Diary of Nigerian Youth Corp member

Day 1 at work

With high hopes and expectation...I stepped into the staff room. All in the name to start a job for the day. It may interest you to know that it was my first day at work and as a serving corper in that school and community; I was filled with high hopes to make it happen and of course TAKE CHARGE.

Even as this undying quest rose consistently, it was as though everything was planned out but all that was left was for it to go in due process and of course manifest into something big! It was the vision to change the individual mindset of the people since their level of understanding and exposure seems to be low.

Then, the slap on my face. Slap in this context is literal but really I felt lambasted! I must confess!

My first day at work doubled to be an examination day. The students were to write English Language in the ongoing West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE)...then the Vice Principal of the school walked to me saying, 'Corper, I'm very happy you are here o...you can't understand how happy I am. Do you know we are having English Language today? You will help us o'...stupid me, that didn't even get the message well thinking he was saying, I will help invigilate, quickly said, 'haba! No wahala sir, se it is to invigilate? Isn't it part of my duty as a teacher? (Feeling like a teacher already from within, though, I am. Moreover, I'm used to teaching, at least mum owns a school and I've been teaching for years), little did I know that the man was just about to give me a blast I have never wanted to be part of.

There and then, the cookie crumbled and the man said...'Corper, why are you talking like this, I mean you are the one that will help us (he made a writing sign to pass the message across to me), I was stunned! Speechless, Heartbroken, Hopeless, felt extremely Downcasted! Within me I said,' what the heck?'

Immediately, I lay bare my mind...but he arrogantly walked away. About 35mins later, he came back to the staff room saying, corper! Oya nah!

But before then, I saw a teacher also in the school and I called him to tell him this is what the man said o...and my decision is that...I won't agree to doing that! What if I via for a government position one day, what will people say? I work for a clear record. Moreover I live what I preach even if one recognises me for that!

The male teacher then said, 'tell him your mind'. Those were the words! Then the next question I asked, even before I asked, I told myself, see this otondo corper, JJC, original novice...I asked, 'hope he won't penalise me and set prying eyes on me if I disagree? The male teacher said, 'I don't know but since you are not comfortable with it, tell him your mind'.

And here he came, the main man...the man that they all feared and the man I at first feared but later braced myself up telling myself that I'm a government property, they dare not ride me since I know my right!

Part B

And the hour came...but this time he asked me to come and invigilate the students in the exam hall. Note: I'm not trying to look saint here neither am I trying to publish this to dent the image of the school(my primary place of assignment) rather the write up is just to reiterate the fact that...this act of indiscipline must STOP!

I gladly walked to the exam hall. The students seemed serious and dedicated to the exam questions... that was before I entered. And when I entered, I noticed the prying eyes of both male and female. Though I am not a mind reader but I sense this was what they were saying (this new face now, I hope she would not be too hard on us since she is a novice).

And there I was standing and walking through the exam hall, carefully looking at the papers of the students. I wanted to know the level of intelligence and noticed that it was on the average side.

Then, I saw this guy, looks hefty and huge really (don't forget that I am the shorty, small statured Corper *winks*) and I noticed the boy bringing out a small paper with lots of scribbled stuffs relating to the subject they were doing - English! Hmmm...thinking I had caught a scape goat...I made the first statement in the hall...hey! Bring that!!! There and then, silent took charge in the hall...the WAEC representative, the Vice Principal and another invigilator paused and even the students, ALL EYES WERE ON ME!!! *sighs*

Immediately, I corrected myself saying...oh, continue...(Ashamed)...and the hall returned to its former state! Life came back to the hall. Deep within me, I felt the bleak in the future of the Nigerian Youth!

The hours allotted to the paper was exhausted and all that was left was for everyone to go to their tent OH YEAH ISRAEL. As I was about leaving for my house, I noticed the countenance from my OGA, me no look him face o.

If there was one thing I appreciated, it was the fact that the man (my Oga) respected my opinion but in a situation that I accepted this tempting but not too good offer...what would become of me? Become of me in the sense that I supported that which is not right? Hmmm...again I say I refuse to want to be holy with my write-up rather to tell any youth or any corper that finds himself in this situation and wouldn't want to be engaged to speak out better still avoid it please.
Thank you! *smiles*