Steem4nigeria Accelerator Contest Week 40: My Worst Highschool Experience

Sitting on a quiet residential street in Umuahia road, Ikot Ekpene, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria, Ritman College may seem underrated from the outside. But push through those gates and you entered a whole other world - one filled with life, character, and more memorable experiences than I can possibly remember. Those black and white painted buildings housed some of my most cherished memories and biggest growing pains. Ritman wasn't just a school; it was a platform that prepared me for the future.

_{From my gallery}

Although Ritman College was a citadel of learning, I still had some of my worst experiences right there in High School. I can still feel the shame and embarrassment so vividly. It was the beginning of a new academic session JSS2 which was my 8th grade and I was newly elected as class captain. I was so excited and determined to be the perfect leader. It was on that fateful day our mathematics teacher Mr. Nkanga's math quiz revealed my secret as a person who chews pencils a lot.

About halfway through the quiz, Mr. Nkanga suddenly snatched away my chewed-up pencil and shouted at me "Zephril! You be yeye pikin!?" Which generally translates from the Nigerian Pidgin as "Zephril! Are you a misbehaved child!?"
He then rigorously took me to the front of my classmates and embarrassed me in front of the class, showing the class how dirty my mouth was. I wanted the ground to swallow me at that very moment.
But Mr. Nkanga was not done with publicly embarrassing me that day. When I returned to my seat to continue the test, he looked through it, then his face was filled with more rage. "What kind of a class captain is this" He shouted, waving my chewed pencil to the whole class.

I had managed to fail the quiz while also disgracing myself twice before my classmates. My class captaincy was forever wasted in my mind after that.

Source

As painful as that experience was, it taught me crucial lessons about respecting oneself, avoiding mindless habits, and staying focused during important tasks. I am very grateful Mr. Nkanga took such a tough stance - it motivated me to break that habit of chewing pencils all the time.
More importantly, it gave me a sense of responsibility and maturity I had been lacking.
That willingness to really invest in a student's growth was one of Ritman College's greatest strengths. The devoted teachers there didn't just instruct, they mentored and guided the whole person. Like the time Mrs. Okoko, my creative writing teacher, pulled me aside to gently confront my poor grades.

In that heartfelt discussion, she revealed her observations that I had lost interest in my academics. She knew I had so much potential but was wasting it due to a lot of distractions in high school.

Then there were the countless beautiful moments that could only happen within Ritman College's nurturing community. Like when my best friend Samuel and I decided to choreograph a dance for the school talent show...and ended up winning!

Ritman College was the spot where I learned how to truly be myself and appreciate my flaws. It's where I made my closest friends and favorite childhood memories. While I wouldn't want to repeat my most humiliating High school moments, I'm grateful to have had them because they helped mould me into the person I am today.

Source

Yes, high school was challenging and filled with embarrassments most of the time, but those years were made perfect by Ritman College. Teachers like Mr. Nkanga and Mrs. Okoko didn't just impart book knowledge, they imparted wisdom.

That's why, despite all the awkward hiccups and growing pains, I look back at my Ritman days with the biggest smile. It's the place where I came into my own and created my most treasured life experiences. No matter how far I go, I will never forget that great citadel of learning.

I invite @comfortpeter, @rexzitek and @suboohi to participate in this contest.