Page 256 - The Den Yearbook 2015 (Loyola Jesuit College, Abuja)

OTITO NATALIE

ONWUZURIKE

Luis Bunuel said:
'Life without memory is no life at all, just as intelligence without the possibility of
expression is not really intelligence. Our memory is our coherence, our reason,
our feeling, even our actions. Without it, we are nothing.’

Luis Bunuel hits truth with this statement. Without memories we would know
nothing. The only reason human beings feel and care about anything is because of
memories from their own lives.

Memories from my life:
Before I started here, I was so thrilled to have gotten into Loyola Jesuit College. I
daydreamed about how fabulous my life was going to be. But, I faced multiple
problems and my excitement died down soon after I arrived. For one, I was shy
and oh-so lonely. Waking up so early each morning brought back memories of my
mum, who used to wake me up daily. It brought back memories of greeting my
dad as soon as I woke up and memories of my siblings, with whom I travelled
daily to our primary school. I missed home. In fact, if I had to use one word to
describe my first year here, I'd say 'homesick'. Also I was very often easily
irritated. I found myself wanting to leave more than ever. (I wanted just as much to
have my prom though.)

But guess what? By the time I was in my final year, I still wanted to graduate, but
there was a difference. A difference I noticed myself. I heard someone say that
when life gives you lemons, you make lemonade. So that's what I did. I mean, I
was in school for most of each year, so I could just as well be happy for most of the
year. So I tried as hard as I could to ignore the bad things. It wasn't long before I
developed an unwavering sense of responsibility. I took advantage of my quiet
and reserved nature. I became super observant. I made new friends. I changed.
How I feel about leaving:

Boarding school has been really helpful. In school, there are walls protecting us.
There are friends teachers, well wishers, and sometimes there's family. I've made
enough friends to last generations, jokes that will make me laugh forever, and
memories to last a lifetime. But one of the best things about school was that I never
had to wash the dishes. I really don't like doing the dishes.

I'm grateful to my teachers and friends, everyone who helped make school
bearable for me. I'm especially grateful to my parents whose idea it was to send
me to LJC, without whom I would never have had the opportunity to experience
the things I have. I'm grateful to all these people, but I'm also really glad to be
leaving. I think I'm ready for the next stage.

Otito Natalie ONWUZURIKE, ‘15

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