Last month, my fellow Corp members and I went to a school which is a PPA (Place Of Primary Assignment) for some of our corp member. We had earlier deliberated on a topic suitable for students who are between the ages of 12 and 18, which mostly includes those in secondary school.
After a lot of suggestions from other Corp members at the meeting, we decided on the topic "Adolescence," which is the stage between being a child and becoming fully mature.
When we got to the school, we met with the principal and some staff members. Then, he had a meeting with us for a brief moment.
The young man welcomed us warmly and also asked a few questions, especially how many of us there were, so he could package something for us after the sensitization. He also asked about the time we would spend, and our provost gave him an answer.
However, the teachers organized the students according to their classes, especially the students in the senior secondary schools, which range from JSS 3 to SS3 students.
We started with an opening prayer, which was led by one of the school staff, then the corpers went forward, facing the students and staff, to recite the national anthem, NYSC anthem, national pledge, and the national prayer, respectively.
Afterward, we introduced ourselves one after the other, followed by the staff. The AGS addressed everyone and gave a brief description of what NYSC stands for and the reason for the visit to the students. Then he called upon the first speaker to take over the stage.
We had two speakers representing the medical and health sub-CDs for that day. The first speaker was a female. She pointed out the different transformations that usually occur in a girl child while growing into an adult, such as breast development, menstruation, and the signs that take place.
She also emphasized how to maintain monthly period flow as a newbie, Attraction from the opposite sex occurs when their bodies are developing and when they are fully developed. She also talked about how to communicate with boys and how to keep themselves away from them.
Her teaching was so inspiring and interesting. The girls were giggling while the lecture was going on, and some of the male students who were present couldn't hold back their laughter because it sounded funny, although it was very knowledgeable to them.
After the female Corper ended her lecture about adulthood in girls, she stepped down from the stage while we gave her a round of applause. The AGS (Assistant General Secretary) had already made sure to write the points on the board for the students to copy into their notebooks.
The AGS addressed everyone, including the Corp members, before the male Corper climbed the stage to deliver his own lecture as well. His main focus was on male students who are already growing into adulthood.
He lectured the students, especially the males, about certain expectations they should consider as they grow up. He talked about erections, wet dreams, physical body changes, the growth of hair on certain parts of the body, attractions to the opposite sex, changes in voice, body cleanliness, dressing, and so forth.
He also advised them to focus on their studies, achieve their dreams and ambitions. Finally, the AG came to the stage to ask questions, thank the students for their cooperation, and thank the school management for accepting us.
He also encouraged the students to focus on their studies while taking care of their bodies physically, mentally, psychologically, spiritually, and so forth, stating that as one is entering adulthood, the reality of life starts, along with challenges such as financial and emotional management.
We ended the meeting by singing the NYSC national anthem; a student prayed, and then we all moved outside the classroom blocks to take pictures.
The school principal gave our class a sum of 10,000 naira as a token, and he asked a female teacher to serve us drinks and snacks. We ate and took more pictures before everyone was dismissed.
Adulting is a gradual process. When I was growing up, I thought I would have everything I desired on a platter of gold, that everything I wished for would come easy until I turned 15, when responsibility mounted and I felt like going back to being a child. That stage was easy and fun too, but it came with lots of pressure, anticipation, anxiety, and new behaviors. Even though I'm older now, I still wish to go back to my teenage days again.
(All pictures are taken with an iPhone camera)
