It was a great joy to hear of my admission into Petroleum Training Institute Nigeria. At last, the awaited expectation has finally come, after two years of successive trials. It was indeed a great joy to me and the entire family, as this marks the first higher institutions admission in the history of the family. What a breakthrough!
Preparations started in top gear towards my resumption. Bedding, utensils, beverages and food items were among the large luggage which accompanied me to school. As I boarded the taxi to depart, my mother bidded me safe journey with tears of joy running down her cheek. I hardly can forget those moment.
As I approached the school gate with excitement, I was welcomed by fellow students in an unusual way. They were shouting :- do you want to open a canteen? do you want to start garri business in school? This was because of the big bag of garri that my mama gave me. I was ashamed, but what surprised was that, later during the session, some of them came begging for some cups of garri from me. Aren't that funny?
Also awkward in my luggage was the big sized foam. This is strange to the students because the school hostel provide enough foam for students. As a newbie in campus, I never knew this. So I was being gazed at as a new movie in town. I later returned the mattress when I visited home.
OK, after the drama, some representative of the Baptist students fellowship(BSF) who were waiting for the arrival of fellow worshippers, welcomed me and helped in carrying my luggage to the hostel.
The hotel was quiet as many students have not resumed. Yes being a good boy and the joy of going to school prompted my early resumption. The environment was strange but lovely. Each student organization and union has displayed their banners, welcoming the new students to campus. This is the time to get new members into their organization and it seems competitive especially among the Christian fellowships.
The hostel is divided into two sections, the male and the female, with more restrictions in accessing the female hostel. The rooms has three - two deck bunker bed and expected to occupy at least 5 students. This was worrying, as I was imagining how I can cope with 5 people from different background. Although later, this fear was gone as staying with my roommate was fun except one troublesome boy.
The joy of coming to school started to dwindle when I was faced with the stress of student's registration. We were moving from one office to the other, carrying files and were turned back many times because of one error or the other. This was complicated by the attitude of some officials who often turn aggressive due to the work stress. In many occasions, you have to que for hours before being attended to. This was not a good way of starting the academic journey. After each ectic day, I will go back to the hostel wondering when the registration exercise will end.
It was a great relief, when the various organization started welcoming their new students with parties. The welcome parties were entertaining, fun filled and refreshing. Yes, there were enough food and drinks and preference was given to us the new students. Hope you are not getting jealous? We often wait eagerly for the item 7. Guess what, that is what we call entertainment in the program. If other preceeding items are being delayed, we will be shouting from background "give us item 7" "give us item 7"! Do you know what? It worked most times. We danced to good musics even till late night.
Soon, lecture began and I was occupied with little or no time for much fun. Yes! I faced the business of being in school. It is all smile when I remember those days. It marked the beginning of my journey to tertiary education.
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