the point you think you are dumb and a failure already, to diverse class interactions amongst fellow students. In campus you meet all sorts of students with different level of capabilities and mindset. Those who seem to know what they are doing from the moment you meet them, to those who seem to be confused all together and ever complaining how university is a scam. But we all know, every market has a mad person, and universities are not an exception. But even with all this into consideration, you become reshaped and galvanised beyond recognition of your former self.  

As I conclude this article, I’m in a dilemma, whether I should celebrate the four years I’ve been in campus or if I should be sad that soon, I will be out there facing the real world. A world where, I won’t have anyone to request for money to build our faculty or money for imaginary road trips. A World full of demanding responsibilities, intertwined in the African mentality; after campus look for your own house boy, don’t you dare go back to your parents’ house. Lest we find and troll you properly.