CAMPUS EXPERIENCE UNCENSORED

Story By: Clinton Odino
Date       : 2nd March 2020

Spending time with my campus friends at the roof top of M-Block in the Technical University of Mombasa. PHOTO:Courtesy of Pascal Einstein

I was never that genius back in high school, almost every subject made me sweat up, one thing I knew for sure is that l had to get to campus, rumours of how luxurious life is there always got me working hard beyond what l could call a standard sacrifice.
   Saying that l managed to join University would be an understatement, a man from Nyanza, the land of men who operate complicated gadgets managed to majestically make his way through the green,white and black designed Gates of the Technical University of Mombasa, an institution with tall historical buildings sorrounded by oceanic waters that l got a glimpse of for the first time.here l was finally getting into the land of adults with 360% freedom from the petty high school overrated regulations.

A photo session with my first campus friends. PHOTO: Courtesy of Joy Nzangi

    I am currently in my last semester of my full academic season, just to reflect back from the beginning to date, campus has gave me a new leaf of life,my experience is one that gives me goosebumps and a times may make me want to shed tears.
   One thing that I will find difficult to forgive those who gave us insights on the university life is their failure to inform us just how the experience could literally feel like  squeezing life out of a person.
   Campus experience has forced me to make choice of the number of meals l take per day, l have had to forego the tradition of three meals a day because when financial crisis decide to hit at one point of the year, survival could really turn to be really tactical. Indeed it is a situation that has led to comrades some of whom are well known to me to become hardcore criminals just to be in a position to afford a meal a day.In the process, a number have found themselves in the arms of law enforces who either end up shooting them on the spot or locking them up in jail.

A photo session with my friends during a media training program. PHOTO: Courtesy of Lovelace

   It is only in campus where l have realized that l can meet new friends on a daily basis, the experience has helped me improve on my social life from being a quiet person to getting more interactive. I have met both party diehards and almost crazy allies who have always gave me a sense of belonging.Their relations with me has made me realize they are those allies I will need in future since we make both fun and share pieces of spiritual and social growth encouragements.                        Friday has always remained the best day of the week, just a Thursday evening always sets us into the weekend mood, in fact, it has brought the tradition of comrades saying, "ka weekend kameanza," which translates to the weekend has already started. Friday is the last day of the week when you get to see majority of campus ladies within the campus until Monday yet their residentials are within the campus, very ironical,right? Well that's how some of them surprisingly come back "rich" and dressed in very fancy attires they never had. On the other hand, their male counterparts find it a weekend of fever, the pressure to save the little you have with the aim of impressing your "crush" buying expensive foods in very expensive restaurants just to wake up broke on a Monday morning, having to attend class with total hangover and your feelings also played with by the lady you gave your all.
    I believe we are here to learn life practically and we can't complain alot. For some , campus experience has became an epicenter of positive change while others who never checked the two sides of the coin have remained regretting their failures.l currently have two months remaining in my full academic calendar year and l  can confidently claim I am lucky to be at this stage of my campus experience, l have became a darling of almost all my lecturers and learnt from the little mistakes l have had to deal with.