LETTER TO YOUNG ASSESAITES
By: Josmat Jerry

To the newest minds and latest beings of intellectuals setting their footsteps on the soil surface of the premier university, I utterly welcome you with tons of gladness, mouthwatering indepth celebrations. This letter might shape as one coming late considering the fact that the semester has gone halfway, but trust me, even if this is coming out at the tenth or eleventh week, it matters really not, what is important is that you all to read this letter regardless of the time you do. A privilege which is unique has been bestowed on you all in securing admission to the first and best university across the nation and being a student of such is not by coincidence or chance, you deserve it.

Likewise, a grand welcome to you, being a student of the Faculty of Education and most importantly, the department of Arts and Social Science Education. The department which comprises of 11 options (sub departments) makes it the most populated department in the entire faculty, now you know why the department is a famous one. You must be ready to withstand the pressures that come along with being an education student as you will be dealing with two faculties; the faculty of your teaching course and your home faculty, it has always been a pressure carried by educators and we have those who did end well within the hard periods.

It saddens my heart that you step into the university at a time like this; a time which online learning is the new normal. Series of orientation, welcome package program/activities from various angles, getting to relate with stalites, and so on, these are experiences which the current learning deprived you from enjoying. Also, the feeling of living within the four walls of the university (hall of residence) which set you right close to lecture halls has also been deprived off you. My heart aches at the thought of it all because these are thing meant to cement your foundation and make you become familiar with the institution.

Rolling out false hope hasn’t been my way, rather, speaking of the real fact on how things was and how it is at present so as to prepare your mind for the task at hand is my tune. University of Ibadan is an institution that always demands ‘First and Best’ quality from her students as it name implies. You are meant to buckle up your shoes, tighten your belt and make your starting point a solid one because how you start a race sometimes tells of where you gonna end up to at the latter end. The university system requires you to parade acts of intelligence and smartness but not of brilliant quality because being brilliant alone won’t take you far but of intelligence is all you need.

Being a student of the university makes you special, don’t allow anyone to influence your way of reading which actually brought you into the university. Lots of students have made the mistakes of imitating styles of their course mates or friends which later on proved destructive. You know yourself, your capacity, weakness, strength and things you engage in to motivate and reinforce yourself. Don’t deter from it, just build up on that strength and make it stronger, always be yourself in all you engage in, don’t engage in some things because your friends are dwelling into it. Don’t force yourself adapting to a style that doesn’t suit you or work for you, just always be yourself.

Also, never isolate yourself from others because there are some information you need to know, mix up with fellows from your department and even from your teaching course department so that you aren’t off from information, it’s very important. Try and mingle with responsible staylites who can share their experiences with you, put you through, tell you what each course entails and give you tips and strategies on each course, such will guide you on how to approach a particular course and which reading style to venture into. Study past questions so as to have the ability to predict the mind of the lecturer to a certain extent.

Let me cheer you up a bit that apart from examination, University of Ibadan is interesting in its own way. You might not want to believe that now but when physical learning resumes with second semester, you will prove me right. This is a letter from the highest authority of heart which I am glad to share with you. I believe you will go through it over and over again and also act on it. In all, always be yourself.