Post Matriculation: What/What Not To Do as an OAU Freshman

Olurotimi Lois

On the 11th of January, post Buhari-era, the management of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife (OAU) will matriculate her fresh students. What are fresh students also known as? From bloody freshers to baby students, the tag sprawls across a host of higher institutions across the country. Are you one? Well, you won't be one any longer in few months' time. Back to business, matriculation is a ritual of the university and other institutions of higher learning across the global landscape. Fresh students, after securing admission and going through different phases of registration, are usually and ceremoniously welcomed into the school.

 As a popular mantra trends amongst students and staff of the university, before the matriculation ceremony, new intakes have not yet been properly registered or have the university's seal on them as actual students. 

In other words, their studentship status before this grand ceremonial welcome is tentative and fleeting. In further other words, as a baby student, you just dey play. You no be student yet. This lends some bits of credibility to the cliché that goes: “Before matriculation, your names are still written in pencils and erased off easily. But after matriculation, then you have become a bonafide student as your names are now written in ink.” This does nothing but to put to the fore the importance of the matriculation ceremony in sealing off one’s studentship in any institution of higher learning, OAU inclusive. Congratulations to you as you cross the final hurdle toward becoming a bonafide student of Ogbafemi.

After Matriculation, What’s Next? 

I am well aware that the preceding discourse about the importance of matriculation to your studentship on OAU campus might have charged up your emotional base, and filled you up with a sense of final arrival when setting out of the amphitheater as a newly matriculated student, but matriculation is only a blip in the series of events that culminates into or adequately describe your studentship. Thus, I will take it as onus to sharing some guidelines—insights, if you like—to help you navigate the university as a fresh intake that just got matriculated. Follow me and let’s take a ride. Ready for it? Hop on my CNG ride as we dissect 4 key techniques to imbibe.

Set Your Priorities 

The first thing is setting your priorities right and straight. OAU is notable for its blend of learning, culture, sports and struggle. Asides your academics, activities ranging from socials, sports, religion and volunteering will present themselves to you, stressing their importance in your all-round growth. Even though all of these put together shape an OAU Student; distractions will set in if priorities aren’t set right, thereby losing sight of your primary assignment here on campus (academics). To help deal properly with this and set your academic records straight, have a concrete idea of the grade you want to graduate with and work towards it with deliberateness. Let me take you down a recent memory lane. Similoluwa Okunowo, a student of Electrical and Electronics Engineering and also the overall best graduating student during the last convocation ceremony started with a simple step: he wanted to come out with a first class. How can you as a freshman achieve this feat? You basically need to work toward it. Prioritising your academics entails attending at least 80 per cent of lectures, rearing up the habit of intensive and consistent reading, treating past questions, being well and tidy with assignments, projects and group presentations. All of these deposit into your general academic posture. 

Familiarize Yourself With Your Department 

Getting familiar with peculiar qualities of your departments and faculties is as important as attending classes and spending times in the library. Know your part advisers and do not hesitate to seek clarity on knotty matters. Engage senior colleagues and departmental cum faculty executives in things that tower above your comprehension. Be available for orientation programmes conducted for freshmen and connect with classmates and people of like minds. 

Activate Your In-built Abilities

As far as reading is concerned, know what works for you. Individual differences cannot and should not be sidelined. Not everyone is wired like you, nor are you wired like everyone. Know yourself and only pick what works for you. If you do not assimilate fast enough, then start reading early for your tests and exams. Do not compare yourself to others. Know the hour of the day you assimilate easily, whether in the morning, noon or midnight. Draft a reading plan that soothes your reading prowess and adhere strictly to it.

Imbibe The Art of Networking 

Finally, do not be a loner. OAU is a community that houses all kinds of people. Borrowing loosely from the South African writer John Coetzee, “It takes all kinds to make a world.” OAU is a world of all kinds, where many people, old and young, fair and dark, introverts and extroverts and so on converge to coexist. Make use of the multivalence of human resources resident in this university to your advantage. Relate with others, learn and explore from the repository of diverse cultures, perspectives, ways of life and nuances even without having to travel to all these places, and pick the ones suitable for you. Another essence of this is that it sees through difficult moments with accustomed ease. At a point in your stay here on campus, the academic workload may get overwhelming and frustrating to the point where you reach your elastic limit and break down physically or mentally. Passing through this phase alone can be a nightmare. So ensure that you have at least one person that you’re sure has your back all day. This as well leaves ample room for the saying goes, “No one is an island of knowledge.” We learn every day and from everyone. Mingling and learning from people are the only things that can fast track your growth. If possible, get involved in at least one extra-curricular activity before you wrap up your academic endeavour in OAU. It helps makes you a complete human being. 

One other aspect of your networking process I will like to stress further is paying attention to yourself. Do not neglect yourself at the stake of your academics. A popular saying in OAU goes: “Alaye lo n gba B.Sc”—only the living are awarded a bachelor’s degree. Eat well, rest well and sleep well. Eat good food. Do not engage in activities that can put to question the dignity of your person. Respect yourself and respect other people. Do not allow any form of injustice or victimisation you witness go without you reporting to the right authority. Do not litter, it’s an institution of learned people so maintain cleanliness. 

The last bit of my words would refer you to God. Do not forget to always commit your ways to God’s hand. As written in the holy books, “…the race is not unto the swift, neither the battle unto the strong…” He’s the one who reward all efforts and grant good success. 

Congratulations to you all once again, I wish you a successful stay on OAU Campus. Cheers!