by Adegbite Adeyinka James

I was about 11 years old in the year 2002 when I wrote the popular Federal Examination into Federal Government College, Ikole Ekiti in Ekiti state. To my utmost bewilderment, I received an admission letter into Federal Government Girls’ College, Efon Alaye in Ekiti state. The most troubling thought that consumed me, and my father in particular, was how a male student whose picture was clearly displayed at the top corner of the admission letter and gender ‘MALE’ written in block letters could be offered admission into a female only school. Thus began my three months home-sitting journey into secondary education life, while my former schoolmates in the primary school had begun studies in the various secondary schools. Having graduated with the best result in the Federal Examination in my school, which was a pretty impressive score, I had been very confident of a smooth admission into my choice federal school.

My father wrote the examination body severally as well as the schools mistaken for appropriate correction with the hope that it will be swiftly resolved. I remember waiting on him every night for two months to break the news that I will no longer have to sit back at home. But I was disappointed every time he told me his several letters and trips were unproductive. He then told me after a long wait that he would rather I applied to another school till it was resolved. He knew I had always loved to study in a federal school after completing my primary studies in a private school close to home. Believe me; I desired a life far from home. Although I have a supportive family, I just wanted to make my own decisions and honestly, stay a bit farther away from home like my former schoolmates did.

I wrote the entrance exam to my private secondary school on a bench outside the administrative block. I remember thinking it is only in the meantime. Everything will be over soon and I will resume studies in my dream school. Result was out and I scored well above the cut-off mark required. I was offered admission that same day and shown to my classroom. I remember that the class was at leisure time and the strange faces staring at me walking into the class were so strong they almost tore into my soul. But then, some former schoolmates of mine woke me out of the misery. Finally, there I had familiar faces sitting next to me in class. On that first day, I heard one of the students’ whispers that I was just resuming the semester midway and I could not catch up. And after I scored poorly in my social studies test, I did not give in to the belief but pressed on with determination. At the end of session, I won the prize of the best student in social studies and performed excellently in other courses. As time went by, I had to let go of thinking about my dream school and embracing the school reality had offered me. I went on to graduate as one of the students with the best results in the school in the West African Examination Certificate (WAEC), National Examination Council (NECO) and Joint Admission Matriculation Board (JAMB) examinations in my school. My name made the school’s Honour Roll on graduation.

In 2008, I was offered admission to study law at the Obafemi Awolowo University. It was truly a dream come true. I resumed studies and a whole lot of challenges came up. I began with the determination to do to primary things, namely: graduate with a first class honour and serve my fatherland before I was 24. And it all seemed like a foolproof plan. In my first year, there was an industrial action (strike) lasting for about 6 months. I remember when we were made to vacate the hostels, the grasses were low. But after resumption, they had grown up to my height (maybe it is because I am not so tall anyway). An environment I had gotten used to became strangely unfamiliar. I remember thinking what would become of my plan. I did not think I would experience so many of such actions at different times in the duration of my programme in the university. The lectures were great and challenging. My reading plan was uncertain in the first year that I made all ‘Bs’ and ‘Cs’. My grade point fell so sharply.

As soon as I reminded myself of how I had earlier determined to make a first class, even though I had realized the ‘age plan’ could not hold, I sat up. From that second year till the end of my final exams, those results would be the least grades I had. I recorded several ‘As’ in a lot of courses. I graduated with a second class upper honour and cupped an award for the best student in international law. I did not make my dream class of degree but then I remembered what someone had once told me, “aim for the sun and if you miss it, you will end up in stars”. I did not get the sun but then I did end up in stars.

My final year in University witnessed an over six months’ industrial action (strike) which delayed us from making the year’s law school admission. So for my class, we would have to wait till end of the following year to apply. But as fate will have it, an opportunity was made for an early-year admission into the Nigerian Law School, the first of its kind as I heard it. I was given admission to study in the Augustine Nnamani Campus, Agbani in Enugu state. I had never been to the East. I had a mixed feeling about it but the thought of law school sent more chills down my spine. We had heard several accounts of how horrifying and insurmountable the Nigerian law school bar final examination is. Immediately I resumed on the first day of May in 2014, I took up the plan ‘all work and no play’. This did not last too long. The workload got plenty and the time to study shrinked the more. A programme that was supposed to last for a period of nine (9) months went on longer for more than a year, although there were some breaks in between. We wrote the first part of the bar final examination, Multiple Choice Questions (MCQ) of 100 questions in different courses under 50 minutes. It was then brought to fore that the reason for failures recorded at the law school every year was inadequate time. I prepared the more for the concluding part of examination. It commenced on the 18^th and finished on the 22^nd day of May, 2015. And then the wait began for publication of results. The first scheduled date for release was changed and a circular issued. I could not breathe until I read that it had been postponed. But then I realize I would have to wait excruciatingly for some more months. The second scheduled date was again changed, and then I grew impatient. A lot of thoughts crossed my mind and I whispered several prayers. It was tough and agonizing.

On the morning of the day after it was further scheduled to be released at about 3am, I woke up and saw that I had missed a lot of calls and received a lot messages informing me that the results have been released. My fingers were shaking and I could hear my heart pounding against my chest. What is my fate? As I checked the provided link to view the result and I typed in my details, I paused a minute to heave a sigh. Whatever comes after, I hope I will be fine. Then, I clicked on the view result button, and waited as it loaded my result page. And then I saw it. I did not get the sun again this time, but I ended up in the stars. On the 20^th day of October, 2015, I was called to the Nigerian bar. I was also among the about 110 students that made a second class honour across the six (6) campuses in Nigeria.

I was mobilized to serve my fatherland in Sokoto state. It was going to be my first time visiting any state in the North-West. I prepared to make the best out of it no matter what. It has so far been accomplishing. I was afraid to go but now I am more confused if I would want to leave.

As I advance toward my passing out parade in October, I have taken my aim at the sun in my next endeavour. I hope and pray that I get it this time around.