Page 260 - The Den Yearbook 2015 (Loyola Jesuit College, Abuja)

ZAINAB OLUWAFIFEHANMI

OYAWOYE

Six years...

That's honestly a while.
Six years ago, I walked into LJC, full of all the basic boarding school stereotypes,
half knowing what to expect. But with time, I started to develop my own opinion
about this new experience.

My junior days were full of so much excitement. The new environment, the new
people, it was all too exciting for me to actually care about not getting enough
sleep, or the unbelievable workload.Good memories were made then: being
chased around by dear old Mr. Paulinus to have our hair cut, consistently getting
punished by teachers and prefects for the most bizarre reasons. I particularly
remember being a JSS3, the feel of being one of the “Kings” of junior block. It's so
funny to think that back then, I was so sure I had arrived. After all, I had juniors
under me and had even written external examinations as well.
SS1 was something akin to a hard, long-withheld slap from reality. It felt like I
was back at the beginning of secondary school, with new subjects, schedules,
teachers, everything. It was all so terrifyingly new to me. Getting used to all this
was even more difficult than adequately express. Ah, but I had finally become a
senior, I had more juniors under me! The downsides were still there, however.
Responsibility came in the form of positions such as Table Head and Hostel
Prefect. Never before had the well being of my hostel members nor that of my
table members been a concern of mine. After all, I had myself to take care of,
which was enough on my hands. But like every other normal living thing in
nature, I had to adapt.

Then came SS2 with, guess what? Even more responsibility! But by then, I had
become accustomed to its being a part of my life and had learnt to balance it with
every other thing I had to deal with. This especially came in handy when I was
installed as the school's Social Prefect.

Final year waltzed in, and to be honest, it was a blur of exams, university
applications and struggling for computers in the I.T. lab. But at this time of
leaving LJC, I have developed my own opinion about the experience. This school
does fit all the basic boarding school stereotypes, but being here, I have made
many friends for life. I have gotten closer than ever before to self-discovery; I
have consolidated myself in so many ways, and I have learnt that beans goes
better with enough sugar. With these and a couple of others, I believe I am now
ready to take on the world. I am finally done with this struggle! It seemed
impossible at first but I have indeed made it, by God's Own Grace. Thank you
LJC. See you on the brighter side.

Zainab Oluwafifehanmi OYAWOYE, ‘15

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