I'm not the type to have expectations but that feeling of not wanting to expect something from anyone, I wasn't born it, it just kind of manifested over many years of consistent disappointment. If there is a ranking system for families with capabilities of throwing a big party during the holidays, my family would probably be top 100 on that list.
Few years ago, while we were celebrating Christmas like we used to, there was this uncle of mine that comes around, whenever he was around, he would rally up the children and ask us about our academic endeavours. Around that time I was done with the first year of my national diploma and I was in need of a place to do my CIWES (A form of industrial training undergone by polytechnic students) I discussed it with him since he was willing to listen. He was the kind of person that is knowledgeable about affairs of different kind of broadcast industry and he is well connected.
He assured me that when the time comes I should let him know, every now and then I kept reminding him till the day eventually comes. He gave me an address of a man, located in Maryland. I was so excited to finally have a place to undergo my 6 month industrial training. The most interesting expect of it was that I was told I will also get paid.
I remember how I hurriedly got up that morning and head to Maryland. Before I got there, I called the man I was supposed to meet and he informed me he was in his office but on getting there around 9 am in the morning the man was not in his office. I called the man but he was not picking up, so I decided to call my uncle instead and he asked me to wait for him. I waited for this man till noon I didn't see him, I called my uncle but I couldn't reach him.
I kept waiting till past 3pm in the afternoon, when I realised offices in the building had started closing up, I decided to leave also, I did not even bother to call my uncle. Got home and explained everything that happened to my parents, they would not stop smiling. That was when I was informed that he has the habit of making up promises he can't keep, they would have tried to stop but I was really not interested in listening to anyone's opinion. I was dumbfounded knowing I have made a fool of myself.
Another holiday came, he came around as usual. When I saw him, I greeted him and he began to make enquiries about my studies without saying anything about what happened, not even an explanation or probably an apology. I just kept looking at him without saying a word, it was a little bit rude but that was the only way I could stop myself from saying the wrong things.
Speaking of a time I broke a promise, well I'm not the type of person that loves making promises because I'm aware of how unpredictable life can be. One occurred during my days at Moshood Abiola Polytechnic.
In those days, Displaying my knowledge in class was like a special quality of mine, there were times when I turn the class into a debate and we had a lot of lecturers who are intrigued by such academic exercise and we also have student who will gladly curse me behind my back because they consider such act to be a waste of their time but thankfully I was not the only student doing this😅, so it was a fun exercise and such argument turns me on academically 😁.
As a result of this I became a group leader on numerous occasions, is either I was selected by the lecturer or by my colleagues. I was intelligent but I wouldn't say I was the most intelligent because there were other brilliant minds in my group but they just don't want to be seen or doesn't want the attention that comes with being a group leader. There are challenges attributed to being a group leader but it does comes with some benefits. Being a group leader gives me the privilege of knowing more about the group practical more than anyone else in the group.
In most of our exams, question One is usually compulsory and it is based on the practical we did for the course. it was a way for lecturers to ensure that only student who partake in the practicals are allowed to pass their exam because the question one mark is very huge almost more than half of the entire exam score. This are the times when I feel like a king because I don't need to read the practical script or any written document. I partake in the practical all through so I knew every details.
Being a group leader and knowing a lot about group practicals comes with some expectations from my group members, especially when there was an opportunity to be in the same exam hall with me, I can be rest assured that someone will definitely call on me for help in the examination hall.
I remember during my final year last semester semester exam, Our last paper was on Thursday, It was our HOD course Mac 423 PR CASE STUDY. Before the exam day, from the beginning of that semester we were told to form a group of fifteen students, picke an organisation or company that has some kind of public relation issue. we did series of class presentation in front of the whole class, each group presented their chosen organisation or company and the reason they chose that specific company for their practical. If it is approved then each group can proceed to writing a proposal that consist of how they intend to solve the public relation issues the company/Organisation was struggling with.
But the proposal is tricky, each group was asked to follow a specific model of solving PR issues which could be found in our HOD textbook. My group chose Nine step of solving public relations issue by Smith. We chose OGTV as our client and we prepared our proposal which was written by me. Before the exam day, I shared copies of the printed proposal to each student so that they can read it ahead of the coming exam. We all knew it will definitely come out in the exam but we don't know how the question will be structured.
On the exam day which was our last paper, everyone was in a celebration mood, the last paper for the completion of Higher national diploma. Though we were still a little wary of the last paper, it was a 3 unit course and it has broad topics. Knowing the kind of practical we did for that course everyone was trying to memorise the content of the proposal. There was a girl in my group named Anita, though she participated in the practical but she was still having difficulties memorising every details of the practical proposal.
We went to the notice board to check our sitting arrangements for the exam and she found out that we were going to sit in the same hall, she informed me about it and asked me if I will be willing to assist her in case she forgets any information in the proposal in the exam hall, I promise her I would. Though It was risky but what she was asking for was not huge, all she needs was hint for her to remember what she might have forgotten because the practical proposal written for that course is almost 6 pages which is a little tasking for her to memorise all of it.
There is a popular saying that says,"we plan but the lord executes. it was a morning paper but the hall where our matric number was posted to is known to have less invigilators, so we were confident that we will find a way to sit close to one another. On getting to the hall, we dropped our belongings outside and lined up to get checked in. Anita was standing in the front while I was standing at her back. I was few steps away when I noticed the presence of an external invigilator. I can't remember his name anymore but this man has particular hatred for men with lot of hair. The moment I saw him I knew I was in trouble and the plan to help Anita was finished.
I should have barbed my hair before that day but I felt like since it was just one paper left there shouldn't be a problem. At the entrance of the hall, I have already seen student being plucked out of the line by this man, immediately he saw me, he plucked me out immediately😅. seeing what happened, I looked back at Anita, her facial expression shows she was disappointed. Any student caught by this man, is either you go back home to barb your hair or forfeit the exam for that day or he might feel pity for you after wasting a lot of your time.
I was not scared because I knew there is no way I'm forfeiting my last paper😂, so I went to my project supervisor who happens to be the current Dean of our department, he came and pleaded on my behalf, he also released other students because he realised that was our last paper which happens to be 3 unit course any mistake or delay could lead to extra year. I got inside the exam hall, where I was placed I couldn't even notice where Anita was. At that moment I was not really concerned about it because I have wasted about 20 minutes already. so I had to rush to make up for the time I have lost.
Just like we expected the question one was a compulsory question and it was all about the practical proposal but what we did not expect was that, the lecturer would ask us to write the entire proposal in the exam, it was really challenging even for me. I kept writing till the time was up, though I had finished answering all the questions required but I couldn't shake the feeling that I could still write more despite the fact that I had written enough 😅
After the exam I didn't see Anita, she must have finished early. I got home and called her to know how the exam was because I felt a little guilty for what happened, she responded and said it was fine, I guess she must have realised the situation was beyond my control, so what happened did not really affected our friendship.
Can there ever be a valid reason for breaking a promise? I don't know if it valid or not but I'm sure that it should be understandable that there are situations that forces people to break their promise no matter how honourable they are or their good intentions, life just happens.
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This write-up was inspired by weekly featured content titled A broken promise in hive learners community.
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