Baskadia

ADMISSION

The night of my admission to the University of Port Harcourt was electric. Excitement crackled in the air, morphing into nervous anticipation. I yearned to experience the new life of campus, the friends I would meet, the adventures that awaited. Unable to contain myself, I started packing and unpacking my things, a nervous ritual. Mom had surprised me with a beautiful jacket, and gifts poured in from the people who made up my small village of a family. Dad drove me to the bus park, his smile masking his own anxieties. As I set off on my journey to the city of Port Harcourt, I waved goodbye, a knot of excitement and apprehension churning in my stomach.

Struggles and Adaptations

However, upon arrival in the "Garden City," my fantasies dissolved. Reality hit me like a Port Harcourt rainstorm. Suddenly, the only familiar comfort was the survival instinct honed during my boarding school days. For months, I stayed in the school-provided accommodation before finding my own permanent settlement. Adapting to hostel life proved challenging. Waking up early for classes was an agonizing struggle, a stark contrast to the comforting dreams of angels ascending and descending. Mom calls often brought flooding back. She served as my rock, offering emotional support and wiping away the difficulties I faced in academics and adapting to hostel life.

Acceptance and Identity

Acceptance was another hurdle. My headstrong nature and unique perspective often clashed with others. Labels like "unfriendly" and "weirdo" followed me, not entirely untrue. Even in my department, these names weren't completely off-base. My naïveté led me to isolate myself, and any attempt to hide my shyness backfired, resulting in frowns that fueled the "weirdo" label.

Friendship Blossoms

Despite the initial struggles, my hostel became a haven thanks to Thomas D. A kind soul and brother figure, he became my point of contact for family when I was unreachable. Then came Alabi, my guide through the treacherous waters of first year, first semester. And I can't forget Maxwell, the walking encyclopedia with his 900 "slags" (slang words).

On our matriculation day, while attempting a selfie for Mom, a guy materialized from the crowd and photobombed me. It felt strange, initially picturing him as another "weirdo" like myself. But little did I know, this dude, Jonah, would become one of my dearest friends as the months rolled by. Soon after, Nicholas, Daniel, and Mercy joined our circle.

The Inquisitive Minds and Unity

Our bond truly solidified in year two when we formed an academic support group, aptly named "The Inquisitive Minds." Through this group, I came to know my pals well: Jonah, the logical problem solver; Daniel and Nicholas, driven to make their mark on society; and myself, the resident motivational spea

Love's Spark

When love arrived, it hit me like a bolt of lightning. Her personality defied imagination, a captivating blend of joy and mischief that somehow managed to sustain my happiness. Beautiful, kind, and with a heart of gold, it's no wonder her thoughts still linger in my head.

The End (But Only the Beginning)

This is just the beginning of my journey. More adventures, challenges, and triumphs await. Stay tuned for Part 2!