And the prestigious department of linguistics honoured me!
They bestowed in me a reason to uphold the dignity of linguistics and it's pride till death and even after death.
They restored in me the joys of serving my home department!
I could remember the first day I stepped my feet into the department building. How anxious I was and how I felt my mission in school would be basically academics. I knew my condition, a hustler's mission and neither was I ready to jeopardize that mission with too many activities.
But I was quick to forget that I was born a leader. That in my secondary school days I served as class prefect and sanitary prefect.
I was quick to forget that even if I'm not the ceremonial head, I always have the urge to fix things and make them right.
I was quick to forget that no matter how hard I hid it, my calling would always push me forth.
Then the role came to me and I thought it was going to be for a short while, neither did I know that it was a call to servitude! A call to tremendous impact.
I emerged the assistant class rep and I thought I was going to be free of the stress and burden of the class rep neither did I know that it was just the ceremonial title.
I could recall once the class advocated to replace the class rep but I fought against that because the title does not best describe the titleholder but the achievements and hardworks speak more of the titleholder.
This award is a pure significance of my relevance, impact, allegiance, leadership and love that I have shown to my class and my department at large.
And from the bottom of my heart, I release my gratitude and heartfelt joy and thankfulness for all those who kept themselves for me to serve. Without the class, there is no representative. All those who supported by mission and encouraged me when some actions got me angry.
I am very proud of my Department, 015 students, Faculty of Arts and University of Uyo.
I am Itoro Archibong and leadership is my calling!
