We Need to Confront The Inferiority Complex
Pilot opinion piece: Monday, 8th May 2023
I had done it -- I had gained admission into the University of Lagos! I was finally going to have some freedom, make new friends, go out, and maybe even gain a first class along the way. My parents were just as excited, given that I was to be the first first-generation graduate in the family, as both did not bother finishing university anyway. It didn't matter that I had initially applied for medicine, and it certainly didn't matter that we all had yet to learn what Pharmacology even meant. All we knew was that we were happy. But that happiness quickly morphed into confusion.Â
On my first day in that hot, boxy DLI hall with dusty benches and the perpetual smell of bushes, I became aware of a particular/nonsensical hierarchy. Classes were done, attendance time came, and sheets for medicine and pharmacy found their way –and voice– easily through the crowd, A.K.A class. In time, other attendance sheets came up, and physiotherapy, radiography, and medical laboratory science students found their place. Unable to find mine, I asked a few students if they had seen an attendance sheet dedicated to pharmacology students. A few told me they hadn't; others advised me just to include my name on the pharmacy list.
Where other courses had established course reps and group chats on the first week, I was left floating, having only found Tobi, Oladunni, and Gabriel (classmates) around the third week of school. I believed the dichotomy would be a thing of the past once I crossed over. But, long story short, it wasn't.Â
From the non-malicious but non-subtle shock on my MBBS and Pharmacy friends' faces when they exclaimed, "You guys have a department? Like a building?" to the rabid bite of the hostels leaving out final-year basic medical students during exams, I became even more aware of the walls and gaps that dictate what makes a course valuable and what tags another unfit-for-study-in-Nigeria.
In my second year, this led me to a complex, a longing for a course that seemed more palatable, more… respectable. Getting out of that mental space took a lot of work and a lot of unlearning. But I find that a few of our decisions as a department are taken from a similar place: a place of seeing ourselves and our combined entity as "small."Â
"We don't have the clout for that. We're a small department."
"How can we do that? We're not like pharmacy them nau."
While most of these concerns and inhibitions are realistic –especially regarding budget and expenditure– some are the product of the raging, nurtured complex some of us have acquired as medical students. However, there is hope.Â
In a congress meeting in late 2022, I was surprised to find people in my class taking pride in our course and job prospects. In March 2023, I was delighted that my almost degree had made my career in beauty product development much easier. In 2022-2023, I was overjoyed to find class PANDORA banding up, pulling resources to help each other, and even thinking about making punch for their athletes and friends during the sports and health week. In recent years, I've found community and opportunities all in one space, and while I still see work to be done with our outlook, prospects, and general apathy toward the department, I also see improvements and hope.Â
When we came up with APSoUL and thought of what to write about in our first episode, it was important to start with our previous view of the department, what we see now, and how we can grow our new stance. APSoUL is our way of nurturing that hope by sharing more profound experiences amongst ourselves. We absolutely must take pride in our sojourn of 4+ years.
See you in the next episode,
Precious Umeasalugo,
Editor, APSoUL
(This is the pilot opinion piece for APSoUL. All opinions and observations shared here are the writer's only)
CHRONIC EVENTS
Elections are coming soon. Prepare your flyers, manifesto, and your cheering pompoms cause it’s about to go down.
The constitution is under amendment, and each class needs a representative. Already-appointed senators can not serve as reps. Step up.
Gather your coins and costumes: our long-awaited dinner is around the corner.
IN THE LAB
Do you have an opinion piece or personal essay concerning you and the department? APSoUL wants to share it! Send in your name, class, and story to Nipsaunilag.ng@gmail.com, and we’ll be right there with you.
(psst! Yes, you can also remain anonymous)