What a year it’s been! For UIMSAites, in particular, what an academically gruelling year it’s been. For the 2k27 class, new to the University environment, an introduction to various 101s and unbeatable slides. For the 2k25 and 2k26 classes, preclinical hurdles ranged from seeking nourishment after a four-hour dissection session to poring over pages of Keith Moore and Guyton. And for those on the Clinical end, freshers, 2k24 and old-takers, 2k23 and 2k21 alike, a year of unbeatable strife from the Ogba that has become darker than malaena.
As students troop home for the holidays, the UIMSA Press reached out to find out what they looked forward to the most. Read on to find out if you resonate with some of these desires.
P.S: Quite a few people are looking forward to good food. Surprised? Not so much.
“Hmm… The first thing I’m looking forward to is seeing my family and friends. I haven’t seen my family in months and some of my friends I haven’t seen this year, at all. And then, there’s the food part. My house is the only place I can eat a lot of good food without getting debited. So yeah, I’m so hyped for that. The last thing is the break from academic stress. Yes, I know I still have to read but it won’t be under any pressure. So, that’s just it. Family, Friends, Food and Break” – Precious, 2k27.
“That I redefine and improve the personal discovery I just made. This coming weeks, I’ve made beautiful discoveries about myself and what I can do. So I just want to use this holiday to sharpen it and all” – Abiodun, 2k27
“I’m looking forward to sleeping and taking a break but mostly I’m looking forward to having fun with my family members. This is because in recent years we have all been separated for one reason or another and this end of the year holiday is the only time of the year we will all be gathered to see each other and have fun, actually” – Oyetola, 2k26
“I’m looking forward to the break itself. I look forward to meeting my family again, I’m looking forward to, you know, Christmas itself. I’m looking forward to a lot of things. I just need something to cool my head off….. to just leave this school’s stress and to meet my family. I miss my mom’s food. I want to just go home, so I can eat. That’s basically what it is. I’m looking forward to Christmas as well because of my religion” – Goodness, 2k26
“First and foremost, I look forward to seeing my Family, they are my perfect therapy. I have really been through a lot these past few months in preclinicals. Everything is so fast-paced that it becomes extremely difficult to keep up and while you struggle to keep up, there comes the big issue of pressure. Assignments, tests, exams, etc come so fast, and the stress and pressure can really be extreme. Going home affords me the opportunity to get out of school at least and hang out with family and also see people you love and people that love you, unlike inside school where everyone is trying their best to cope as you and no one really has that time to give you attention.
Secondly, there is this feeling that comes with knowing that you have taken a break from going to classes. It is a way of destressing. Although you would still be doing some form of reading in order to catch up, this time you’d be doing it in a relaxed atmosphere and when tired you hang out with family.
Another thing I look forward to the most during the holidays is the thrill of travelling and going places. I love traveling but for a while, I haven’t travelled nor visited places because I don’t have the luxury of time. This holiday affords me the opportunity to travel a little and visit places.
The most important thing I look forward to during the holiday is the excitement that comes with the fact that you will get to be eating a variety of rich food unlike what you subject yourself to while in school and being that the holiday coincides with the festive period, there would be a real assortment of rich stuff that you would be spoiled for choice. I just want to be fed fat with rich food.
While in school I fell ill, it was so bad I wanted to leave everything and go home, at the end of the day, God miraculously healed me. Going home gives me the opportunity to take better care of myself.
At the end of every year, everyone or let me say a good number of people take the opportunity to introspect and reflect on how the year went, ponder on things you did well, and things you would have done better and chart the way forward as we move into the new year, what better time to do that than in a relaxed atmosphere at home devoid of noise in your own space. This holiday affords me that opportunity and I’m looking forward to it” – Arinzechukwu, 2k26
“The warmth and comfort of family and the love it brings. The mind-soothing comfort of home away from the madness I have been made to enjoy in ABH. Most importantly, I’m looking forward to Life ‘cause no be life I dey live for ABH” – Utibe, 2k24
“I look forward to cooking with my mum. My mum doesn’t let me handle the cooking but she lets me watch and makes me fetch the ingredients that are at arm’s length just to engage me. Cooking is therapeutic for me and doing it with my mum is something I’ve missed so much. I miss all her jokes too” – Doyin, 2k24
“Although it was around this time, three years ago, that my grandfather passed, the holidays give me a strong sense of family and togetherness. This year, most of my family is thousands of miles away and it seems like I’m not looking forward to much. But I’m actually looking forward to the few days in between that I get to see my brothers and some of my Ibadan dwelling friends, to share deliciously warm banana bread and hot cocoa” – Deepa, 2K21
“Well, I’m looking forward to spending time with family really. I haven’t seen my family in like over a year. Christmas is just a very cozy time to be around family, to reminisce on how the year has gone and to think forward on how you want the following year to be. There’s always food in abundance, you don’t get to do a while lot of work, there no workload. I’m also looking forward to resting cause I’ve been working round the clock and I’ve closed for the year and that’s really good. So, I’m looking forward to having family around, looking forward to properly resting” – Adefunke, 2K21
There you have it, folks. What are you looking forward to as you head home for the holidays? Feel free to leave a comment below. And from all of us at the UIMSA Press, Happy Holidays!
Anyabolu Marvel
Popoola Eninlaloluwa
Oluwapelumi Akin-Ajani
