As soon as I got down from my sister’s car and bade her bye, a chill air welled up in my body. My palms went sweaty and beads of sweat creased my forehead when I sighted the grim faces of the soldiers and their guns swaying in all directions from the mountains to my face. My sister had laughed her bowels full the day before when she saw me packing a big box, lunch bag, buckets and mosquito nets. She had served some years back and had her share of camp life but I was determined to turn mine into an “American fat camp” with all the preparations I had made.
I travelled for my shopping, got me a doctor’s report as an asthmatic patient, called my doctor to get me all the antiseptic soaps, sprays and liquids for any possible bacterial and fungal infections. I had carved my plans for camp like a total psycho scientist.
But as I walked down the road towards the gate, I feared I may never survive the walk as everything I thought I knew disappeared. I discarded the big bucket, lunch bag and shoved my handbag & mosquito net into my box as I was asked to carry my box on my head. I lifted the box and to my dismay after five steps, collapsed under the weight flat on my face.
The soldiers poked me with their batons and forced me up. I pleaded with them that I was asthmatic, showed them my report, before a kind soldier helped me with my box. After hours of clearance at the gate and confiscation of almost half of my belongings, I was led into a shabby, dirty and smelly bunk hall by an officer along with 19 other ladies. At this point, I knew I was alone in “This world”.
The 5am parades started, the yells, the seizing of items, the hot sun, Captain Ijapa’s punishment to sit on the floor and most importantly, the search for good food. I fed on cereals and junk that it felt like they would grow on my face and soon I grew tiresome and sick. My bunkmate, Titi was my angel from heaven. She got worried and on the third day, bought “Edikaikong Soup and Eba” from Mami market and made me eat it. The food was great! Really great! That changed my opinion about the Mami market and soon, we began buying our lunch from there in our food flasks because I could not stand the flies and dirty environment. We ate “Eforiro”, “Egusi” and “Ewedu” always with Eba. It tasted so good.
I was a compliant corps member but unfortunately, when I least expected it, I would get punished for wearing a sun glass, flying my T-shirt, or wearing a casual jacket. Due to the cold, I fainted about four times in camp and soon made friends among the doctors as I was often tucked in the ambulance in the mornings. The soldiers knew me and nicknamed me “Madam Foreigner” but it sounded like “Madanforena”.
The fire alarm drill at night was most annoying as it felt so real. I escaped with only my pajamas and phone with no slippers or jacket to cover. It was a splitting experience as I was so cold until my Platoon president; Adeleke sacrificed his blanket for me to cover up.
The carnival day came and the whole camp was in colors. I had participated in my Platoon and we did a cheer squad dance to one of Naija’s popular jams. Everyone looked so bright and colorful. Fun was simply an understatement.
As at the third week, I dreaded going back home. It felt like I had made a new home and it was simply too early to part ways although part of me was longing for a big soft cozy bed. I met amazing people and made friends that I would come to cherish for a lifetime. There in camp, I met John Okoro, Tayo Fagade, Wukeh Egem-Odey, Obinna Chukwudum, Ogech Nwobia and Ruth Apeh Ejuojuo who have now become the most amazing family I shared most of my precious and life changing moments of the past year with. We decided to form a Group of Patriotic Corpersdedicated to move Youth development, entrepreneurship and networking among Nigerian youths through the project #MentorMe which we worked during our service year as our personal community development project. We created a platform for youths especially corps members to come together to discuss business, listening to mentors who have succeeded in their area of expertise talk on the ups and downs of leadership, transparency, integrity and perseverance in Nigeria.
I have had a lot of amazing experiences as a serving corps member. A book won’t suffice me to tell it all. What tops my list of lessons learned is that NYSC uploaded its benefits into my soul and got me to learn to think! To be myself! It has taught me to endure, to take my challenges and create an opportunity for myself to find good in it.
What is your attitude to NYSC? What is your attitude to life? My father always said “Life will only give you the result that suits the preparation that you have made for yourself”. I may not be the most portrayed desired and upstanding corps member because I am called “The Ajebota Corper” but I went to camp and discarded my weak and fantasy mentality to search for the ultimate camp experience. After all, Nigeria is my home. NYSC is mandatory and whether I like it or not, I am Nigerian and my chances of succeeding here is higher than out there so I may as well start to master it before I am given the opportunity to lead it. What about you?
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