The Emotional Part of The ASUU Strike
Photo Credit: FranklinPelumi Akinmolayan
There is a part of the ASUU strike, which is now about to enter its seventh month that is not discussed enough or even discussed at all. Yesterday, on my Twitter feed someone discussed it. I am referring to the emotional impact the strike has on undergraduates, especially those that are unable to find alternative occupations during this period.
They are left incapacitated, with no immediate goal to live for. I know the words I chose to describe this may be unwarranted, but tell me, how do you describe the situation someone is in when their plans and aspirations are indefinitely suspended with no occupation, and even left in isolation because other members of their family go to work? They are left on their beds, left to either enjoy or suffer the indefinite holiday.
Students associations like mine, the Ife Architecture Students’ Association are taking some actions to engage their members and look after their welfare. In IFASA, for example, we have different online activities to engage our members during this period. I urge other students association to provide the much-needed emotional support for their members during this period.
I was also a victim of the resulting emotional stress from the ASUU strike. My situation got better when I got a job, which gave me a new sense of meaning for the time being. I also attribute my recovery from the stress also to the good times I share with my siblings and cousins.
I stopped thinking about the strike because the situation still appears unfathomable to me. I don't just get it. I rather spend my time cycling or watching House of the Dragon, SEE, and The Good Doctor. I also stopped guessing the time we will be called back to school because the situation seems to be direr than it appears.
In my previous attempts to think about the best way students can get back to their classes, I posted on Facebook that students should be ready to pay school fees that are up to 100.000. The responses met by that post proved to me further that we are really in a big mess. The worst feature of this mess we are in is that we do not have any capacity to get ourselves out of it, not even facilitate how we will get out. There is nothing we can do as students, ours is just to hope.
To conclude this short piece about the emotional impact of the lingering ASUU strike on students, let me offer some advice. First, let it happen by itself. Just wait, you are not late to your goal. As we say in church “God’s time is the best”. If you are more religious, now is the time to take seriously how God’s plan for you is for good and not for evil, or the verse about Allah being the best Planner. Leave everything in God’s hands or let it happen by itself.
It gets hard, no doubt. Now is the time to learn new skills or upgrade the ones you have. If you have the means to get an internship, that will be so great for you. To cope, also, you can get more religious, don’t miss your daily prayers, and don’t miss church services. If that is too much, just meditate and be one with the universe, haha!
Besides, there’s so much to keep you occupied now. Watch all the shows you can . Football is also there for you. The world cup will be starting soon. The most important thing is that you remain sane until we resume to school from this government-inflicted emotional trouble.
