Hi, I’m Sam,
I just finished reading a novel
called “Blessing”
written by Chukwuebuka Ibeh and the book
brought back a lot of feelings about secondary school and boarding school which were
kinda sweet. Believe me when I say boarding school was not a lot of fun but for some
reason
this book made me remember only the interesting aspects of it.
I think I
am able to live a routine life now because of the way boarding school is structured
and my openness to experience it the way it should be. The time mapped out for
everything and the prefects enforced everything. I don’t think
I gave boarding so much thought until I got in, I just remember only wanting to
go so my parents would always give me money and having so many reasons and
excuses to get extra cash from them. I cannot vividly remember my older
siblings talking about the not-so-good side of boarding school or maybe I didn’t
really pay attention to it or I did hear it, but felt like mine wouldn’t be
anything like theirs because I was going to go to a very different and “better” school.
Whenever I
found myself reminiscing about boarding school, It was always very difficult
for me to find the perfect word to describe my experiences there so I
tried to find the word by trying to figure out what prompted the flashback and
try to put my feelings into words because it will bug me all day if I don't.
Boarding school was just anyhow and I think students in Nigeria basically have the same
stories to share about boarding and the stories only differ when you ask for details;
from the number of hostels to hostel colors to whether it was all boys or
co-ed. But one thing everyone would agree on is that boarding school teaches
discipline and routine. I had a love-hate relationship with it because whenever
I was in school, I only dreamt of mid-term breaks or end of term and when I
go home I dream of going back to school to see my friends,
get pocket money from my parents, etc.
I still
remember when I was trying to save up for something because usually at
the end of the term, my guardian would give me whatever was left of
my pocket money and I was not obligated to tell my parents if I had any money
left, so I can buy things and spoil myself. I
can't
remember what exactly I wanted to buy but I know I wanted to have a lot of money left after
that term, so my parents kept sending me money and I
reduced the amount of money I spent during breaks and weekends. One day I called my parents and said I needed money, they
thought it was urgent so they sent my brother to get me provisions and give my
guardian money for me. We barely had 3 weeks or so left before the term would be over, only
for my brother to get to my guardian and she told my brother that I still had a lot of money
left and didn't think it was wise for them to deposit more money
for me because in a matter of weeks I'd be home. My brother was confused because I
requested the money and not like they felt like sending money to me. So my
brother left and kept the provisions for me and when I got home I had to explain myself.
My
career indecision was very much obvious as far back as I can remember and even more glaring
in boarding school because everyone seemed to have a road map of what they
wanted to be and what career would suit them. By the time I was writing my
WAEC, I still wasn't sure what course to study at Uni and for some weird
reason, I was ok with that. Peer pressure didn't get to me but I knew it would be smart of me
to choose a path, I couldn't wing life so I said I wanted to do something computer-related
which was smart because it narrowed my confusion down but was still broad for
me to change my mind in the future. I am easily distracted career-wise and
sometimes I tell myself it’s because I am good at so many things so a lot of
things can work out for me so I can sleep better at night and worry too much.
One
thing I was so sure I didn't care for in boarding school was love and
relationships. Maybe because I was still figuring myself out or I didn't care
for it. I think I just saw boarding school as a bridge leading somewhere and a
journey you cannot really anticipate where it will lead to and who joins you on
the journey, so why start something you know had a high
percentage of failure or was only going to end after a decided period? I’m sure few
still met their life partner in school but a large percentage of students gave in to
relationships as a result of peer pressure and the desperate desire to fit in.
Just like
every other thing and phase we go through in life, boarding school is one of
mine and the same for so many other people. I can choose which memories from there to
cherish and the ones to let go of so that I can be a better individual to
others in society.