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Most of the adventurous moment of my life took place during the process of acquiring my Higher national diploma in Moshood Abiola polytechnic Abeokuta Ogun State. Unlike my days in gateway Polytechnic where I was busy trying not to be seen and I don't allow being a group representative, I prefer to be the brain in the assignment as long as I'm not noticed or seen, not to talk of standing in front of the entire class to present our assignment which is usually the responsibility of the group leader.
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Not that I was bad at presentation or I can't face crowd but facing crowd was not really my thing and I dislike unnecessary attention I prefer to stay hidden except if the situation can't be helped. apart from my friends I was barely known in class during my National diploma but everything changed after I had undergone my industrial training in numerous organisations, I guess it boosted by public speaking ability in a way I never thought was possible. so by the time I decided to go for Higher national diploma, I have already became a radioπ.
Displaying my knowledge in public became more tolerable for me, they are countless times when I turn the class into a debate and we had a lot of lecturers who are intrigued by such academic exercise and we also have student who will glad curse me behind my back because they consider such act to be a waste of their time but thankfully I was not the only student doing thisπ , so it was a fun exercise and such argument turns me on academically π.
As a result of this I became a group leader on numerous occasions, is either I was selected by the lecturer or by my colleagues. I was intelligent but I wouldn't say I was the most intelligent because there are other intelligent minds in my group but they just don't want to be seen or doesn't want the attention that comes with being a group leader. Being a group leader is a very worrisome responsibility because you have to put yourself in the position of being capable of doing all the work in case no one wants to help or contribute to the group assignment. Though some students will partake in the group assignment but not all, some are just extremely irresponsible and lazy or feeling too big to participate.
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Apart from those above challenges being a group leader does have its own benefits, it brings you closer to lecturers and there might be a day you need to see a lecturer, it won't be difficult because he/she his already familiar with your face. secondly, being a group leader gives you the privilege of knowing about the group practical more than anyone else in the group.
In most of our exams, question One is usually compulsory and it is based on the practical we did for that course. it was a way for lecturers to ensure that only student who partake in the practicals are allowed to pass that exam because the question one mark is very huge almost more than half of the entire exam score. this are the times when I feel like a king because I don't need to read the practical script or any written document. I partake in the practical all through so I know every details, this is made it easier to read other important materials for the course instead of using most of my time reading practical summaries and manuals.
Being a group leader and knowing a lot about the practical comes with some expectations from your group members, especially when there is an opportunity to be in the same exam all with you, you can be rest assured that someone will definitely call you for help in the examination hall.
I remember during my final year last semester semester exam, Our last paper was on Thursday, It was our HOD course Mac 423 PR CASE STUDY. Before the exam day, from the beginning of that semester we were told to form a group of fifteen students, pick a organisation or company that has some kind of public relation issue. we did series of public presentation in front of the whole class, each group presented their chosen organisation or company and the reason they chose that specific company for their practical, if it is approved then each group can proceed to compose a proposal that consist of how they intend to solve the public relations issues the company/Organisation was struggling with.
But the proposal is a little tricky, each group was asked to follow a specific model of solving PR issues which could be found in our HOD textbook. My group chose Nine step of solving public relations issue by Smith. My group chose OGTV as our client and we prepared our proposal which was composed by me. before the exam day, I shared copies of the printed proposal to each student so that they can read it ahead of the coming exam. We all knew it will definitely come out in the exam but we don't know how it will be asked.
On the exam day which was our last paper, everyone was in a celebration mood, the last paper for the completion of Higher national diploma. though we were still a little wary of the last paper, it was a 3 unit course and it has broad subjects. Knowing the kind of practical we did for that course everyone was trying to memorise the content of the proposal. there was a girl in my group named Anita, though she participated in the practical but still having some difficulties memorising every details of the practical proposal.
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We went to the notice board to check our sitting arrangements for the exam and she found out that we were going to sit in the same hall, she informed me about it and asked me if I will be willing to assist her in case she forgets any information in the proposal in the exam hall, I promise her I would. though It was risky but what she was asking for was not huge, all she needs is a hint for her to remember what she might have forgotten because the practical proposal written for that course is almost 6 pages which is a little tasking for her to memorise all of it
There is a popular saying that says "we plan but the lord execute". it was a morning paper but the hall where our matric number was posted to is known to have less invigilators, so we were confident that we will find a way to sit close to one another. On getting to the hall, we dropped our belongings outside and line up to get checked in. Anita was standing in the front while I was standing at her back. I was few steps away when I noticed the presence of an external invigilator. I can't remember his name anymore but this man has particular hatred for men with a lot of hair. the moment I saw him I knew I was in trouble and the plan to help Anita was finished.
I should have barbed my hair before that day but I felt like since it is just one paper left there shouldn't be a problem. at the entrance of the hall, I have already seen student being plucked out of the line by this man, immediately he saw me, he plucked me out immediatelyπ . seeing what happened, I looked back at Anita, her facial expression shows she was distabilized. Any student caught by this man, is either you go back home to barb your hair or forfeit the exam for that day or he might feel pity for you after wasting a lot of your time
I was not scared because I knew there is no way I'm forfeiting my last paperπ, so I went to my project supervisor who happens to be the current Dean of our department, he came and pleaded on my behalf, he also released other students because he realised that was our last paper which happens to be 3 unit course any mistake or delay could lead to extra year. I got inside the exam hall, where I was placed I couldn't even notice where Anita was. At that moment I was not really concerned about it because I have wasted about 20 minutes already. so I had to rush to make up for the time I have lost.
Just like we expected the question one was a compulsory question and it was all about the practical proposal but what we did not expect was that, the lecturer would ask us to write the entire proposal in the exam. it was really challenging even for me. I kept writing till the time was up, though I have finished answering all the questions required but I couldn't shake the feeling that I could still write more despite the fact that I have written enough π
After the exam I didn't see Anita, she must have finished early. I got home and called her to know how the exam was because I felt a little guilty for what happened, she responded and said it was fine, I guess she must have realised the situation was beyond my control, so what happened did not really affect our relationship because after the exam she gave me research project to do for her which she paid an hefty sum of money for.
This write-up was inspired by weekly featured content titled "A broken promise" in hive learners community.