First year students: universities are not honeymoon zones

By Joseph Basoga

Five extremely excited first year young ladies meet in front of a University main building. Soon, you hear earsplitting screeches, as their euphonious and tuneful voice boxes release thrilled noises.

Shortly after they offer tight hugs, and enfold so tight and screams continue.

Shortly after, they pull out huge china galaxy phones in all colors.

Some hot pink, others light green, and many more other female craze colors like lemon chiffon, Navajo white   antique white etc. 

Shortly after, selfies are taken, before they finally settle down to share more updates ranging from room numbers, courses offered, who made it and who did not ..Pheww!! The list is endless.

They are making the first stride into a 2-5 year long journey that will shape their future.

For some, it is dream come true. For those who did not attain their dream courses, usually Law, Medicine or Engineering it looks like a dead dream.

As I write this, I envision both beaming and sullen faces of young men and women, aimlessly walking in and out of lecture halls, some too flabbergasted at the amount of freedom they can afford. Let me stop zigzagging and hit the nail deep; Freedom is never free, it is earned.

Stop looking at Anne’s wardrobe! It may not be probably true that her dad is Uganda’s Ambassador to the China, but may be Anne’s sugar dad can afford sh150,000 for down town shopping.
So it is ok for you to maintain your two flowered dresses that where sewn from your grandmas spare Kitenge fabric.

The difference is not what you wear now, it is the focus on what you want to be in future and remember your University is not a fashion school.
Word! “He who trims himself to suit everyone will soon whittle and sculpt himself away” Hull Raymond,

And for you Musa, there is no way you will afford to buy chips and chicken for Sumaya every day after Isha Prayers.

I know you love her, but her mom Zainabu who operates two shops in Kikuubo finds it hard to spend even half the full amount on this item.

Hajj Farouk Kayondo expects a degree in Hotel Management from you, to enable you manage the restaurant in Kawempe and another in Munyonyo, a business that will sustain your 4 mothers and 28 siblings.

Sure every Friday Hajj sends you to shop groceries for the restaurant using his Probox plated UAS 066V.

Sumaya is aware that you pack at the university mosque, to show off.

Isha Allah (Arabic for God willing) you might win the first round of this but it is all in vain.

Word! The speed of the human mind is remarkable. So is its inability to face the obvious. Denial isn’t just a river in Egypt. - Mark Twain

Dear Magemeso, congratulations upon making it to the MDD (Music Dance and Drama) class.

You are 6th person from Nawampiti SSS to make it to University.

Muna Magemeso, University “is not a joking subject”. I don’t care whether your next roommate Danton Shawn from Busoga College Mwiri is a medical student or one studying aeronautic engineering.

Did you even know you are luckier to be admitted on government sponsorship?

Hey! Listen to me. Michael Jackson was one of the most famous musical artists in history whose estate currently has a net worth of $600 million while the average salary for an Aeronautical Engineer is just $77,411 per year.

Besides Uganda has not yet acquired an airline but has 33 million people waiting to buy your service.

You have clients at weddings and funerals, Music is required at night and during office hours, and no one wants to spend a weekend without your service.

You are as marketable as Engineer Danton. So Muna, concentrate, give it your best shot, specialize more and become the best. Word! There is no bad course at University.

Society has varying demands and we are all gifted differently to make the world a better place.

It is your turn Prosper dear, Praise the Loooorrd!!  Oh we thank God you made it/ by the way how was chapel and choir and worship night and …prayer meeting.

And….what else? Prosper learn to balance your time. Give to Ceaser what is Caesar’s. The bible commands you in 1 Thessalonians 4; 11-12 “To make it your ambition ….to work with your hands, as we charged you, 12 So that you may bear yourselves becomingly and be correct and honorable and command the respect of the outside world, being dependent on nobody [self-supporting] and having need of nothing.”

So honey, take your books seriously even as you pray hard.

Word! Help comes from above, but exams are made in class. You need both.

Okay, because of time tomorrow we will talk to you Oketayot and Oriongor, I’m worried that the part-time jobs you got in Arua Park might affect your grades.

If you can’t balance both study and work.

Then my daughter Namyaalo, the fact that you are professor Myaalo’s daughter does not make you a first class material.

Then you Rakesh, Muktal and Patel, life is not just about business, study hard, and finally Prince Gundi, you are a better royal if you can communicate to your subjects all over the world with knowledge.

The writer is the Communications and Marketing Manager at Uganda Christian University and a Lead Partner at EL-communications Consultancy