WHAT I WOULD DO DIFFERENTLY IF I WAS GOING TO NYSC SERVICE FOR THE FIRST TIME, BY TOSIN ADEGBEHINGBE. 2013 saw me arrive in Rivers State for my NYSC. Looking back now, I should have done some things differently. Many go to camp with little or no expectations, thinking that is all it takes to be a certified graduate but let me tell you there are more to it than just coming out a graduate. There are more to learn, know and put to practice as you go to camp. Camping as a graduate is a period of excitement; it is a period of decision making, and period of being focus on what you will do with your life after camp. Three weeks in camp can either make your life or mar your life forever so you have to be careful about how you spend your weeks in camp, follow as I highlight some of the major things I will do in camp assuming I have the opportunity to go back camping. First, I will try as much as taking my personal effects and toiletries this saves me a lot from borrowing from others, taking disinfectant with you as a lady is very important some of that toilet is not well kept so I have to use those things as my preventions against infections. Borrowing from co- corpers (I must tell you) it is really embarrassing, and buying them can be more expensive. I will take my beverages with me as I remember those days I could not eat the food prepared in the kitchen but thank God I took my beverages with me if not I would have gone hungry for days because even the food in mami market I could not eat it (save only on days when it was rice that was prepared). Also, i will take my credentials with me to camp. Forgetting your credentials at home is not a wise idea, making more photocopies of my credentials was really helpful. I met a couple of few people in camp those days and many promise to help with a job after my service and I appreciate that because I have already made copies of my credentials (it was such a beautiful opportunity). Apart from this, I will make sure that I overcome inferiority complex. I will not isolate myself from people. I was so particular about the friends we came together from my school, so it was the same old gist, old stories, old talks but nothing was actually new to talk about. So I chose to still maintain our friendship but make some other friends so that I will not be reserved to my own old perspectives about life. If I am to go back to camp again I will make new friends and learn from their own perspective of life. I will collect people contacts, meet with other people including camp officials and soldiers, try to know some things about the soldiers and officials. Some of the friends I made back then was of good help to me after camping. Learn the language, and be interested in the language of people you will be relating with for the next one year of your life. Furthermore, I will partake in most of the activities (but if you are unable to partake in most of the activities, you should be dedicated to a particular one you find interesting) like drama, singing at morning devotions, presentations, empowerment talk, dancing and including cooking in the kitchen. I will not be reserved to myself, these activities can help to discover yourself and help to know who you truly are. I learnt a lot of new cooking methods in the kitchen. I learn from some other corpers from other state. I am from Ondo state and I met with girls from cross rivers, rivers, and akwa ibom. We learn from each other and it was such an interesting time to spend. they discuss their own method of cooking a particular food in different ways ,how to make different dishes and all this I learnt in the kitchen so now I can cook Rivers food, hausa food, akwa ibom food igbo food even though am a Yoruba lady. Also I will attend all the lectures no matter how boring they are. Many times I will go to my room to be sleeping when I notice the lectures are getting bored, but my hostel mate will come and be saying they love the way that quest speaker talk about entrepreneurship and all that, then inside I will be asking why do I have to leave the hall? Many lectures can be boring but next time am sure there will be something to gain out of it. Also I will join a service unit in NCCF (Nigeria Christian corpers fellowship) I will serve God like never before, it is only God that can makes great. I will speak about my faith to people I will not hide my faith I know a couple of my friends that turn themselves into daughter of belial all in the name of free time in camp, I preach from hostels to hostels in camp I would love to do these again, I will not hide my believe in camp. Yeah, I will partake in the sporting activities in camp enjoy the excitement, Football, Races I tell you cannot know the extent of the exercised to your bodies until after camp you will enjoy it, I love sport I ran for platoon 3 those days and we came second position it is nice especially those frog jump I like it . In addition, I will be sensitive to the people around me not all of these people you come across in camp have to be my friend I was able to distinguish them each person i meet I classified them are this casual friends? Are these advisers? Are these devil incarnates? Are these life time friends? Are these agent of devils you must be sensitive. I will not be in a rush to enter into relationship many want to use the period of 3 weeks to get their Mr. Right or Mrs. right it is good to look out for partners in camp is not bad but you need to start on a friendship levy. I know a couple of people doing camp boyfriends and girl friend but know that what camp has brought together posting will separate them. In addition I will use my free time to do creative thinking instead of gisting around I will make sure there is time for everything, time to sleep I sleep not pressing phone making me to be feel lazy to stand up for morning parade, time to make friends, time for church, time to attend lectures, time to do activities I will organize myself more in camp Finally, if I were you I will take my personal effectS with me, meet people, attend lectures engage in activities, and use all my free time wisely. I will spend my money wisely (notwithstanding that there are a lot of stuffs in the mami market) because lack of discipline will waste your money. NYSC orientation camp is a once in a life time experience, I will maximize it next time I have the opportunity. Dear SBNS READERS: If you have done your NYSC service year, what other advice would you give this new set of corpers?
Posted on: Sun, 03 Aug 2014 21:32:18 +0000