The Truth They Never Told Us: Unmasking University Life

I don't know if it's just me, but I feel like we've all been lied to Lied to by the movies we grew up watching, The stories they told us, The dreams they sold us. They said university would be fun. They painted it with bright lights, wild parties, romantic flings, and “freedom.” They made it look like a dreamland Where people strolled into 8 a.m. classes with full makeup, Laughed and partied all day with their squad, and still somehow aced their exams. But the truth is… university is hard. And not just academically, it's emotionally, mentally, physically, and financially draining. In many African homes, university is more than a phase,it’s a status symbol.Parents wear it like a badge: “My child is in university.” Society claps for you, celebrates you.But no one asks how you’re really doing inside. Before you even get into the university, there's JAMB.And for those who don’t pass it the first time, the shame feels unbearable.You were tagged:”Not serious”“Not smart enough”“Not ready”You begin to feel like a failure. Some parents won’t even hide their disappointment.Some, because they expect you to study a course they choose for you,and not even caring about your dreams or what you desire to study.People start to measure your worth by a score. Nobody talks about the emotional toll of trying again and again, just to “make it.” Then when you finally gain admission,you realize… this isn’t the dream you were sold. Early morning lectures. Crowded lecture halls. Stressful lecturers. And the constant race to boost your CGPA. You have to fight for everything: attendance, materials, sanity. You're expected to balance it all: Reading till 3 a.m. Rushing to 8 a.m. lectures. Battling with handouts and overpriced textbooks. Coping with poor facilities, ASUU strikes, and sometimes, no electricity to even read. And let’s not forget the emotional part. University is a lonely place if you don't have your circle. There’s pressure to “belong.” To look a certain way. To be in a relationship. To have it all figured out. But the truth is… most people are just pretending. You see cliques everywhere, and you wonder if you’ll ever find yours. Some days, it feels like everyone has someone,except you. You begin to doubt yourself. You start to shrink. And the freedom everyone hyped so much? It’s a test. Because now, you are your own accountability.No parents to chase you to study. No one to tell you to avoid distractions. Just you… and your choices. Some students are battling depression. Some are silently dropping out. Some are selling things, doing side hustles, struggling to eat, just to survive. And then there are those silent, ugly parts no one talks about: Lecturers asking for sex-for-grades. Corruption. Oppression. Disrespect. We rarely hear those stories. But they are real. And let’s not even get started on life after school…A system that promises you “a better life” with your degree, Only to hand you an NYSC certificate… and no job in sight. Suddenly, it hits you: You should’ve learnt a skill. You should’ve started that business. Because Nigeria doesn’t owe you anything. But this is not a write-up to scare you. It’s not to discourage you either. It’s to tell the truth no one ever told us. University life is not just books and grades.It’s an emotional battlefield. It’s a phase that tests your mind, your maturity, your morals. So if you're in school right now..Trying. Struggling. Crying. Smiling. Fighting to keep going Because university may break you in many ways, But it will also make you. So maybe it’s time we stop glamorizing university life. Maybe it’s time we start telling the truthNot to scare people, but to prepare them. And if no one has told you this yet, Here it is: You’re doing your best, and that’s enough.Because behind every smiling student is a story. A struggle. A silent war. And if you’re reading this? You're already winning. "For every student out there silently struggling… this one’s for you. 💪🏾 <a class="tc-blue external-link external-link external-link" href="https://twocents.space/insights/tag/thetruththeynevertoldus" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#TheTruthTheyNeverToldUs</a>"

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