A Good Month to go Home
Ask any Nigerian student what February is known for and their reply won't be “the month of love”.
Instead, the month has been defined as the period when schools are shut down with an uncertain time of return.
In 2020, it was COVID-19 which extended into 2021 due to the 9 months ASUU strike.
In 2022, it was the 8 months ASUU strike.
The year is 2023 and once again, we've been asked to go home today.
The reason? Nigeria national elections holding this Saturday, 25th February.
Before now, I've been a fan of these intermittent breaks in between my program.
But what I've never supported was the length of these breaks especially the ones that were due to ASUU strikes.
This is because they unnecessarily extended my stay in medical school (I was meant to leave in 2021).
The current break is meant to end on 14th March according to the directive from the National Universities Commission (NUC).
Once the break ends, I have two confirmed tests waiting for me - senior surgery end of block posting test and dermatology test.
There are also other tests I should be expecting - senior medicine end of block posting test, opthalmology and orthopaedics tests.
This means that I don't get to observe any break.
Instead, I am supposed to dig deep into my books while I prepare for the thread of tests waiting for me when I return.
But, there's a challenge…
Since my year 1, I always told myself that anything that makes me spend time outside school, I will use it to focus on other things not school related.
With this break, I can't afford to do that.
I have to come up with a game plan to make me academically productive throughout this break even if it means dropping some other things.
So help me God.