THE END BEFORE ANOTHER BEGINNING

They say better is the end of a thing than the beginning thereof – Ecc. 7:8a (whatever that does not have spiritual backing does not exist for me. Forgot to tell you that I am a church girl? Must have missed that in my introduction).

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So, it was on that fateful day September 04, 2018, that I wrote my last paper and signed out of my alma-mater Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike. It was like a huge burden was taken off of my shoulders as I walked out of the exam hall to head to my hostel.

There, in front of Prof. Grace Alele Williams Halls, the traditional water-pouring on final year students was going on. It was really crazy and fun too. I stealthily stole across the field before my hostel, trying to hide from my friends and acquaintances. I almost succeeded in escaping their planned attack when I bumped into Juliet, my fellowship sister and former roommate. She held me tightly, dragged me outside as she shouted on top of her voice, “Final year! Pour her water!” Immediately I was outside, it was as though the heavens opened the ‘floodgate’ and showered on me (I was lucky I escaped my roommates, it would have been unimaginably terrible for me. Those girls can pierce your flesh with water).

Alright, I believe a few of us who are not Nigerians might be lost as to what this craziness is all about, so let me enlighten us a bit.

Water-pouring is a ceremony in every Nigerian university. It happens in every second semester of every academic session. This tradition is a way of celebrating final year students on the day of their final exam. The water-pouring is a way cooling down their brains after years of their scholarship in the school. Not only water is used in this ceremony, people also make use of drinks – wine, soft drinks, zobo (a local drink) etc. Loved ones can choose to prepare a surprise package for someone special to them like the gentleman that came down to the school to support his girlfriend and later proposed to her (Aww… that was sweet).

Some people go to the length of buying new sets of white T-shirt, Jeans skirt/trouser, and canvas, branded college/departmental wears like Cardigans, caps, T-shirts, getting a new hairdo, all in the bid to look somewhat different on the day of their final paper so as to take pictures and videos of themselves and their cliques after the examination. Not to be left out is the signing of white T-shirts by anyone/everyone. People get to write things like ‘Done N Dusted’ ‘Class of 2018’ or even write their nicknames and sign crazy signatures. Hilarious, right? It’s usually fun and this year’s water-pouring was not an exception.

However, later in the evening, I started reflecting on how symbolic graduating from varsity is. I began to appreciate the metamorphosis through the experiences in school, and the transition from one phase of life to another. As I recounted all my experiences – bitter, sweet, funny – and all that I had to go through, I asked myself if I had accomplished why I came to school.

Have I really learnt anything? Or was the certificate all that mattered to me? Can my final CGPA really qualify all that I got? Was it worth it? Or did I just get through school as a zombie gets through life without living at all? Would it have been better if I had used my tuition fees to learn a trade or start a business? Actually, I’ve heard a lot of students complain that before they came to school, they had high hopes and dreams, but then they got admitted into school and all that fizzled away because what they encountered in their studentship was a direct opposite of their expectations. I have heard a lot of final year students, even graduates, bemoan themselves on spending their time and money in school when they could have used the same to add more value to their lives – become an entrepreneur, open a business, learn a trade or even a professional skill. Crazy, right? I wondered if I was in this category of people.

Guess what? I didn’t get what I bargained for in school either. I got more. Let me admit to you, I was a Christian, smart, resilient and industrious hustler with strong ethics before I entered school. But, through my years in school, I have been able to learn that Christianity is not just about keeping a bunch of ‘dos’ and ‘don’ts’ but about love, sacrifice, right standing with God and fellowship with the Immortal Trinity. I have learnt that most times, the wrong way may seem to be the smart way, but taking the right way always appreciates at the end. I don’t think there’s any Nigerian who is not resilience personified – Nigerians are the most resilient people on planet earth – but I have learnt that sometimes it is okay to lean on someone for support (Lean on who? Anticipate my next post). I have learnt that being strong is not being the last man standing, but how one is able to rise after falling and how well one finally stands. I have learnt that hardwork is beautiful, but there’s a difference between ‘Race’ and ‘Grace’ and that is the G-factor (God).

Phew! I can go on and on but I’d like to stop here. Was it worth it? Yes. Every tear, pain, disappointment, frustration, rejection, failure as well as every smile, fun, meet, pat, hug, laughter. I have met, talked and worked with a lot of people – different tribes, gender, orientation, beliefs, and personalities – and have attained a certain level of maturity.

Yes, I know that this phase of my life has come to a conclusive end but I am also aware that life is a continuous learning process. So, I’m not hanging up my boots yet, I’m just changing shoes. Indeed, it is the end before the beginning of another phase.

So, that’s my graduation story!

What is yours?
How did you feel after writing your last exam paper? What was the experience like for you?
Comment and share your own graduation experience.