A ti lo, A ti de (we have gone and we are back)
Welcome to a new session, dearly beloved Awoites. I hope you’re ready to trek up the hill like you never have before, fetch water till your hand and back beg for relief, and battle the landlords of Awo Hall, aka rats, for the right to stay in your room; after all, you paid for accommodation.
If you’ve ever heard the saying New Year, New Me, then in this context it would be New Session, New Awoites. As inhabitants of this precious hall, it is important that you start this session with a fresh slate and make the resolve to be law-abiding citizens of Awotropolis.
To this end, this writer has decided to come up with a new semester resolution.
- EMBRACE UNITY IN DIVERSITY
I’m certain almost all residents of Awo Hall, past or present, have experienced some form of clash or ‘shege’ from roommates, coursemates, floormates, and even from the executives. In the past, your response to disagreement was to show that your people were capable of being crazy (talk about se fe ri werey). However, before you start throwing hands, remember that no amount of insulting, backbiting, or downright assaulting people will ever end well and may even lead to expulsion from the hostel.
Instead of resulting in fights and arguments, remember that the biggest female hostel in Sub-Saharan Africa is made up of people from different walks of life and backgrounds. This means learning to live with, tolerate, and even manage the idiosyncrasies of people. This semester, resolve to handle situations in a more mature way, worthy of the dignified Awoite you are.
- RESPECT ALL AUTHORITY
If you observe closely, the saying ‘respect is reciprocal’ is most often used by someone who is about to blatantly disrespect someone else. Indeed, respect is reciprocal, but a lack of reciprocation doesn’t automatically mean you lose all your home training. It is understandable that every individual is a boss in their own estimation; however, the importance of respecting hierarchy cannot be overemphasized.
Hence, whether you’re a postgraduate, undergraduate, or fresher, it’s important that you deliberately choose to respect those that have been elected as representatives of the students. This means acting in a manner that is worthy of admiration and respect. In fact, respect every single person, from the least deserving person to the most deserving person. See, if people lived this way, most of the problems in this world would have been solved (a slight exaggeration, but you get my point).
- PURCHASE BUCKETS AND KEGS!
A word, they say, is enough for the wise. You, dear Awoite, are wise, so read attentively as I disclose the secrets of having more than one bucket.
As a new fresher, you are most likely in awe of the numerous taps and tanks that seem to exist in abundance in Awo Hall, but do not be deceived; what you see is only a mirage of what actually is. Every undergraduate knows that all that glitters isn’t gold, or in this sense, plenty of tanks doesn’t mean there’s water inside them (if you know, you know).
The beauty of having numerous buckets is that you get to store water, not for a rainy day but rather for a dry day. The more buckets you have, the less likely you are to suffer the famous Awo drought. However, terms and conditions apply. Owning plenty of buckets means fetching them; fetching them means carrying them, and depending on your floor, that could be a long or short distance.
So another valuable piece of advice: be friends with one, if not all, of the water boys. Don’t be a feminist; you are in no way as strong as them. For a price, you can have all the water you require as fast and as soon as possible. But remember, the Awo drought is real, so terms and conditions really apply.
- USE THE SINKS AND DUSTBIN
This resolution is directed to every Awoite whose hands are incapable of placing things properly inside the dustbin or throwing dirty things from the balcony. What’s the point of being a soft girl when you live like a ruffian? Yes, I might be a pot calling the kettle black, but that doesn’t mean what is wrong can become right.
The greatest complaints of any Awoite are the larger-than-life rats, but remember that these rats must surely be attracted by something; being cleaner and a little wiser would go a long way. Wouldn’t it? I leave it to you to answer that question.
- MAKE THE BEST OF THIS SEMESTER
This semester would only come once. For freshers, you only get to be a fresher once. For stalites, you only get to be in this particular year once, so make the best of it. Be involved in the fun and shenanigans happening around the hall; be active; don’t limit yourself to your room and your faculty. Make friends, live large, and, dare I say, partake in Awo101. Make memories that will last a lifetime but not get you into trouble. Be optimistic and have a great time. Once again, welcome to a new session.
OBAFEMI AWOLOWO HALL PRESS 
Leave a comment