My journey:From the Gates of UniAbuja to the World of Biology

The dust of Gwagwalada hung in the air, a familiar yet distinct scent that marked the beginning of something I wasn't entirely sure I was ready for. It was January 3rd, 2024. While most of the world was still settling into the rhythms of a new year, I was standing at the threshold of a new life. My legs felt heavy as they touched the earth of the University of Abuja. It was a vast expanse of land, a maze of buildings and pathways that felt like they belonged to someone else’s story, not mine. I stood there for a moment, the weight of the unknown pressing down on me. I didn't know a single soul in this sprawling institution. No familiar faces to wave to, no friends to share the nervous excitement with. I was, in every sense of the word, totally lost. Behind me, I could hear the steady, reassuring footsteps of my mother and sister. But the comfort of family was quickly overshadowed by the harsh reality of the transition. As the heat of the day intensified, so did the pressure. I couldn't help it—the tears started to fall. The sheer scale of everything, the uncertainty of my future, and the feeling of being an outsider in my own life became too much to bear. My sister, never one for much patience, didn't hold back. Her voice cut through my sobbing, sharp and demanding. "You can't do anything right!" she snapped, her frustration boiling over as we navigated the hectic campus. "You're just an ajebutter. If you don't act sharp and smart, you will suffer in this school. You need to work fast!" The Hostel Reality Check The next day marked a different kind of beginning. It was time to move into the hostel. I packed my clothes—so many clothes—and a mountain of supplies, feeling a strange mix of excitement and dread. I had never lived away from home. Not even for a night. Thankfully, my sister was in her final year. She became my reluctant guide, the one who would bridge the gap between my "ajebutter" life and the grit of UniAbuja. We spent hours dusting and arranging our small room, but the real shock came when she looked at me with a knowing smirk. "Now," she said, "it's time to fetch water." I blinked, confused. "Fetch water? Is there no toilet? Are there no taps in the room?" She laughed. "You must be joking. There is no running water here. Welcome to hostel life, Nimmat. You have to go and fetch water if you want to bathe tomorrow." The "ajebutter" in me was screaming, but the student in me had no choice. I followed her to the Courtyard, a central hub teeming with girls and plastic buckets. That night, the lessons continued. My sister brought out a kerosene stove. At home, we used gas. I didn't even know how to fix the wicks—the "ropes," as I called them. "You have to fix in the ropes," she commanded. I was totally lost. I had to beg her to show me before she left for her night classes. She fixed it, pumped it, and when the flame roared to life, I was mesmerized. We fried eggs with sardines and ate bread and tea. It was a simple meal, but it felt like a survivalist's feast. The Land of the Free The next morning, the real test began. "Time for your screening," my sister announced, waking me up early. She had her own final-year lectures, so for the first time, I was on my own. I took my things to the toilet, but the sight that met me was horrifying. It was so messed up I ran back out, only to find a group of girls fighting right outside the room. I was stunned. This was madness. My sister just laughed. "Welcome to the land of the free," she said. She explained that if I wanted to make it to school on time, I couldn't wait for the toilets to be cleaned. I had to bathe outside. My heart sank. I was so shy, so exposed. I threw on my sports bra and washed as fast as I could, certain that every eye was on me. It was the first time I had ever done something so public, and I felt every bit of my "ajebutter" skin crawling. The Screening Ordeal "Tell the Keke man 'Faculty of Science,'" my sister instructed. I grabbed my files and hurried out. When I arrived, the line was a monster. It stretched further than I could see. Hundreds of 100-level students were gathered, some having arrived as early as 6:00 AM. I stood in that line for two hours, and I wasn't even close to the front. This cycle repeated for two weeks. After my sister was done with her lectures, she came over to my faculty and was met with the sight of chaos , finally decided we should go home. "This is not working," she said. "We'll come back another day." I was angry, frustrated, and feeling the weight of the system. I finally called my dad, and the situation escalated. He called my uncle, and soon they were both involved. My father was mean about it he didn't understand why it was taking so long. He screamed at me, demanding to know why my screening wasn't done. It was only after my uncle's intervention the "connection" I needed that the screening was finally carried out. That was my first real lesson about the University of Abuja. It’s a place where things don’t just happen because you’re there. You need patience, you need grit, and sometimes, you need "connections" or money to make the wheels turn. Without them, you’re just another face in a never-ending line. I was learning, the hard way, that being a Biology student wasn't just about the science in the books it was about the science of survival in a system that didn't care if you were "sharp" or not. Finding My Besties It was during one of those hectic days, while riding in a Keke, that everything changed. Two girls were sitting next to me, talking about school. My sister, who was with me that time, overheard them and asked, "Are you both in Science Biology?" They said yes. My sister immediately looked at them and said, "Please, she's my sister. She doesn't know anywhere in this school. She doesn't know what to do." The girls looked at me. One was Rebecca, and the other was Asmau. From that moment on, they became my right and left hands. We exchanged numbers, and suddenly, I wasn't alone anymore. The very next day at 12:00, they called me. "Are you ready for class?" I didn't even know we had a class! I scrambled to pack my bags and rushed to join them. My very first lecture was Math 101. I was so confused. "Why are we doing Math?" I asked Rebecca. "I thought this was Biology!" She laughed and explained that as a 100-level student, I had to take these foundational courses. When I got back to the hostel, my sister just laughed at my frustration. "You're a 100-level student, nimmat. Of course you're going to carry out borrowed courses in your first year”. The Broad World of Biology As the weeks turned into months, I started to realize that Biology wasn't just the "boring" subject I thought it was. It was a massive, beautiful world. I learned about Microbiology, Genetics, and so much more. I realized that Biology is like the "head" , it encompasses everything. We study plants (Botany), animals (Zoology), and microorganisms. We take courses that are entire degrees for other people! I survived 100 level. I studied hard, the exams went well, and I came out with very good results—even getting A's in subjects like Math that I used to fear. 200 Level: The Current Challenge Now, I am a 200-level student. People might think I've been here for four years because of how much I've learned, but it's only my second year. And let me tell you—it has been "hell crazy." The higher you go, the harder it gets. This year, the "Math" demon returned in the form of Statistics. I was so pissed when I heard we had to take it. I'm not a fan of Math, and Statistics is a different kind of beast. You have to understand the logic before you solve; once you miss a step, you've missed it all. It’s stressful, it’s broad, and it’s a constant challenge. But I'm doing it. I'm writing my way through it by God's grace. A Message to Those Coming After Me Looking back at that girl who cried on January 3rd, I see how much I've grown. Biology is a tough course. It’s a combination of so many difficult fields, and it will test you every single day. My advice to anyone starting this journey is this: It’s going to be difficult. It’s going to be challenging. You will cry. But one thing I know for sure is that it’s going to be fine. No matter how stressful it is, no matter how much you want to run back to your "ajebutter" life. You can't escape the hardships, but you can pray and you can push. Everything is a step. Just take what life throws at you, and eventually, the path becomes wider, brighter, and easier. I am Nimmat, a 200-level Biology student at the University of Abuja, and this is only the beginning of my story.

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