my experience in poly ibadan
🎓 My Experience at The Polytechnic, Ibadan
Becoming a student at The Polytechnic, Ibadan was like stepping into a new chapter of my life — one filled with curiosity, challenge, and growth. I remember the day I got my admission; it felt like I had taken my first real step toward becoming the person I’ve always wanted to be.
At first, everything felt overwhelming — the buildings were big, the crowd was large, and I questioned if I’d ever really belong there. But slowly, things started to fall into place. I found classmates who became close friends, and lecturers who didn’t just teach from textbooks, but challenged us to think for ourselves. I won’t pretend every day was easy — there were days when I doubted myself, missed home, or felt like giving up. But something kept me going. Maybe it was the dream, maybe it was my family’s sacrifices, or maybe it was the fire in me that refused to quit.
One thing I loved most was the freedom — freedom to be myself, to express my ideas, to meet people from different backgrounds, and to grow into my own personality. I stayed true to who I was: cheerful, playful, always trying to make someone laugh — and that drew people to me. I made friends I’ll never forget and memories I’ll always carry.
And of course… not all those memories were sweet.
There was this one day at the basketball court that still plays in my head like a movie scene — just not a fun one. A guy had heard rumors that I was chatting with his friend’s girlfriend. It honestly wasn’t deep — just casual conversation — but he didn’t see it that way. He confronted me and asked to see the chats on my phone. Naturally, I refused. My phone is my private space, and I didn’t owe him that.
But the guy wasn’t having it. He tried to snatch my phone from me, and when I resisted, he slapped me — right there on the court, in front of everyone. If the coach hadn’t stepped in, I honestly might have collected more than just that one slap. The coach’s presence saved me that day, and I’ll never forget it.
After that, I quietly left the court — not just that day, but for good. I never saw the guy again, and I honestly didn’t care to. That moment taught me something unexpected: sometimes silence is strength, and walking away is braver than staying to prove anything.
Though I'm studying a course that isn't directly writing-related, my passion for writing never left me. Sometimes I’d sneak out of lectures with my head full of stories, poems, or random thoughts I had to write down. I believe every corner of that campus holds a piece of my growth — not just academically, but personally too.
Poly Ibadan gave me more than education. It gave me confidence, connection, and clarity. It reminded me that no matter where you start from — Alexander, Elesinmeta, or anywhere else — you can grow into something greater. And I’m still growing.
This experience isn’t over yet, but I know when I finally walk out of that school gate with my certificate in hand, I’ll be smiling not just because I finished — but because I became.
