Grit Is Sacrosanct: 5 Things All Freshers Must Know in UofA

It's a new session, and as with all new sessions, new students, popularly called FRESHERS will be admitted. Scattered around the school will be new faces carrying bags and holding files filled with documents.

While very few of them already know how it works, most of the FRESHERS will feel lost and out of place. It is easily detected through their facial expressions.

You need Direction: Follow who know road.

If you don't want to trek the living out of your life and not burn a hole in your pocket on Keke rides, you would need direction from older students to places like your department, the clinic, the library, and so on. You wouldn't want to ask the security in the senate building if this is the chemistry department or tell the shuttle driver you're going to Nyanya. Nya what?

Even if you are a bit shy or introverted, make it a mission to ask questions in your first year else you may find it frustrating navigating through the school environment. It may look awkward but no one expects you to know it all. Ask questions about your courses and save yourself from registering for a course that doesn't concern you. Add and Drop is not free(Ask what add and drop means too)

Start Your Preparing Early: The Examination date won't change.

Take note– once the school calendar is out, the date for the examination on the calendar doesn't change. So, even if a lecturer doesn't have a class with you till a week before the exams, you will still write it. The best approach you must take so you are not caught unawares is to prepare for each course on your course reg with or without the lecturer. 

Have a Mentor: Don't think you can do all things concerning your academics on your own. Look for someone who is ahead of you and ask questions about your department and its modalities. Get past questions from them and their notes if possible. It will help ease the strain. Thanks to the mentor/mentee scheme that has been incorporated into the school system. 

I think GRIT should be added to the requirements on the screening list because you will need a lot of it. You will need Grit to effectively combine your academics and the challenges that will come along the way, for your hostel allocation, for 8:00am lectures, for shuttle ground and you will definitely need grit when your results are released and you see what you didn't expect.

In conclusion, The University of Abuja is a place where you will meet new people and learn new things. In all your associations, mind the people you make your friends and maintain a positive mindset all through.

Here's to your success—let’s make every moment unforgettable!

I grit, I mean, greet you with enthusiasm! 🎉