Being a student is learning to live a life of many personalities. A school is an institution designed to prepare a student mind for any form of surprises outside the school. Within the closed walls, you experience life as it is, though it might not be the exact replica of the outside world but it has hard as it gets.
Though the level of resources a student have access to can reduce the pressure to do things that is not really demanded of a student but then it depends on individual perspective. I'm referring to other extracurricular activities apart from academics.
There are some students without the resources to really get the things needed in school, as a result of this, they might want to start up a little business to survive, while there are other students with resources but still want to start there enterprise when they are still in school.
In my own case, I belong to the category of the students who wants to have something of their own before graduating. I mean I have never had to pay my tuition fee myself and I also received allowance throughout my days in school but then, just having to stay still without doing anything of my own will probably bore me to death.
The funny aspect was that, I was never really a fan of any social activities while in school, despite always being in the center of it. I mean, I made a lot of good impressions when it comes displaying my intelligence during lectures, it was my play ground. This kind of gets me the kind attention every students desires, I was never shy to display my knowledge in class or shy away from asking difficult questions.
This got me closer to lecturers and top administrative members of my department. So whenever my department is organising any form of activity, I was always considered as someone who would have something to offer. Here is the funny part, some offer I accept and some I reject but I was never really in the spot light of any social events. I was always play the brain box part, without having to publicly take credit for any of my contributions.
The reason for this is quite simple, I never really wanted to be overwhelmed by the noise, it might sway my attention away from what really matters to me, which was my business. God knows I enjoyed any academic based business, this is my own form of social activity, this is the only part I knew how to make myself visible.
As a broadcast student, I know my way around any form of practicals given and I also knew how to monitise my efforts. So while everyone was busy having fun in social clubs, I was the guy people leave their academic assignments to and go ahead and have fun. I had like a mini office in my room in those days, my laptop, printer, scanner, recorder and all sort of devices that makes jobs easier to get done.
Amidst the whole school rumble and academic pressure, I was running my own little enterprise on a low-key. There were times when it becomes overwhelming for me because my school was one big pressure cooker.
I remember during my final year project, I was also offering services like writing of journals, journal reviews and research project writing, project proposal e.t.c at the same time I was doing my own project. In fact before I submitted my project topic for approval, I had already finished most of my customers project proposals and processed to collation of the chapters. I just kept telling myself, I will get mine done when I'm ready.
The thing is, I always find ways to keep myself calm amidst the pressure I was experiencing because I never allowed it to get to me. My strategy was pretty simple, I only get involved in what is necessary and any extracurricular activities that would prevent me from getting things done, I stay away from it. I found a way to discipline myself to always prioritise what matters no mater the lure.
I was called lot of names like book worm, workaholic or introvert but I never cared. I just made sure I did what works for me without allowing anyone's opinion influence my perspective. I graduated with flying colours, though I might not have flexed like most students did in school, I barely participated in the FYB week despite being part of the FYB committee but I made sure I had fun in ways I know how and I was satisfied with it.
This write-up was inspired by weekly prompt "How do you balance academics with other life's commitment?" in hive student connect community.
Cover image - 𝖣𝖾𝗌𝗂𝗀𝗇𝖾𝖽 𝗎𝗌𝗂𝗇𝗀 𝖼𝖺𝗇𝗏𝖺
Image Credit - All images used are mine or else indicated otherwise
