FACTS YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT SECOND SEMESTER by Joseph Laughter Salako (HighFlyers).

It's a popular myth that second semester is usually shorter than it's counterpart, first semester. For reasons I honestly don't know of, many students have held this belief, even from past generations till now. However, looking at the academic calendar of every semester, it's usually the same number of weeks, except for few instances where the school feels a need to add a week or max of three to the calendar.

So, the shortness of the semester, a myth we all have always had, isn't in its duration, but in the overwhelming activities that plague it.

First and foremost, it's almost a norm that most departments don't start serious activities until the third week of lectures. I'm not talking of the Sciences as those ones are usually more serious than others. These same departments who don't start out early, end up having their tests and assignments at the later part of the semester, from the 9th week and beyond. For some of us, that's like a good thing since we know we would read for tests and exams almost around the same time. Hence, we decide to be serious with academics around the 6th week and beyond. 

Now, for first semester, this is probably not a big deal as there aren't so many activities in it. Nevertheless, for second semester, it's a disaster to follow this schedule. Why?

Have you noticed that the semester is usually rigged with lots of activities such as: 

◼️Elections (departmental, faculty, indigenous organizations, and now, you all now have Great Ife Students' Union 🤗). Being politically aware is a very good thing, however, see how many BC's you've started seeing, when it's not even election period. If you're a contestant or if you belong to a contestant's team, see how many meetings you've had and will still have even before the election period. Now, when the election period itself comes, have you imagined how busy you really would be? I bet, you haven't. Now, guess when this would be! 😅 At the later end of the semester.

◼️Religious activities: almost all religious organizations on campus, especially fellowships, have one conference or the other this semester. You know the funny thing, all these fellowships' conferences are not organized only for their members but also for you, who still have where you worship, with your commitments there. You could have told yourself you wouldn't attend any other person's but when you consider the fact that you'd want to invite the same person to your fellowship's you'd see it as your responsibility to attend theirs. By the way, if you happen to love the invited guests/ministers of such conferences, you probably wouldn't even need to get an invite before you personally determine to attend. Now guess when these conferences come up! 🥱 At the later part of the semester.

◼️Departmental/Faculty Activities: Almost every department/faculty has one programme or the other they also organize every session, and these two almost always come up in second semesters. For some, it could be debates, quizzes, conferences, tours, etc. Some are usually presented captivatingly, like the annual Ife Accounting Summit (IAS), and due to the effect you think they would have on you, both inside and after school, you might be forced, by your own will, to attend. You obviously know when these hold too, don't you? 😅 At the later part of the semester.

◼️Social activities too. 

◼️Trips too (some for courses you're taking, which therefore make them mandatory).

◼️Other activities/conferences organized by different categories of people for different reasons : campus tour by Ibukun Awosika, Beyond Ife, Alpha Club week, Choice period by many fellowships 😹, etc.

May I say that, regardless of how introverted/boring you could be, at least, one of these listed/unlisted activities, would captivate you enough to the point of getting your attention. With all of these, the time you have to yourself in this semester is shorter than the norm.

Pardon me, I forgot to add that some of you have to attend academic tutorials too, HighFlyers, Peak, Best Brain and others, some of you even have rehearsals that you attend, paid trainings that you have to attend, businesses that you run, parties and shows to attend, are already elected leaders of some political/non-political organizations, hence, have to perform your activities and attend meetings, are freelancers, are members of SRC's and a couple of other organizations on campus, and many other stuffs I can't keep count off.

See, if you're not wise and decisive in handling your academics in this semester, before you say Jack Robinson, you're already in the exam hall. May we not gnash our teeth in regret!

Why all these?

It's just to advise you to take it easy on yourself. Attend tutorials, if you can. Start reading early and consistently (even if it's twice weekly or an hour to two daily) and make sure you try to avoid crash-reading as you used to do. For those who attend tutorials, don't miss them, since you know their positive impacts on your academics.

Don't forget that as much as we all shout and say iwe o matter (Education doesn't matter), a number of us will still end up needing this academic certificate in the future, either to get jobs or to get admitted into international universities for masters and PhD or to get promoted at one point or the other. 

Hence, you really don't want to set yourself on a more competitive edge than the world of job-seeking already is. 

Enjoy the semester!

By: Joseph Laughter Salako (HighFlyers).

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