I GRADUATED, I'M THANKFUL

"I'm so happy"

Dear Friend, 

A journey that began six years ago has seen its end.

I wrote my last undergraduate exam on Friday, 5th April 2024. Here am I, thinking back on everything that shaped my life during those years. 

I wouldn’t write much about events that happened, accomplishments I made, situations I got into, or my favorite restaurant in school for lunch. Instead, I’m going to be focused more on people that left me a notable impression through all of it.

Amongst them are persons who did the tiniest, most random things that might not be such a big deal to anyone, persons I was never friends with, persons I’m no longer friends with, persons who have done more thoughtful things than what I’ve written, persons I dislike now and, the current love of my life. Regardless of all of these, I appreciate the fact that they intentionally or unintentionally thought about me for those moments. 

I met lots of new people (it wouldn’t be normal if I didn’t, it was six years away from home), but not everyone left a strong, unique impression, not everyone treated me kindly, and not everyone resonated with my energy.

I started working on this list several months ago. I think about these acts from time to time then, and I still do, yes. What I did was, write the name of the act renderer down on a page whenever thoughts about the act crossed my mind. I did not want to pull up an inaccurate list. In the end, I had it and I hope my memories did not fail me.

I’m not going to talk about how I struggled to adapt as a first year, how these guys almost left me homeless by giving me a bed space in a male hostel, how I did all of these years without a single female friend, how I fixed my terrible eating habits, my many to and fro travels between home and school (I hate traveling long distances by any means of transportation that isn’t air, but what can I do *tears up*), my academic struggles, my personality struggles with roommates, my drop out attempt, Corona and ASUU saga, my part-time jobs as a student, my depression, suicidal thoughts (I was in a fix then. I’m better now, I promise).

Why do I have only sad things up there (lol)? 

Well, good things happened too. Of course, good things happened to me too, I’m a good person *opens hand fan majestically*

Unrelated, but the weather feels so good right now🍟…

 

After giving glory to God in his supremacy, loving myself a lot more for handling it through and through, and my family, for doing their part (most especially, my parents, my elder brother, my grandma and my siblings ❤️), I’d like to appreciate, in no particular order of importance;

Nathan Okonji, for keeping me good company during the first years.

David Lawrence, for sticking around selflessly. (He is a very good cartoonist/illustrator, btw. Draws and writes good dialogues for cartoons. His handle on X is @sonadavidwurld, if you are curious.

Omonedo, for showing up like you did, every time.

Okorie Ifechidere, for all the sane times.

Izrael, call me if you ever need to bury a body.

Asantoritse, I hope you never lose your warmth.

Isioma Biere, amidst the drags, I still use your fried noodles recipe and I know what to do when the pan goes up in flames.

Prayer Omorefe and Abiodun Aderibigbe, that one gesture felt like a million.

Finesse Osasumwen, for persisting and participating when there was the choice of looking away.

DH Ada, for coming through when I needed you to.

Hairs Affairs by Oge, for putting up with me for the period.

Joseph Utuedeye, for choosing to be kind in an unkind world.

Michael (MEE, UNIBEN), for the experience when the younger me almost lost it.

Victor (STE, UNIBEN), I was confused, tired and hungry, those clearance guys didn’t even give a damn,but you did and you did honestly.

Faith Attah, for doing what you could do for the first year me.

Rev. Fr. Eric Uroko, for the checkups, encouragements, and prayers.

Tamara Vanessa, your academic coaching made the journey a little less stressful.

Presh (CHE, UNIBEN), You matched my energy and kept it real and good.

Architect Presh, for your radiated positive energy that got to me.

Jerry (CHE, UNIBEN), for saving the day to an extent for me, at the movies and being an amazing project partner.

Zainab Sanni, my absolute love, I hope we get better and go longer.

Okoye MaryAnn, for being the nicest host alive.

Eze Ann, for staying lovingly chaotic. Even after the end, we aren’t ending.

Goodnews Ejiro, for showing me carefree, confident, and shameless.

DH Joel, for making my random wish come through, that afternoon.

Mathias (CHE, UNIBEN), for being patient and understanding when there was a choice of not being.

McCarthy, for effortlessly matching my energy.

Janice, for being my favorite roommate yet.

Priscally, for being a light for me during the first months of my first year.

Obinna Muonanu, (nwanne m nwoke), I ga'adi

Adams Ese, for showing up when I least expected you to, in the most unexpected manner.

To anyone who might want to feel negative feelings because I didn’t include them in my appreciation here, I’m grateful, I promise. To anyone who must have worked behind the scenes to make things easier for me in one way or the other, everything will align in your favor, amen. 

After my sign-out, I met more good people, I received more kind gestures, that'd be for other stories. In all, I appreciate every single person I experienced even for a split second during all of these years, you all made my story worth listening to.

For the most important part of this piece (lol, every word here is important btw), I was not always at the receiving end, I’m very sure I made an impact on people. I will watch out for any evidence I can find and prove this to you (believe me and save me the stress, lol).

Finally, I have met lots of good people, I will meet better people and I hope I become more of a person worth meeting by other people.

Thank you for reading up to here. I will write and share again soon. Take care.