On-campus teaching is an opportunity for students to make use of their tutoring skills on the school’s premises with colleagues serving as their students.
During the second semester of the 200 level, I would admit I was more focused and direct with my actions on and off campus. Okay so let me run you through my quick schedule and that was waking up, going to campus for lectures, and returning earlier to have an early supper (that is from 7 am to 5 pm). Evenings were for studying mostly and this was from (6 pm to 10 pm). I knew what I had been through hence I was not taking any chances hence I felt this was the way to go at that point. Lectures as always were getting tougher hence I had less time to unwind like I used to which kind of took a toll on me.
My roommate then who happened to be a Muslim brought up the idea of making Saturdays a gaming day no matter how stressed we were after attending classes hence we (Teddy and I) jumped on the idea. I felt cool with that mostly because my friends saw how the amount of energy being drained from me and hence opted to help me get revitalized.
So I had the privilege of owning a Hewlett-Packard laptop with fairly good specifications to run a soccer game. That was enough to start a game center in our room. I remember installing Fifa 14 on this machine but after testing it out with the guys, I quickly switched it up to a Pro Evolution soccer game. The boys pretty much opted for this one taking into consideration its simple gameplay. I won’t like to brag but hey I was winning most of my matches till I was sidelined and brought in or called upon when advanced gamers came around our hostel. As we came together to game daily, I got more relaxed and began to deliver academically. I was not the “question and answer” driven type of student however I grasped everything after lectures had long been held. Also, most of the guys saw me grab my books right after serious gaming sessions hence adapting to this method as the semester progressed.
As lectures officially began, we were constantly reminded by lecturers of a mandatory final paper which I later got to know as a thesis. According to them, this book would be presented to them and would take a long period to complete hence we needed to prepare for that. I was not socializing that much before that announcement hence I had to act quickly by speaking to colleagues who seemed very knowledgeable at the time. I remember eavesdropping to get some answers but later met the class representative who pretty much summed everything up for me. So it was direct and I had to write on a topic with a connection to Special Education and prove to these lecturers with appropriate research methods. It was a rainy day thus the muddy route to the hostel was a discomfort as I pondered on this fresh academic path. Hey let’s be real because I had heard about this in my first year year, I just did not think it would be this fast even as a prompt from our lectures.
Everyone was feeling the same way as we departed the school campus. What helped me at the time was the availability of books for further learning or even for sampled research work seated a the school’s library. The library was at the South Campus by the way hence I psyched myself for that as I looked for a befitting topic to write on later. As lectures went on smoothly, the usual quizzes were being held concurrently. I would say that things were really good now academically. My grade portal was improving too leading me to be reluctant at times but it was all good with me. As the saying goes in my “broken English” dialect, “body no be firewood”, Estee was also returning from Accra. She worked there and after a long working schedule, she often showed up to spend some time with her family. I was less occupied till she came around. Our earlier routine continued but with less stress considering her behaviour towards me.
After a month, Estee asked for monetary assistance from me. It was humbly done in the early hours of one Saturday morning. This was the first of its kind leaving me very emotional but I stayed stoic in her presence. I offered the amount to her and left for class. I failed to mention this but she was always not doing well financially hence I came through for her based on her dedication and commitment to the relationship we had. As exams drew closer I made plans to go to the South campus to equip myself with the topics for my research work. The decision to pick a single day for that exercise was very tough I must admit because it meant forfeiting lecture hours too. The library was next to the ICT department and it accommodated fewer students during the day and more students in the evenings. So my decision was simple and that was getting there right after my first lecture and returning before my second lecture which by the way was at 3:00 pm on a Friday. Upon entering there at noon, I was asked for my student ID card and number and given instructions to follow as I was led to my seat.
This was my first time here and it’s been two years already. I felt embarrassed as I searched the Special education section on the second floor of the building but kept my head up and asked for assistance from the librarians who were on duty at the time. I stumbled on a past research work by an old student with the title “Broken home effects on children with special needs” and instantly fell in love with the concept and what the old student looked to achieve with the topic. So after dotting down some salient points, I made my way out of the library and rushed to the North Campus for the second class. I got to class and was sweating heavily. I almost thought I had taken a seat only for my female lecturer asked if “it was raining outside?” Of course, the stern look on her face forced an answer from me which was a “no”. At this point, tables were rolling over with laughter with most of the guys adding more salt to my injury by calling me names like the rain bender, water works manager, and the other funny titles they could think of at the time. For a minute or two, I was getting cooked but I guess I deserved it by not boarding a cab to the lecture hall.
Now that I think about it, I guess everyone including the lecturing was happy that day. The lady who went by the name of Madame Florence hinted at an on-campus teaching experience for us next semester and hence advised us to take our books seriously to pass the impending exam too. Exam week was upon us again and once again we took a period of 2 to 3 weeks to complete it yes as a senior and book freak on campus, I was once again confident about my performance. It had been improving steadily since my dreadful incident with Ella was resolved. I departed shortly for Accra on the last day of the exams due to a call from my family back home.
Continue tales from the next post.