It all seems quiet now. Night classes are over. Exams are ended. Friends slap each other. They heave a sigh of relief. The histology slides; both snapped and photocopied are deleted. The nights are no longer sleepless. Year Three finally gone.
We heard a lot about this behemoth even before we gained admission into medical school. ‘It had 3 courses and will last 18months’. “Classes, Laboratory sessions, discussions and tutorials to attend. ‘It will be hard’. ‘You must read every day’. ‘You would create more enemies’. ‘You may not remember to eat or brush or bath’. Blah blah blah!
All of those nonsense filled our ears. But thank God its over now. No more nonsense.
But the Preclinical School was different. It was different for Mayowa Williams. So also for Agatha Odamen. Both gave reasons why it wasn’t just another exams but one filled with the proofs of divine power. It was really an examination of many reputations. Its experience brought smiles and grieve. Laughter and wailing. It brought difficulty with ease. To some, the 2nd Professional Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery Exams (MBBS) brought them closer to their dreams. They could smell the title added to their names; ‘Doctor This’ and ‘Doctor That’. They loved the profession.
To others it drove them farther. They feared they would fail. Hence they could hardly smile. They disowned laughter and sent it on exile. They resorted to grief, loneliness and seclusion. They tried hard to find hope in the quietude of their personality. Hence their quietness was a cloak for their fear. They thought being quiet naturally induces one with brilliance and intelligence. But they forgot Lamuel Orobosa (The Seceret Scholar) and Bello Jeremiah. Their whisper is like thunder bolt. Jeremiah’s comments to everyone; both to students and lecturers alike. But he is good at what he does.
This exams has taught a lot of lessons. To Philip Obinna Henry, the black boy. The one that flocks around the girls. Yes, that Handsome, tall, wellbuilt and dark dude. The ‘Obinna’ that goes by the cognomen ‘Dr Ebony’ The examination taught him a renowned phenomenon. According to him, “When there is ink, there is hope”. That is, never stop writing. To him, the three hours meant for Medical Physiology Examination was a moment for creativity. Adding that the supreme commandment of passing any exams is; “Never submit a blank sheet”.
What else is the meaning of ‘attempt all question’?
We spent the nights in daytime. That is, there was no difference between the AM and the PM. But sleep was a common enemy. It created fear in some. Some shouted out of sleep; screaming with the highest level of ‘scarity’ (If such word exist). But, could we actually cheat sleep?
Many had their ears permanently wired to pop music---shakiti bobo. They sacrificed wraps of chewing gums. Sachets of coffee and Nescafe were not
spared either, all in a bid to scare our slumber. For some it worked. But for
others? It was a shame. They had to resort to snoring. Infact, East Wing Basement and Pharmacy turned into Bedrooms. You know what I mean.
In the course of the 18 months we spent in Preclinical school, some rose to more relevance. Edigberi Emmanuel and Osayande Kelvin. Others made new friends. A few found love; Ibani and Odinnichi, Kester and Uwaiye, Idahor Courage and Okpugie Victory. Yes, that Ibani. Uhunwango Ifueko’s friend. The tall, fair, handsome and square shouldered one. He found love. Only those who read and meditae in library Extension would notice. He found Odinichi. Hence I decided to start reading in the library. I thought, since the library extension helped Ibani, it may also help me.Alas. I was wrong. I couldn’t find my missing rib.
Lastly, the examinations revealed the intent of some colleagues; how bad their thoughts was toward us. Those that hoarded materials and past questions. We knew the ones that loved us and the ones that pretended.
Now that exams are over, all we have is hope. Hope and faith. One day, we will all have a beautiful prefix to our name. That’s the picture that keeps us going. The Doctor’s picture; when we are going to be our lecturers and consultants colleagues. The day we will stand at the Akin Deko Auditorium, before an audience and our smiling parents and say in confidence ‘I Do Solemly Affairm’. The day we will pledge to put the life of our patients before ours’. The Day we will begin to write MBBS (Benin), behind our names. How will that day look like?. Our parents will indeed be proud. Someone will heave a sigh of relief and say, ‘Once it was a dream, Now it is a reality.’ God help us all.
EDDYKURRENT says ‘It is well’.
By
Eddy Uwoghiren.
Eddy, a 400 Level Medical Student at the University of Benin (UNIBEN) is a Photographer and Journalist with The Nation Newspapers
He can be reached via 08181140032 (Whatsapp) or Eddykurrent2011@yahoo.com
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