The memory is beginning to feel a little blurry but the thrills remains. It has been awhile since I graduated from school but there is a saying; once a student, always a student. The statement refers to the memories that remains within, not just the knowledge of it but the body remembering the excitement.
Being celebrated for academic excellence might not really mean much for this present generation of students, since achieving academic excellence is suddenly becoming what money could buy. During my time in school, to achieve academic excellence in any part, you will have to bleed for it.
It was like war in those days, having the dream was not enough to achieve it, we strive with every muscle just to prove our academic intelligence. The worst part was that, the more I tried, the more I discovered more students that are far more intelligent than I'm and I'm like; are this people even humans.
I once met a lady who was capable of memorising an entire chapter in a textbook, word for word without excluding any punctuation, this were the kind of people also in pursuit of academic achievements, with many more with gifts that you would consider a miracle or some kind of superpower.
Throughout my life as a student, I have been opportune to achieve some height in academics, especially during my days in secondary school. In the era when students are celebrated for being best student in a specific subject, Higher institution was a different story. It was like an ocean filled with extraordinary students, things like scoring highest score in a particular subject doesn't really attract any form of celebration, only things like having distinction, well I didn't have that lol.
Speaking of academic achievements that stood out for me was as a result of my participation in an activity I was extremely good at during my higher institution days. Being a broadcast student does have its advantages but it doesn't come cheap. We do lot of practical related assignment depending on the course. I was never really opportune to become SUG or departmental president during my time but you see leading practical groups, I had plenty of it.
There were two of these practicals that took me to places I never expected. One of it was a practical assignment for an advertising course. Which involves creating a practical advert video, radio jingle commercial and magazine advert design for any brand, products or services. We were divided into groups, I was chosen as the head of the group based on group members vote, this group includes a total number of 33 students.
We shared ourselves into different departments just to make the advert practical more easier, I was in the research and client finding department. We set out in groups to request the approval of different companies to use their brand or product for an advert practical, which will be solely funded by us.
As a result of this practical I was privileged to meet three hotel managers, two of which are managers of two biggest hotels in Abeokuta, Conference and continental hotel. I worked so hard to convince them to set up a meeting with me, it wasn't easy but my persuasive techniques was good enough. The practical advertising TV commercial was recorded on the first week of January, my group members nearly cursed me but I had no choice. The deadline for the assignment was near, I just had to go through with it.
The practical assignment was done and to be sincere I was only after scoring good grades but the lecturer in charge had other plans for us. Three groups were selected to have the best advertising concept and my group was one of them. The presentation was done in one of the auditorium in my department, being called on stage to be appreciated for a job well done, I felt seen and honoured.
Apart from the things I was given, my group members that almost cursed me for my strict compliance to rules, eventually got me some of gift. They were happy too because they all got good practical grades. At that moment I realised, when people are against you for doing something, it doesn't mean what you are doing is wrong, they are just incapable of seeing the good in what you are doing at the moment but give them time, they will see it eventually.
This write-up was inspired by weekly prompt "What is your biggest academic win so far" in hive student connect community.
Cover image - 𝖣𝖾𝗌𝗂𝗀𝗇𝖾𝖽 𝗎𝗌𝗂𝗇𝗀 𝖼𝖺𝗇𝗏𝖺
Image 1 - All images used are mine except indicated otherwise
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