First Class Diary: There Is a Place of Acquiring and There Is a Place of Application – JA

First Class Diary: There Is a Place of Acquiring and There Is a Place of Application – JA

Hello people! Happy new week. I have got an interesting interview for you. If you missed last week’s, you can read up here. I am certain you will enjoy it.

Meet my scholar for the week, Janet Adigun, from Tai Solarin University. Let me save the rest of the story.

In her words,

Time and Discipline are great factors of success in life. Never be afraid to fail, but be confident in making correction and success will easily be achieved. If you are afraid of failure, you can’t succeed.

Enjoy!

Abigael Ibikunle of Edugist: Please share with Edugist, a little about your background.

Janet Adigun: I am Janet Oluronke Adigun, born and brought up in Ibadan, Oyo state, into the family of Elder and Deaconess Adigun. I’m the last born in the family of seven. Attended Everbest comprehensive college in Ibadan.

No doubt, I wasn’t from a rich background. However, that was the school I attended from my nursery.
My academic performance was impressive, hence, my proprietor urged my parent to allow me continue attending the secondary.

Despite the high fees, my parents obliged but I also had a prize to pay. Attending a private school didn’t come easy for me. After school, I would have to hawk for mum, do my house chores, and run other errands. Still, I was conscious of not letting all those get in the way of my academics.

I made sure that nothing stood in the way of my midnight reading. Some times during secondary school, I drank coffee so as not to sleep. By the second day, my teacher saw me and said, “Janettttt don’t kill yourself, this is secondary school”. In all, to God be the glory.

I was always found around my teachers then, they loved me so much due to my impressive academic performance. During exams, they give me money.

I wasn’t a genius but I never joked with my studies at all.

Growing up, I always craved for University of Ilorin. I had wanted to study medicine. However, I wrote WAEC and JAMB twice. After, my first attempt at JAMB, I gave up. If only I knew better, I wouldn’t have given up, but I doubted my self. My age wasn’t helpful. I finished my secondary school at the age of 19, by the next JAMB, I was 20.

So, I changed my mind and said, it was either this JAMB or I will go into music career. After all, I love music and polytechnic wasn’t an option for me due to some personal reasons. Fortunately, someone introduced TASUED to me with reasons that I am very gifted in teaching.

That individual urged me to go to University of Education. That was how I attempted their entrance examination and I passed. I became a student of Tai solarin university of Education in Ijebu-ode, Ogun state. Interestingly, I graduated with a first class from the department of Chemical sciences.

 

AI: Was there any motivating factor(s) that influenced your choice of discipline and institution?

JA: Like I said earlier, I was left with no choice than to go to university of education. The question was no longer, what school? I was left with the question of what to study.

Then, I remembered while I was in secondary school, chemistry seems so hard due to the teachers we had then. So, I made up my mind to study chemistry since I was no longer opportune to go for Medicine.

 

AI: There are two major skills that every student must possess: COMPETENCE and PERFORMANCE. While competence revolves around skill acquisition, performance is much more concerned about skills application. It is believed that most graduates are competent because their academic performance testifies to this, but they are performance-challenged. This poor performance ipso facto hinders them from getting lucrative jobs in the labour market. What can you say about this assertion?

JA: The fact is, can you replicate what you are taught to others? Can we easily see result of what u acquired? Some people have good grades based on luck. They easily read and cram, they also remember during exam. But ask them some months later, they can’t easily figure out.

Hence, not everyone with good grades can prove it. So,

there is a place of acquiring and there is a place of application. Whatever you acquire and can’t apply to any problem is just as if you haven’t acquired anything.

 

AI: What do you think is responsible for competence without performance? Please suggest ways of improving the performance level of university students and graduates

JA: Student Factor! Some students are after read and pass, some won’t even go to class. They say things like, “No be to read and pass, that’s very simple!” Some will even tell you they don’t need the certificate.

Also, some lecturers don’t contribute to good performance of the students. They are not interested in what they do after they graduate. I could remember vividly how my lecturer disturbed my life on my project.

At the time, I actually thought he was being harsh. He will always say, “Janet, I want you to be proud and boast of your project anywhere, such that even after your B.Sc, you are still doing well.” There are several cases like that too. But some lecturers are not actually like that.

Lastly, our government don’t provide facilities. Most Universities are known with only theories. There is no how students can easily practice what they have learnt.

My school, for instance, is a University of Education. You will go on teaching practice. However, before you are eligible to go, you can’t have more than one carry over. Anything short of that disqualifies you from practicing.

Also, while practicing, if supervisors come to supervise you, if you don’t pass, you will start all over again. My lecturers will often say it is not easy to be called to Bar. The same also goes for being trained to be a certified teacher.

What I am saying in essence is that, most universities are known with just having lectures and then sitting for exam.
In simple terms,

whatever you are acquiring or wish to acquire, know it to the very best.

Be able to prove yourself anywhere, anytime. Now, I am into soap making, which I know is also applicable to my course of study.

 

AI: Achievement in life transcends one’s personal efforts. There were people who, during your programme, rendered some assistance that made your dreams a reality. Who are specific persons whose contribution you can’t forget in your first-class feat?

JA: I would like to thank my parents and my siblings for always being supportive. My sister always said, “Janet, you will do any fashion you want to do after school.” I can be in my room for months without #10 but you won’t even know. I don’t wear the lastest.

In fact, fellow students, course mates will call me SU. I knew my background so it didn’t bother me. My mother would collect ASIEA MONEY to sponsor me then. So, I made sure I didn’t mingle with high class people.

I thank God for friends likes Olayode Taiwo, Ariyo Temitope and Oyekunle Olayemi. Also, I thank my Lecturer Dr. O. O Ogunbanjo. It wasn’t easy obtaining first class. Most people face a lot in university these days.

For me, I lived a triangle life. From class to church and from church to Home. Then, my friends would come for night reading. We didn’t wait till test or exam before we started reading. You will always see past question with us.

I had a lecturer I was close to. He was a young lecturer too, and was God fearing. He always led me to the path I needed to follow. I wasn’t the social type during my 4years in school, hence, I never attended any party.

I remembered in my 100level then, a guy told me not to think of having first class in chemcal sciences department. He said the department was mean. With that, I relaxed. It was in second semester, I met Taiwo and Tope, diligent and excellent students.

They challenged me and restored my brain’s factory setting. In their presence, I acted indifferent to their scoldings.

When I got back to the corner of my room, the reality of what they said hit me. I cried continuously as though they added petrol to kerosene. That was my turning point. I started having high grades.

Of course, we can’t still excape some difficult courses, but to God be the Glory. They stood by me and I was there for them too. I didn’t joke with Church activities and prayer like I noted earlier.

 

AI: As a first-class graduate, are you currently gainfully employed?

JA: No. I’m a corps member presently and I am also into baking. I make soap for immediate use. I am considering venturing into it after service.

 

AI: Do you think your grades have or is giving you any major advantage over other graduates with lesser grades?

JA: I can’t say Yes. There are some people that don’t graduate with first class and their dream is so big. They even have more experiences. I do tell people,

the difference between a first class graduate and other classes of degree is Time and Discipline.

If only everyone can discipline themselves and know that time waits for no man, it will be good. There are some companies that prefer second class upper graduates to first class graduates.

I am, however, confident that the God I’m serving can never fail. Also, looking beyond my grades, no doubt, experience matters most.

 

AI: For students who aspire to graduate with outstanding grade like yours, what would you advise them?

JA: I have four things to say,

A: Trust in God. Meaning put God first in whatever they want to do in life. At times, first class comes with Grace.

B: Keep good friends. An adages says, “show me your friend and I will tell u who u are”

C. Have a strong determination and be focused. Laziness is not allowed.

D. Discipline! They might not be able to do what others are doing at that time. Other people’s leisure time might not be their own leisure time.

 

AI: What would you advise the government to do to improve the standard of our education system?

JA: There should be a form of appreciation. If students graduating with good grades are being appreciated, it will prompt some students to do better.

Our government should fund schools so as to be well equipped and condusive for students and lecturers. Lecturers too should take this Job as a profession and put their best in it. They should see to the success of their students.

 

AI: Any other thing you would like to share?

JA:

No one is a dullard and No one is born with good grades.

He has given us all what we need. It is left for us to make good use of it.

Time and Discipline are great factors of success in life. Never be afraid to fail, but be confident in making correction and success will easily be achieved. If you are afraid of failure, you can’t succeed.

 

That’s it for this week’s episode. Got a scholar you would love to be featured?

Want to sponsor any of the scholar you find their stories inspiring?

Or want to contact any of them for engagements?

Then, reach us at abigail@edugist.org

 

I am Abigael Ibikunle and celebrating excellence is a top priority for me.

iSpeak, iTrain, iFacilitate, iWrite, iInterview and iLoveYou all. Smile! See you next week!