Getting into college was a fresh and incredibly positive start in my life. It was a journey I'd so much made up my mind to embark on till the very end.
It was a challenge connecting with different classes of individuals, and adapting to their expectations. I guess I was too afraid to be looked down on, or maybe I wasn't brilliant enough for them.
College was more of a "Do as you please" thing, and no one was ever going to question or interfere with your business. All that ever mattered to me was to navigate every stage of my academic pursuit, so I sought a circle of friends who would support and sustain that focus till the very end.
I met a group of five students who were unfailingly punctual for classes, consistently occupying the front row, and I had a deep longing to be included in their company.
All I needed was just to tag along, and not necessarily come up with "Hi! I want to be included in your circle."
And yeah, I tagged along, but it was difficult to understand these people. Most times, I felt disconnected because my opinions never really counted. Their conversations were uninteresting to engage in, and I felt I wasn't carried along just as much as they did with themselves.
At that moment, I experienced a longing to disconnect from them and associate with a new circle. And wow, I met the unbelievable ones. Those that would consistently call you to secure a seat for you, and still not come early. Or maybe those you'd reach out to for assignment updates, only to hear that they plan to copy from others tomorrow.
I got exhausted and pissed over making sacrifices for people who wouldn't do the same for you. "I have the option to journey solo," I quietly contemplated to myself.
I became alone, as I traversed the path to my exam period independently. I guess that's the period my life took another fresh start. I met someone, just the right person, and we clicked.
We increased to four, but along the way, two withdrew, yet we persevered and kept our stride. Then I realized I didn't necessarily have to get on with three, four, five, and six to form a meaningful bond. Just one person could've been enough.
The academic challenges intensified, but our resilience grew stronger. Our friendship went beyond the academic realm, encompassing joy and indelible recollections.
One of those memories was the local masquerades in our area consistently attempting to intimidate students into giving them money through their terrifying appearances. I get so frightened when I see them, but Claudia wouldn't mind making her way out of their midst.
"See guy, just bone your face and pass, and they won't do you anything," she said.
"But they are requesting for money. Do you have money to give to them as you want to pass?" I asked.
"Me I will just tell them that if they turn me upside down, nothing will fall out. I don't have money to give to them," she replied.
I knew she could stride through their midst to school as she could be very dauntless, but the faces of the fearsome masquerades wielding long sticks got me shaking and unable to move.
"See, these people are with long sticks. Don't you think they'd hit us if we pass like that?" I shakily asked. I was scared and it was apparent.
"You know what? I'll see you in school," she said, as she fearlessly walked through their gathering, wearing an intense frown of utmost depth. I just couldn't watch her leave, I followed her almost immediately, wearing the same frown, but I guess mine wasn't intense cause I got stopped, and it was crazy.
"I don't have money, please let me pass," I boldly said. No one could tell how badly my heart raced and my feet quivered. And then It got even more intense when they weren't letting me go.
"Me I will cry for you people. If you turn me upside down, you'd find nothing on me," I said as tears welled up in my eyes. And just maybe, they had emotions, cause they were out of my way.
There were times I almost felt like giving up. I know I should have grown tougher and stronger at every challenge I was faced with, but I lost the strength to carry on and felt like I had nothing to hold onto.
Then I encountered amazing people who made me feel alive and great. Then I also realized I'd gone too far from where I started, and I didn't believe that I'd come this far, only to want to give up.
One of the times, Claudia got me giggling with her words.
"See guy, on our last paper, we would make a grand to the exam hall so everyone would take notice of us. It isn't easy," she said.
"It's not me and you. So that they'd separate us, abi?" I replied.
It's incredible to see how much I've achieved in life. I'm grateful for the five years well spent. There were times I cried, there were times I felt I should discontinue and other times I felt mad at everyone in my department. It was crazy but against all odds, I scaled through beautifully and amazingly.
To 
Unto The Next!!!
photo is mine