SC-S29/W2 - Nostalgia Of The Little Me: My School Days
Schooling in Nigeria is truly about the survival of the fittest. Behind those four walls, you aren't just trained to be academically sound, but forged to be resilient and prepared to take whatever snowball life decides to throws at you.
As a young child, I loved the idea of meeting my friends on the playground, brainstorming ideas for the next science fair or representing my school(s) during competitions. But one period remains evergreen in my mind. It was the day we were invited to represent the school at the NTA Debate Competition.
I remember spending extra hours at school rehearsing with my colleagues and praying silently that the teacher will choose me to be one of the speakers. This particular competition was different from the others I ever attended. It would be my first time appearing on National TV and I wanted everyone to see me — the Governor, invited dignities, my family members, including my friends at home.
I had informed my family and friends to stay glued to the TV. That's how serious it was.
That day finally came. Standing on the podium, shivering with a mix of excitement and fear, I watched as other students displayed their academic prowess. Everyone was competing for the gold medal. I wanted it so badly as well, but when the silver was handed to us, I knew that when I return, my books will "know no rest or peace" until every bit of knowledge was stored safely in my brain.
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School, for me, was a training ground. A place to fall and a place to rise. To be honest, I did a lot of falling.
- I fell when I encountered further maths for the first time.
- I stumbled when I decided to try the sciences, particularly, Physics.
But with every fall, I rose and picked up the wisdom key so I never trip over the same stone again.
My early school days would have been darker than the mediaeval age if I didn't have Teacher Idy by my side. From the first day she resumed duty as my Primary 3 class teacher, this lady dedicated time to training us personally as her own children. She introduced me to the world of learning Maths and Quantitative Reasoning the fun way. She hosted weekly speech competitions during morning devotions and had the annoying habit of choosing me to represent my class every single time.
At first, I dreaded those moments. But each time I see myself addressing large crowds today without having my heart race faster than Usain Bolt, I'm forced to give all the credit to Teacher Idy for giving me a chance to discover my God-given abilities.
School life wasn't that rosy. At one point, I became the bright student who got so confident in her abilities that I forgot that hard work beats talent every time talent fails to do the hard work. On one of those days, I didn't study well for an examination. I ended up with an "F9" in the subject. It turns out that the teacher in question was someone close to my parents.
I remember visiting his office with my eyes still trying to hold back the tears that were falling freely some minutes ago. I complained about the result. At first, the teacher ignored me. Yet I stubbornly followed him to his car, demanding answers.
Before stepping into his car, he turned and said, "Ukpono, I am first your teacher before I am your family friend. Listen! You need to start takíng responsibility for your success, and Iife generally. You did well in other subjects, right? Then why neglect mine? Don't you think I feel bad that you didn't put in any effort?"
That conversation shifted my entire mindset. I apoIogised to him. The next term, I stopped pIaying the victim. I studied extensiveIy for his subject and comfortable hit a B2.
That lesson has stayed with me even until this moment. As I grow older, I get to understand why he acted that way better. Sometimes, a person will want the best for you but they also need you to put in the work as well. Also, it's not about who you know, but what you know that actually matters. With this school experiences, I try to invest my time in building myself and taking responsibility for my life. I don't wait for results to happen anymore; I work for them.
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Greetings,
Thank you so much for participating in the contest.
You have clearly shown what student life in Nigerian schools looks like and how much effort is needed to succeed. Your dedication while preparing for the debate competition really stands out. Activities like debates help students build public speaking skills, confidence, and courage, and I strongly agree that students should participate more in such competitions during their school life.
In my opinion, representing a school at the national level is always very significant, and when it is broadcast on television, the importance becomes even greater. After winning the silver medal, the inner drive you developed to do better is clearly reflected in your writing. This kind of motivation is something we should all carry within ourselves.
School is truly a training ground for life. When you stumble, whether in academics or in competitions, what matters most is trying again. Falling and then standing back up can become one of the most important turning points in life.
Your writing clearly shows how deeply a teacher can influence a student’s confidence and personality. The effort you put in to improve after getting low marks in one subject is truly inspiring. You have written a wonderful and motivating post.