𝑪𝒉𝒖𝒌𝒘𝒖𝒆𝒃𝒖𝒌𝒂 𝑬𝒎𝒆𝒋𝒖𝒍𝒖

If calm and storm could dance, they would dance through my first day in school.

On the 25th of October, 2025, I secured admission into Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT), one of the most prestigious universities in the South East.

On the 26th of October, I woke up as early as 5:30 a.m. to prepare for my first day at the university. I freshened up and took my breakfast immediately so I could get to the park before 7:00 a.m. Unfortunately, I dashed out of my house at 7:05, with my admission letter and credentials neatly packaged in a red transparent file.

When I got to the park, I boarded a bus from Amechi to Enugu State University of Technology (ESUT), located in Agbani, Nkanu West LGA. I paid a fee of one thousand naira, and the driver gave me a ticket. At first, I thought he increased the fare because I looked like a fresher (novice), but later I noticed other passengers paid the same, and I felt relieved.

By 7:31 a.m., the bus was filled, and we commenced our journey. A lot of trepidations thoughts ran through my mind, especially the recurring question: “Am I really ready for this?” But I brushed it off and stayed quiet as we moved.

The driving was smooth but the journey seemed longer. Some passengers even dozed off with their mouths wide open, but my thoughts wouldn’t let me rest. During the journey, something caught my attention, I saw about five motorcycles on the road, which was unusual  to me because I have not seen any since they were banned on July 3, 2012, by former governor Sullivan Chime. At first, I assumed they were lawbreakers.

However, when our bus reached a place called Chika Best in Agbani, I realized there was actually an okada park there. It gave me a strong sense of nostalgia. Later, I learned that okadas were only banned in the metropolis part of Enugu meanwhile in Agbani, they were the main means of transportation.

After about 35 minutes, we finally arrived at ESUT. The campus sat along a tarred road, with a bus stop positioned in the middle of a two-way road close to the university’s main access route. The university gate stood tall,  a large archway proudly displaying “ENUGU STATE UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY.” A boundary wall surrounded the campus, marking it clearly from nearby properties.

When we got to the gate, the driver paid a ₦100 fee to a security officer in order to gain access into the campus it was quite standard, if you ask me. The moment we entered, my nervousness grew stronger. If moments could fly, mine had already flown away.

Still, the beautifully landscaped areas of the school gave me a warm welcome as we drove along the 1 km tarred road. I told the driver to drop me off at the Administrative Block, the only place I knew at the time. In less than three minutes, he stopped at a bus stop named “FANS” and pointed to the building.

The block was a multi-storey structure rectangular, neat, and clearly marked “ADMINISTRATIVE BLOCK” in wine-red letters, with “REGISTRAR/BURSAR’S WING” written below in black.

When I got there, I met a crowd of students waiting outside like predators ready to feast. Most had tired and unfriendly facial expression except for one fair lady sitting calmly with one knee up, looking completely unbothered. I approached her to ask some questions, hoping she could guide me as a fresher. Coincidentally, she was a fresher too! She told me I needed to go to the ICT Centre to pay my school fees, acceptance fee, and development levy. I almost asked where it was, but since she was new herself, I decided not to.

As I was about to leave, she called me back and advised me to wait until around 8:30 or 9:00 before heading there — “they might not have started work yet,” she said. I adhered to her advice and sat beside her. We chatted for quite a while and even forgot our purpose for being there for a moment. Around 9:00, she reminded me to go sort out my payments. We both laughed and went our separate ways.

I began my search for the cybercafé building like a shepherd who had lost his sheep. Honestly, the problem was I didn’t want to ask for directions because I was afraid it would reveal my identity as a fresher. The sun was merciless that day ESUT’s “special sun,” as I’d heard students call it, wasn’t an exaggeration after all!

Just as I was about to give in, I met an old friend by chance. We exchanged pleasantries, and when I explained my situation, he gladly helped me. He took me to the cybercafé and waited while I completed my payments. Unfortunately, the portal was slow due to network traffic, and I couldn’t pay my development levy that day so they told me to come back another day.

Afterward, my friend accompanied me back to the Administrative Block, on our way to the block, he asked what I needed to do there, since registration wasn’t handled there and funny enough I was speechless when the question was thrown at me because I don’t have the right answers to it. He understood my silence and kindly showed me the building for the verification process. When I arrived, I met even more exhausted and furious faces than before!

At that point, I wanted to give up. The phrase “Go hard or go home” echoed in my mind and honestly, I was ready to go home. But then, an angel appeared in the form of a man named Mr. Agbo. He saw me sweating and looking lost, and he asked what was wrong I explained my situation, and he kindly asked me to help him carry his files to his office I agreed, sensing his good intentions.

In his office, he offered me a comfortable chair and a sachet of water. As I drank, I felt renewed as if energy had returned to my body. He helped me photocopy my documents and even offered to pay my development levy since I couldn’t earlier. I was overwhelmed with gratitude, thanking him after almost every sentence.

After everything, he took me around the campus, showing me the faculties, the library, and finally my department, Mass Communication. It was a beautiful one-storey building, and I instantly felt proud to belong there. We even met two neatly dressed ladies who told us 100-level lectures hadn’t started yet. They directed us to a senior student who took my number, added me to the departmental group chat, and told me to come for lectures the next Tuesday in my departmental wear a sky-blue shirt and black trousers.

We thanked him and left. Mr. Agbo then took me to the park. I sincerely thanked him again for everything he had done. He smiled and waved as I boarded a bus back home to Amechi this time for a cheaper fare of ₦700.

That day was a mix of chaos and blessings – a true dance between calm and storm. Every time I felt like giving up, someone appeared to lift me up. I will always be grateful to God and to Mr. Agbo for making my first day in ESUT one I’ll never forget.

But then…

When I got back home I told my parents how my day went and the requirements I needed to resume school. They congratulated me again and adhered to my requirements. Tuesday felt so far and near at the same time. I had a mixed feeling of anxiety and excitement till the awaited day. I repeated my Thursday routine but this time around I wore my departmental wear and carried a small black laptop bag. When I stepped out of my compound, I felt like a celebrity because all eyes were on me, to the extent a stranger asked whether I was going for a job interview which made me chuckle. When I got to school I told the bus driver to stop me at a new location this time around which was the faculty of MANAGEMENT SCIENCE and due to the fact I went to the faculty last week I remembered some routes I took and then I got to my class which had 100l Mass communication boldly written above the door. Then I walked into the class encountering my fellow course-mates for the first time. Some wore their departmental wear while some wore casual dress (mofti). I gently walked  to the third row to sit down then began to press my phone due to my high level of anti-social and introvert life  and  secondly there was no form of serious socialization/interaction in the class at that time. I had to stay put, after a while, a courageous girl named Ogechukwu Loveth stood up and addressed the class telling us to try and socialize with our fellow course-mates in the class instead of pressing our phones and treating our neighbours like non-living things, she then told us her name and left the scene back to her seat .

To me it was really fascinating and impressive for a 100 level student to do such a nice presentation to people she is probably seeing for the first time and from that day onwards she gained my respect. After a while a guy putting on a baggy trouser and the departmental shirt styled with jewelry all over his clothes walked in to the class to address us, he was the year 2 assistant course rep, he asked us our names for a proper introduction and also had a conversation with us and then left, two other students like the department president and the 300l course rep did the same and left  before the Staff Adviser of ESUT Monitor Newspaper, Mr Amaechi Agbo (MC Mazi) came to address us with three newspapers. During his speech I was sighted and awarded the Best Dressed 100 Level Mass Communication Student Of The Day in my class and awarded my first ever newspaper. I felt dumbfounded with such honour he also told the class he did not want to go back with the remaining newspapers so he asked questions, a female student got it so he gave her one of the newspapers and then gave another newspaper to another female for being the female best dressed 100 level mass communication student of the day in my class and then left.

When school was over I ran home with joy to share the good news with my parents, they were proud and congratulated me once more

On  the second day of my lecture was disrupted by rain, just as I was about getting to the park the heaven opened heavily and dealt with me mercilessly until I got into the bus.  When I got to class we were still treated like JJC (Johny Just Come) another set of people came to advise us about the university and many more.

The next day being Thursday was the day I ought to pack into my lodge, at this point I was expecting to have a bit fulfilment because I have craved for this freedom for a very long time but I wasn’t excited the way I thought.  It just felt normal but regardless I departed with my parents prayer and guidance and we said our farewells .

Along the way, the class became interactive people started making friends quickly and the class grew bigger and bigger day by day. there was a friend segment which is usual in all academic institutions whereby a front Becker friends are located in the front bench while the back benchers friends were located  at the back and I was part of the front benchers and we were only 3 boys and about 8 girls in my front seat row at that time. It was not a problem to me at that time being.

Some weeks later, the Dean of Faculty of Management Science with some SUG (Students Union Government) official and some 300level students came to elect a course representative (001) for our class. Regardless of the fact we already had an acting course rep at that time which the class knew. He introduced his self and stated his agenda he then asked whether any of the students in class would like to go for the post. I stood up with courage, the whole class cheered and clapped for reasons I couldn’t comprehend because I have not interacted with most of them. After that the class also nominated some individuals for the post both boys and girls. We all were in the corridor while the class elected the candidate they felt was right for the post. At the end of the election, the class chose the then acting Course Rep and he became the substantive 001 of the class. i took the loss in good faith and went back to my lodge  with no regret whatsoever because as the saying goes what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger, so I refined the pain to positive gain.

After few weeks I began to interact and relate with the “back benchers” which were basically boys I have not seen before in the class talk more of talking to them due to the low exposure I got from staying in the front always. The interaction began when I encountered my fellow course mate, Wealth, whom matched my vibe properly unlike most of the front benchers after a while I changed from a front seater to a back bencher which most of people will perceive the narrative as “he changed from a good boy to a bad boy” in terms of peer group influence. Regardless I didn’t care because my discipline didn’t change only my position. During this same period some of our course-mates suddenly started to dislike our course representative saying he is rude, lacks respect and many more but I just gave it deaf ears and continued my activity after all there is nothing I could have  done.   

The Exam Moment—the Pidgeon Flew

Talking of exam, time flew so fast I  couldn’t comprehend that my first semester exams was just in one week and I wasn’t sure if I was  prepared. I left my hope on God. The exam came, the experience alone – a story for another day – and went by so fast leading to the end of the semester in March. At this point I had already made a lot of friends and memories by the end of the semester and one of the things I thanked God for was the discipline to stick to my dress code throughout the semester as I knew that truly a new level have been unlocked so unto the next.

Looking back on my first semester at Mass Communication, ESUT, I can confidently say it was a journey filled with surprises, challenges, victories, and valuable lessons. From the anxiety of my first day on campus to making friends, contesting for a leadership position, adapting to campus life, and successfully completing my first examinations, every experience contributed to my growth as a student and as an individual. Along the way, I encountered people who inspired, supported, and challenged me, helping me see life from different perspectives.

The semester taught me that success is not only measured by achievements but also by the courage to step out of one’s comfort zone, learn from disappointments, and keep moving ahead. As I closed the chapter of my first semester recollection, I felt grateful to God for His guidance, to my parents for their unwavering support, and to everyone who played a role in making my transition into university life memorable. With new friendships, valuable experiences, and greater confidence, I looked forward to the next semester, knowing that my journey at ESUT had only just begun.

𝑪𝒉𝒖𝒌𝒘𝒖𝒆𝒃𝒖𝒌𝒂 𝑬𝒎𝒆𝒋𝒖𝒍𝒖 𝒊𝒔 𝒂 100 𝑳𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒍 𝑺𝒕𝒅𝒖𝒆𝒏𝒕 𝒐𝒇 𝑴𝒂𝒔𝒔 𝑪𝒐𝒎𝒎𝒖𝒏𝒊𝒄𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏, 𝑬𝑺𝑼𝑻