People on the outside think there’s something magical about writing, that you go up in the attic at midnight and cast the bones and come down in the morning with a story, but it isn’t like that. You sit in back of the typewriter and you work, and that’s all there is to it.
– Harlan Ellison
We are finally here! Interestingly we have great writers in the department of medicine and surgery. We received entries from all levels which was quite impressive.
Writing is a gift I must say. A lot of people have this gift but what drives this gift is passion. Once one is passionate about something positively, there is that inner longing to build it, expand it, challenge yourself in regards to it, explore and utilize new ideas and the love for it grows too.
Writers see the world differently than most people do. Writers are very intellectual people and most times travel to many places,evaluate situations, criticize and play with ideas all in their minds. One thing special about being a writer is uniqueness in your work and in your person. Off course you learn from other people’s work but your originality still remains.
The long awaited result for the writing competition is out! Yes. The Editorial team apologizes for the displeasure it might have caused our competitors and spectators to wait but this was for good, to do a proper and fair assessment of the various entries we received. There is a saying that gold has to pass through the furnace several times to make the best out of it.
After the assessment from the Judges, we were able to get our best ten (10) writers. Yes best ten! But only the best three can claim the prize. The remaining seven will have their works published on the blog the next couple of days.
First place : Idowu Mary
Second place : Okon Elizabeth
Third place: Edem Ekemini
Fourth place : Akinola Sharon
Fifth place: Laura Eze
Sixth place : Timmy Oguntoye
Seventh place: Emmanuella Emmanuel
Eight place : Orezimena Omokiti
Ninth place: Dan-Ugbomoiko Ohiochioya
Tenth place: Oluwakemi Ibitolu
To read the entries of the first three winners please kindly scroll down.
REVIEW FROM THE JUDGES
In this competition, a great diversity of talents ranging from story telling, poetic elaboration and memoir collections have shown up, and many have been a thing of literary beauty.
Some submissions would have done better with more fine tuning and finesse, and some with a little bit of imagination.
All articles were their own kind of beautiful, and I encourage EVERYONE that submitted to keep on writing. You all have a fierce talent. I can’t wait to see where it leads.
Jamike Ekenna-Ebbie
There were observations, some striking and of deep concern, others subtle that needs to be addressed. First was the difficulty in reconciling an essay (by every means a formal piece of writing) with the modern ways of literary expression. For starters there are words which have absolutely no place in a write up such as this. Words or Slangs like ‘Lol’, ‘abeg’, ‘Jor’ et cetera. Then there was the chronic battle between ‘I’m’ and ‘am’. An almost guaranteed feature these days. 21st Century DOES NOT change the rules of grammar.
It’s good to note that essay writing is in fact a multifaceted skill. An important facet being the ability to keep the essay looking conservative and formal while carefully infusing modern expressions in aliquots. Too much of any of the modern or conservative can make one’s write up a real downer. A very few participants had poor punctuations as their icebergs. Those sank their essays. Lastly, a general problem I spotted was a bit of an unremarkable performance in creativity almost across board. Many were let down by an under-equipped arsenal of vocabulary/metaphors needed to make their essays spontaneous and captivating. Many were a little too straightforward with little or no adventure nor surprises for the reader.
Olumide Obatuyi
To the winners, Congratulations! To those who didn’t win, do not be discouraged at all! You all displayed that there is another side to Medicine which is not all books and work. A creative side which is lacking in many people. Each person has a specific style to them which makes their writing unique. Don’t stop, keep writing.
Winifred Ossie
Assistant Editor-in-chief
One of the most important things to consider when entering for any competition, the RULES. Not obeying the rules brought a lot of people down. It’s advisable to do a proper research on the rules before entering for any competition.
Being very passionate about poetry, there was need for more diversity and creativity. I was able to predict the out come of a lot of poems. I must commend Ekemini Edem for taking up that challenge, it was a good piece. Emmanuella Emmanuel did a good Job as well, it was interesting to read her piece. Laura Eze stood out with some poetry abilities.
The winner Mary Idowu had a really impressive work. She was able to tell her story in a really organized way. She wrote like a seasoned writer who knew how to play with her pen and still be formal.
Kekenye Ubulom
Editor-in-chief
Collection of prize will be announced to the winners soon.
Thank you.
IDOWU MARY OLUWASEUN
MBBS
300 LEVEL
LIFE AS AN ABUAD STUDENT
It is often said that mighty oaks grow from small acorns and that a journey of a thousand years starts with a step. I started my thousand year journey to becoming a medical doctor in Afe Babalola University, Ado Ekiti on the 21st of September 2013 as a small acorn looking to be a mighty oak. Looking back to that day now, I can comfortably describe how far I have passed through the school, and the school through me.
As a fresher which is a moniker for first year students in ABUAD, I was elated at the thought of being an undergraduate in the college of medicine in one of the most expensive schools in the country although, I didn’t really understand what it meant to be an undergraduate or what went on in the medical school. I had heard about how the university was a place where you would get to meet different people from different walks of life, witness different social, religious and academic activities. I didn’t have high expectations particularly about ABUAD as I had not heard much about it. I however brazened up and was ready to explore all avenues.
On my first week of resumption, myself and my fellow freshers were introduced to the reality of orientation and registration. It was so upsetting that I had to register for a lot of things including sports of which I am not a great participant. Some of these registrations took long hours and were very frustrating. Seeing that a whole week was credited to these activities, I had time to observe and interact with some of my classmates. I made observations also about the environment of the school, the hostels, the cafeterias, the college areas, the lecturers amongst other things. I didn’t find it difficult to find my way around ABUAD and I wasn’t home sick, rather I was intrigued by some of the events and experiences I witnessed.
My first day in class was one that I had mixed feelings about; I had to climb up all the way to the last floor and met the class half full even though I was about half an hour early for the class which further qualified our termed moniker. Everyone, including myself was looking bright with hope at the prospect of been introduced into the academic system. The morals of dressing and punctuality soon began to manifest in me and I had no issues with the rules that had been laid down for us. Assignments and tests soon began in earnest and soon examinations were underway.
My non academic life was not one to brag about as I had next to none. I however, had a good relationship with my roommates and some of my classmates. I had difficulties making friends with some of my classmates and fellow freshers in other departments, which has got a little better over time. I had a triangular routine which included hostel, college and the chapel which was facilitated by my upbringing. I was often dubbed as one of dem church girls. But as time went on, my social triangle widened and I made more friends and got more involved in academic and church activities, as this was the only school activities I was comfortable with.
It wasn’t until after the matriculation ceremony that I felt that I truly belonged to the ABUAD community. The matriculation ceremony is usually a colourful one with the freshers in the matriculating gowns and caps all dressed and made up in anticipation of getting ‘sworn into’ the school and various departmental communities. Pictures were taken with friends and families, usually with lots to eat and drink. Upon becoming a second year student, I looked forward to seeing and interacting with the freshers, as I was now a returning student. I and my friends would often make fun of these freshers and become nostalgic about our freshers days.
Anyways, being an ABUAD student opened me to variety of people, I met some who came from opulent families who felt above the salt, some from ‘average’ families and some who desperately wanted to join the crowd. I have come across individuals who just hate all the school rules for one reason or another and others for no reason at all, some who don’t care about the rules and those who are willing to obey the rules. I have also come across people who don’t like to attend classes but would rather be involved other extracurricular activities. I have dined with individuals with low self esteem and those with great dreams. I have met individuals from many tribes across the country, some of which I had never heard until I got to ABUAD. I have also had the opportunities of seeing great leaders like Professor Attahiru Jega, Former Presidents Goodluck Jonathan, Olusegun Obasanjo amongst others.
As an ABUAD student, at home I often get questioned by friends and family alike about the quality of education, standard of living, awards and accolades of the school. Many of them often confuse ABUAD with JABU, claiming that they had never heard of the school until then. I often got into arguments with students from other private universities who always claimed that their schools were better and more equipped than mine. As an ABUAD student, when the holidays arrive and we leave school, exorbitant prices are charged as transport fares or for wares that one desires to acquire within Ado-Ekiti. As a student of this school, I can certainly say that I have got quality education from my lecturers and friends which has been tested over time by doctors from Unilorin with whom I intern with over the holidays.
Social activities are inevitable in ABUAD. From departmental weeks to ABUAD top model, even the ABUAD chapel has got activities to keep me on my feet every weekend. The final year week and the convocation week is usually one of the most anticipated weeks in the school, particularly the cultural night and founder’s dinner. Sunday mornings often serves an avenue for most of the students to be in their best bib and tucker, as most of these outfits are not allowed during working hours. Assignments and projects also keep me awake and sometimes make me wonder if I was still in secondary school. Night time in ABUAD is also one to look forward to; the tales of yam and asun which is an interesting one, the sharwarma and suya and the night time chicken and chips has kept me alive on nights when the cafeterias have failed to. Actually, up until my entry into ABUAD, I had never tasted asun. These nightly food joints have become places for socialising and meeting people.
Waking up to a new day is accompanied by lack of water oftentimes, with everybody hustling to get at least bucket of water ( mostly for those with early morning classes) . It can sometimes become annoying when you see stacks of buckets when you are trying to get just one bucket to take a bath. Early morning jogging and exercise also have become a norm with the roads in the school, particularly the Olusegun Obasanjo way plied with sweaty bodies from the early morning jog.
What is life without a little drama? Like every societies with its drama and issues ABUAD has witnessed some bad times like the February 7, 2016 riot of which I was a victim. The countless fights amongst the girls in our hostels, the adventure of the ‘fly high girls’ of 2015, the night the boys came to ‘perform’ in front of the female hostel amongst others. All these events are what makes ABUAD as complete as it is.
Most of all as a student of the college of medicine and health sciences, I have been subjected to the wearing of the college colour, red, accompanied by ties for the boys. I have also been disciplined to walking under the very hot sun to the cadaver lab, were we’ve had to wear excessively large lab coats, climbing of multiple stairs to get to the lecture halls. These has actually been a source of mini-exercise for me as I am not a sportsperson.
If I were to keep going on about my life as an ABUAD student, I fear that the pages would not be enough and words might begin to fail me because living in ABUAD has given me a wild variety of taste, people and events. ABUAD is indeed a society on its own.
OKON ELIZABETH ODO
MEDICINE AND SURGERY
200LEVEL
LIFE AS AN ABUAD STUDENT
A man once said “School is like a Prison, the Classrooms are the Cells, the Lecturers are the Wardens and Students are the Inmates”. Personally, I think the time spent in a Prison could be used for good, not based on how long one stays in it but what is reflected on and what is made out of that stay. We hear stories about people who got better or worse after serving their time. Some even say they found God, another set just let the time pass them by counting the days till they smell the fresh air again and others just had time to plan a remaining life full of schemes. In all, the Prison is a state of mind.
Being an ABUAD student is something I never planned for. It seems like the trend, right? You leave secondary school; the next is to attend the University. That is the right thing to do. But the wrong thing is to go there for the wrong reasons. I took longer than some to get into University and settling in was not very easy. I wondered if I was meant to be here and all I could become. It was my first time in a hostel and with roommates too. One would think being in a private school means you get all things easy and there is little or no stress. But, the queues here, the competition and the “mean” Lecturers that make you earn each mark too.
Basically, my life as an ABUAD student cycles around waking up very early on some days and very late on others, then the rush to bathe, dress up and go to class, the hassle to get at least the middle row and depending on the time my lectures end in a day, I could study or if I am too tired; I just sleep, if I do not have activities to attend to. I do not joke with my food. My Father would say “You cannot read on an empty stomach and expect to comprehend, if you die, these books live on”. But still some days come when I have to choose between food and my books and some nights, I have to choose between my sleep and books. The battle of nature versus zeal.
The world of science is amazing and it is a great joy to learn about the human body from medical Practitioners and Lecturers. Some days, the knowledge can be overwhelming when I get to hear about all these nerves, muscles, bones, cartilages, cells, getting to learn with cadavers and many more. The grand trio of anatomy, biochemistry and physiology is enough to give any individual full hands. But the beauty of this knowledge is a blessing in its own way. Every day here I am reminded of why I even decided to study medicine and surgery. I have also established the fact that it is all worth it. I really cannot wait to learn in our teaching hospital.
The life of any student is like two sides of a coin. Some days here can seem perfect, I mean, I wake up in the morning and in no particular order, I do all I am meant to do; go for classes and learn mind blowing stuff and then I check the score sheet and I see my matriculation number alongside a perfect score, get a delicious meal without having to wait for so long, talk with my family members and friends miles away, hangout with my friends here in ABUAD and have a good time. But other days can be the direct opposite; days I would love to deny my matriculation number or get frustrated for standing on long queues and I remember life is not perfect.
No such thing as a typical day, every single day has something different planned out even with the timetable available, anything can happen and there could be an impromptu class, a lecture could be more interesting or more boring than usual. Even with all the stacked-up lectures and practicals. A listening ear is very important in every class. In fact, one of my Lecturers once said “If I sneeze, write it down”. Everything heard or said is of essence. The University is very different from a Secondary school; one has to do more personal studying because of the broad courses. It is not possible that one learns everything in class.
Being a medical student does not mean I get to read only medical books. In fact, I have to stay updated with information about happenings in the world from the internet because I offer other non-medical courses such as the different general studies. Also, I offer languages too such as Chinese, Yoruba and French. I must say I am not a regular attendee of these classes, I attend four out of ten times. Not just because they are not viewed on our results but I have little interest for new languages. I love the food security classes as it is related to agriculture which I do love and the practical aspect was also really great.
It is of essence to know about little of everything. It is stereotypical to think once you have a good result, every other thing falls in place after school; I try as much as possible to be involved in Sports and other social activities, you never know where a door will open or who you get to meet. School should not be that place one leaves with only academical knowledge. As Rasaq Okoya once said “I have nothing against education. But at times, education gives people false confidence. It makes people relax, trusting in their certificates rather than in working hard”. Although I had to quit the football team, I guess I could not find a balance at that time.
Time is of essence and every free time is a gift. So, when I am not studying, a good rest is always the best idea. I barely watch television except it is a football match of a team I do love. My friends outside ABUAD would say I barely make out time for them. If there is anything I am still learning, it is the ability to manage my time in a way that involves family and friends because the truth is, these are the people that will stick around in the long run, a degree is beautiful but when it has been attained, you need to get back to someone. Your knowledge could be needed at your job but who would you share your joy with?
In a nutshell, life as an ABUAD student has been amazing and will continue to be. It is said that “student life is golden life,” because it is the formative period of human life. If we learn to look at things from the bright side, it will be seen that there is no room for regrets because everything we may do or not do could turn out turn to be profitable experiences; it’s just a matter of how you look at it. I feel being in a university is that time a man gets to really think about the kind of person he wants to become and with the help of God, gets the opportunity to live in that direction. Well, I have approximately five more years to be here. I plan to make each day count.
EDEM EKEMINI
300 LEVEL
EXPERIENCE AS AN ABUAD STUDENT
WHAT AM I?
This part of my life scares me
when i let the real me outside
It’s not safe, sometimes to be carefree
should i risk hurt, or play safe and hide?
But people who love me keep asking me
To open my heart up to them
I don’t know why that’s so uncomfortable
I guess vulnerable is what i am
The few times have worn my heart on my sleeve
My words never came out right
So I’ve practiced being less vulnerable
And kept my real thoughts out of sight
People keep saying to use more words
But i fear I’ll be misunderstood
Maybe won’t express myself right
Or i will say more than i should
Words, I’ve found, are containers for thoughts
I don’t know why i sit here and hoard them
When i store them unspoken, my thoughts sit unused
Unshared, a container unopened
It’s a little like having a pantry of food
And keeping it all to myself
Food meant to be shared, and if its not
It helps no one, just rots on the shelf
And that’s how it is with my words kept inside
If love doesn’t share them some way
My thoughts stored inside these containers called words
Can spoil and turn bitter some day
I used to complain that people didn’t understand me
And for that i would silently resent them
But the silence, i now see is of my own making
If they don’t know me, its because i haven’t let them
My mind is full of tirades
A tempest fills my brain
I’ve lost a part of myself in love before
How gullible I’ve been
Would you rather i pour my heart out?
Spill my passion let me bleed
I apologize, kill myself in front of your eyes
Take off my mask so you can see where my vulnerability lies
