The shame of repeating class forced me to be more serious –Onyeka Okoronkwo, 2012/2013 UNICAL best graduating student

The best graduating student of University of Calabar, Cross River State, in the 2012/2013 academic session, Okoronkwo Onyeka, 27, finished with 4.62 CGPA from the Department of Human Kinetics & Health Education.

What was your dream as a child?

My dream was to be a medical doctor because I love the act of saving lives. Beyond the appearance of doctors and the respect people have for them, which also fascinate me anyway, each time I see doctors, I admire them and it boosts my passion the more.

How then did you end up in education field?

I waited for admission for a long time, and even when I passed the Unified Matriculation Examination, I had nobody to help me with the admission. So, my dad suggested that my sister and I should go through college of education, and we went to one in Abuja where I studied Biology just because I wanted something close to medicine. With that, we both entered the University of Calabar through Direct Entry. But I was not given Biology. My sister also wanted to study Biology but she ended up with Chemistry while I ended up reading Human Kinetics and Health Education.

Why did you choose the course?

Actually, a lecturer in the department advised me to take it since it is related to the Biology and Medicine that I wanted. I never thought of Education and it was never on my list before then. Initially, I didn’t like it, in fact, I cried when I was offered the course because I saw it as stressful. I had to compel myself to take it seriously and develop interest in it since that was what I was offered. I later loved the fact that it was health-related but I didn’t like the early morning exercise that we did. However, if given the opportunity, I would still like to have a degree in Medicine.

How good were you in your elementary and secondary schools?

I was an average student during my primary and the early years of my secondary education. My mum used to complain and even punished me sometimes because of my performance. She denied me certain things; she didn’t allow me play with my friends during holidays, considering how much children would like to play in their neighbourhood during holidays, so, I felt the restraint and I tried harder.

What was the turning point?

Things changed when I got to JSS 2 and I was told to repeat that class. The rule then was that anyone who didn’t pass either Mathematics or English would repeat, so, I failed Mathematics and I had to repeat that class. I even wanted to change to another school because of the shame but my parents refused. It was so painful being in the same class with my juniors, but I got over it and became serious. So, the shame made me take my studies seriously and I worked hard till I started leading my class. Even my parents were surprised and they were very happy.

How easy was it passing your Senior Secondary Certificate Examination and UME?

It was not easy. I wrote SSCE three times because some of my papers were seized twice and I couldn’t seek admission. I wrote UME twice and I could not even use it because I went to College of Education where it was not a yardstick for admission.

Did you plan to be the best graduating student in your set?

Yes. I had it in mind and I consciously worked towards it, but I had some fears that I might not be given the honour, because I knew that some schools deny students of such feats. But thank God, UNICAL is not like that. I decided to excel in any course I was given. That decision helped me.

When did you start leading your class?

It was from my first year in the university, which was my 200 Level since I was a Direct Entry student. I had above 4.6 and I maintained that until I finished. I enjoyed exercise, Physiology in particular. The most challenging for me was Anatomy. But I thank God for the success.

Did your parents encourage/reward you for good performance in any way?

Yes, every good performance was accompanied with cash gifts. Though, I didn’t work hard because of the money they were going to give me, because it wasn’t even constant, and I never knew when it would come. It didn’t propel me in any way, but I knew I had to make them happy.

What time did you enjoy reading?

Midnight, because I could easily be distracted by people moving around or making noise during the day. So, I loved it when people were asleep. And I read less during exam period because I would have read very well earlier, so, what I did mostly during exam was revision. Some people used to tell me that I looked fatter during exam, but it was because I had read earlier when others were playing.

How often did you use the school library?

I used the library like three times a week, but I preferred reading in the hostel at night, because many people would have gone to night class and because of the population there, it would be like a market square. So, the hostel they left would be very quiet and comfortable for some of us to read.

Were you involved in other school activities?

I was not very involved in other school activities; it was basically my academics and maybe church. However, I attended some social gatherings but I made up for that by reading while others were asleep. Then, I went out to play during my own leisure because I didn’t want any distraction, so, I was careful how I associated with people.

How did you handle peer pressure from your friends or colleagues?

They used to accuse me of not associating with them. Some also said I used to hide in the bush to read, and that my head was bringing out ‘smoke’ because of over-reading. Actually, I knew what I wanted and I remained focused, which also saved me from some gestures people would have extended to me.

What was your happiest moment?

My happiest moment was when it was confirmed to me few days to the convocation ceremony that I was the overall best graduating student. I was so happy, I told my husband, parents and everyone who should know and we all celebrated it. However, it was painful that I couldn’t make it to the ceremony because it was during my youth service programme and I was pregnant, in fact, I was very heavy then, so I couldn’t make it because of the stress.

What are your future plans and aspirations?

I plan to further my education and become a young professor in my area of discipline.

Where would you like to work?

I will like to teach people at a higher level or be a renowned lecturer, because I love to teach others. Even while I was in school, my friends used to tell me that they understood things better when I taught them, and that used to make me happy. So, I’m considering that option.

How easy was it to graduate with first class honours?

It was not easy to pass through different lectures and excel in all of them. It involved attending all lectures and being there early enough, following instructions to detail, reading a lot and having serious-minded people around you. Also, I slept less, read more and mapped out time to teach others, thereby learning more in the process.

What is your advice to students?

Students should learn not to belittle any course given to them but take them seriously, attend all lectures and avoid anything that could make them not concentrate.

Tweet