Issue #14 - The one about life as a Nigerian student
Hello there, I hope this mail finds you all in good health and high spirits. It's time for another dose of advocacy for open conversations and better awareness and understanding of mental health issues from the stables of the SoundAsABell Initiative, and I'm thrilled to let you know that this issue was written by one of the new voices in our community in person of Victor Onasanya. As I mentioned in the last month’s issue, a flurry of new and passionate volunteers have joined the team, and Victor is one of them.
You see, life has a way of keeping us on our toes, and that's exactly what happened before our last newsletter. But hey, we're back and better than ever! Now, about that promise to be more consistent, I guess this issue coming in on the fourth of the month is evidence that we're turning over a new leaf. We're committed to being more consistent in sharing valuable mental health content with you, starting now. So, keep an eye on your inbox because, as promised in our last newsletter, you can expect to hear from us regularly.
Finally, it is worthy of note that this issue is one that resonates so much with me, and I would imagine a lot of our readers as well. So, stay tuned because Victor's about to share some awesome insights and stories with you. Enjoy!
I’d make a bold start and say Nigerian universities are after the lives of their students. I know. I know. I know. But then, I say this because by virtue of the country’s current economic situation, I believe that an average Nigerian student is going through quite a lot.
As students, we are obligated to study, get our assignments done, take tests and of course, take exams whilst some have projects they are required to get done. As such, on days where we fail to do well in tests and all, we might struggle with feelings of inadequacy. Further, we also have to battle some lecturers who come off as though they enjoy inflicting pain on us. Also, the age-old slogan of "everything no be book o, learn a skill" starts to ring louder in our ears. I mean, how dare you not learn a skill? Hold on, so you mean to tell me that on top of studying biochemistry, I still have to learn a digital skill? What a life! In addition to these struggles, we also have to worry about financial independence. At this stage in our lives, our parents already give not-so-subtle signs telling us to start preparing to fend for ourselves. At some point, you just begin to wonder when life turned into a daily battle for survival.
The combination of these issues gives a lot of us sleepless nights. Every day, this pressure builds, and no matter how resilient you are, and trust me, Nigerian students are resilient, we all reach that breaking point some day. That fateful day could start no differently from the other days, but something would happen; perhaps you get sad news, a lecturer says something, or you fail a test, and suddenly you realize the tears are already streaming out. If you're the “hard guy” type, perhaps at that moment, you clench your fists and try to put on a brave face, but no matter how much you try to hold it in, once you're in a safe space, the floodgates open. Quite the ordeal, I must say.
Phew!! Forgive my ranting. I'm calm now. I think. Anyways, to that effect, I have compiled some quotes to encourage myself and any other student going through one thing or the other and may be discouraged. Of course, you might find a quote or two from yours truly, as per say me sef na great man.
· Believe in yourself. You can do this!
· It's okay to make mistakes. Everyone does. The important thing is to learn from them and move on.
· “The road to success is always under construction.” —Lily Tomlin. So, keep improving yourself.
· Keep your spirits up. It will keep you going. “Success consists of going from failure to failure without loss of enthusiasm." —Winston Churchill.
· Obstacles and challenges are inevitable, but instead of being defeated or discouraged, one must rise above them and respond with even greater determination and effort. "Life will always hit you. Get up and hit harder" - Victor Onasanya.
· Prove that the people who question you are wrong. “If you hear a voice within you say ‘you cannot paint,’ then by all means paint, and the voice will be silenced." —Vincent Van Gogh.
· “The more you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go. – Dr. Seuss.
· The price of success is hard work, dedication to the job at hand, and the determination that whether we win or lose, we have applied the best of ourselves to the task at hand – Vincent Lombardi.
· Don’t let what you cannot do interfere with what you can do – John Wooden
· Study hard, no matter if it seems impossible, no matter if it takes time, no matter if you have to be up all night, just remember that the feeling of success is the best thing in the entire world – Khangal_wehearit
· Shoot for the moon. Even if you miss, you’ll land among the stars – Les Brown.
· I have failed over and over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed – Michael Jordan. Learn from your failures, for in them, you find success.
· It will not happen by cutting corners, taking shortcuts or looking for the easy way. There’s only hard work, late nights, early mornings, practice, repetition, study and discipline – nimo_wehearit. The road to success is not easy; temper yourself.
· Do the best you can until you know better. Then when you know better, do better – Maya Angelou. Give your best always.
· Doubt kills more dreams than failure ever will – Karim Seddiki. Trust in yourself; you're capable.
· It has long since come to my attention that people of accomplishment rarely sat back and let things happen to them. They went out and happened to things – Leonardo da Vinci. You won’t reach anywhere if you don’t at least try.
· “Courage doesn’t always roar. Sometimes courage is the quiet voice at the end of the day saying ‘I will try again tomorrow’.”– Mary Anne Radmacher. You failed today. Alright, try again tomorrow, the day after, and so on.
· “Fall seven times, stand up eight.” – Japanese Proverb. Keep fighting, man; it'll be worth it.
· “Education is the passport to the future, for tomorrow belongs to those who prepare for it today.” —Malcolm X. Pay the price now, pay later.
· "You are capable of more than you know. Choose a goal that seems right for you and strive to be the best, however hard the path. Aim high. Behave honourably. Prepare to be alone at times and to endure failure. Persist! The world needs all you can give." —E.O. Wilson. Fight, endure, persevere.
· Strive for Progress, not perfection – Unknown. You can't be perfect. Rather than beating yourself up for some perceived inadequacy, strive to be better than yesterday,
· Remember to celebrate the small wins. You're doing well – Victor Onasanya. Really, you’re doing better than you think you are. So, smile, laugh, relax, you are fine.
· I am here. Talk to me – God. Talk to God; he wants to hear from you all you're going through. Why? He loves and cares about you.
There you have it. I close off by saying this: To every student out there struggling, fighting to keep hope alive, I say to you, smile; you're the boss. You are a strong person. Still, no be everyday person be hard guy, so talk to God; he cares.
Bye!
·