Starting with realities

I promised to share my real experiences with you. Here they come.

I'll start with my first contact with failure. This came in my University years. I wasn't leading my class from the primary school through the secondary, but I wasn't lagging behind either. Infact, I somehow stood out in my class. Interesting to also note that I got into the university immediately I left the secondary school. All these combined to give me the confidence that I wasn't dumb.

So you can imagine my shock the first time I failed a course in the university. And though I didn't have to repeat the class, I had to take the course again. It was a whole new feeling for me. I had to attend classes with folks that were a class behind me. Okay, being the 'tough' girl that I am, I braved it and retook that course and passed it. But that looked like the gateway to other courses that I had to retake. Somewhere along the line, I kinda got used to it, it didn't bother me anymore but the big one was yet to come!

That was when I failed a course in my final year and I knew that translated into an extra semester. It shook me real hard. I realized my colleagues were leaving me and going off. I had gotten a lot toughened by this time and by the processes I had gone through that I really didn't 'react' to the situation but stood up to it with the hope that I'll meet up with my colleagues after four months at the National Youth Service program. But a bigger surprise was waiting for me. By some error (not on my part), I had to stay back again for another semester! That made it an extra session! I hadn't, in my wildest dreams, imagined this possible. Okay, so I had to face it. By the time I'm leaving school finally, my colleagues would have just 2months to complete the Youth service scheme. That meant that I was a full year behind them!

It's interesting to read this now. But I tell you, the process wasn't palatable at all. I didn't add that by the time I was taking the second semester extra, I was taking the course with my younger brother who had never at anytime met up with me academically till this time. You can only imagine the psychological effect. It was at this same university time that a lecturer told me I was topping my class. In essence, there was no logical reason for me to have failed at all.

I have taken time to share this with you because I don't know what failure you might have faced. It might not be academically, it might be financially, business wise, family wise (oh, do I have a story here), whatever. Just know that you may fail, but you're not a failure. When you give in to the thought or feeling of being a failure, that's when you've actually failed. I'll like to say this also, when your emotions are pent up at these low times, if you feel like crying, please do, if it's screaming, do it. Just let out the emotions, don't get them piled up. And one day, you'll be encouraging others with your story. Only when you dare and choose to live it out!

'Oju Aye'

I just left the sixtieth birthday fete for Prof. Niyi Osundare. The 'eye of the earth' is 60 and we're rolling out the drums. As a great lover of the arts (poems, music, drama, stage, film, novel, all) I couldn't resist the urge to once again see this great oak. And in his characteristic style, Osundare turned out in his top. None of those shirts and ties (which could be very uncomfortable anyway) for him.

During the speeches and opening talks, a recurring point was the incident this lover of the earth was involved in running to 2 years now - the Katrina. Lives were lost but thank God He preserved the life of this 'youngman' and his wonderful wife. Documents, pictures and all were lost too but we're celebrating his life today. Really, he's a survivour of the earth.

A foundation of sorts was launched where people can send journals, pictures, motion materials, anything at all about, on and for Osundare. There's an effort at starting a virtual library and a physical one at that for this man so there an be better documentation and a kind or resourcing some of the lost memoirs. Visit www.osundare60fete.blogspot.com for more details or mail your materials to osundare60fete@gmail.com and osundare_at60@yahoo.com. Thanks for a being a part of collating great history. This is a time for celebrating our African beauties.

Take your destiny in your hands!

I should have done this about a week ago but I just couldn't sign in to blogger. Now I get the chance, I'm blogging away!

It's no longer news that OAU Ife is presently under locks. Why? The answer is painfully real. Some hooligans were allowed to hijack the academic calendar. Less than 10 people disrupting the life of over 25,000 students! It's unthinkable! The school had started exams but these fellows wouldn't just allow it hold smoothly. And the generality of the students were being held hostage in their halls of residence. They were threatned and attacked with dangerous weapons. And like sheep, they ran helter skelter the university premises till things got of hand and management had to close the school not after mobile policemen had been deployed to help maintain peace.

The part of this all that annoys me is that a body of active, healthy students have resigne their destiny to thugs. Why? Why would we continue to keep quiet under oppression? Agreed, those guys had dangerous weapons but they are not as many as the unarmed! They didnt have guns. The best they could do was throw stones or bottles or sticks. Yes, they could wound people but when will we ever get what's right if we all continue to cow? I may be the only one who's following this line of thought but I believe oppression cannot be fought with silence. Neither can it be fought with violence but by the oppressed to reject it and be ready to sacrifice to attain their freedom. And I believe politics should be played with sense.

What do you think?

Goldman Sachs Spring Internship Program - The Africa Initiative

This program is for undergraduate students studying in Ghana,
Nigeria and South Africa. If studying in a Ghanaian or Nigerian
university, you must currently be in the first year of a three year
course or the second year of a four year course. If studying in South
Africa, you will be in the second year of a three year course or third
year of a four year course.
In order to provide program participants with an insight into our
businesses and culture, program attendees will be flown to London to
spend up to 10 days in our offices during April 2007. The program
features seminars, divisional rotations, interesting assignments and a
range of social events. High-potential participants will be invited
back to the firm the following year for an 8-10 week fully-funded
internship during June/July 2008. The purpose of these internships are
to identify strong candidates to whom we may ultimately extend
fulltime Analyst offers in 2009.
There is a two-step application process - both stages must be completed:
Step 1: Apply online (www.gs.com/careers) and upload you CV and cover
letter. Select Internship = New Analyst.
Step 2: Visit the Upcoming Events in Europe page and register using
the "Goldman Sachs Africa Initiative" link where you will answer two
essays:
1. What are your key strengths? (300 words)
2. Why should you be selected for this program? (300 words)
The application deadline is 31 January 2007.
Please note that you must be studying at a university in South Africa,
Ghana or Nigeria to apply to participate in this initiative.