21 DAYS OF NYSC CAMP

21 DAYS IN NYSC CAMP

I was resting on a fine Sunday afternoon, the day after I did bridesmaid duties for an old schoolmate. Suddenly my phone beeped and a friend told me to check my NYSC dashboard that something was happening. NYSC gave me a callup number after I was told to expect it in May, sending me into panic mode.

“Where am I going to be posted to? How will I juggle with work? I have a lot to buy. I'm not yet done with my Shawwal fasts. I just had a hectic Saturday and my worries went on…”

Monday came and I saw where I was posted to, it was a couple of hours away from home compared to the two day journey to Kaduna (the state I was initially posted to in January). I complained while making preparations frantically but off I went!

The first 5 days of camp was strange, hectic and draining but I was mentally prepared to tackle it so I held on. I also saw familiar faces from uni and it made everything a little less strange.

At the end of the first 5 days, everything was beginning to fall into place and I had slowly built a routine. Meanwhile, I doff my hats for people who could join the Red Cross and OBS because I barely even had time to think of what I wanted to do.

On the 6th day of camp, the monthly visitor came knocking and knocked everything in me up! I was so dizzy and drained, went to the camp clinic and the doctor said I had iron deficiency. The head of security almost gave me exeat because of how weak I looked. I handled it and rested during those times.

I also met my first close friend, Blessing on kitchen duty the day after and we bonded over being dealt with by mother nature. Days later, we formed a trio with Habeebat and became inseparable! Habeebat and I got close from going to the mosque together in the mornings and sincerely she was behind 50% of my smiles and laughter in camp!

My camp besties and I!

We made life in camp fun for each other - we visited mammy market and had food together, fangirled over Mr. Macho (there's a gist behind this but you won't get it here! 😝), watched over each other as we slept during SAED lectures, kept seats and sat beside each other in the hall, walked together, laughed and gisted together. My camp besties! 🥺

One goal I had in NYSC camp was to have a conversation with a new person everyday and it was honestly great. Well, till it made some people want to convert the conversation to a romantic relationship, which brought me a lot of attention due to their persistence and my refusal.

Speaking of romantic relationships, I think I understand how people fall in love within 3 weeks now and I no longer see it as an impossible thing. I mean, I did crush on a couple of people here and there and it took control to make it remain ‘just a crush’.

May ushered in the second week of camp and I had to treat diarrhea, which made me visit the clinic for the second time. I decided to eat at the mammy market more, it was obvious my stomach couldn't handle the kitchen food and it couldn't pretend anymore.

I also took a break from my remote job and declined design gigs. I began to enjoy camp after recovering in the second week. I opted out from the interplatoon debate I signed up for because I wanted to rest after recovering, it was sad but necessary.

Social nights were the times I chose to recharge alone. I ensured nobody sat beside me and I was on my phone catching up. I could barely open social media apps sometimes due to congestion in networks or even noise. Sundays were meant for rest but got hectic sometimes.

The last week of camp was definitely the most memorable one. We had competitions lined up from beauty pageants to carnival, everybody was looking forward to the end - even though some people had just begun to enjoy camp.

Fights also happened during this week - Power clashes to overfamiliarity to blame games to financial tussles but everybody was alright at the end.

My platoon began to clinch the awards we never had before and it was beautiful to see everybody in celebratory energies. I met great people towards the end of camp and even though we considered our meeting too late, I hope to build strong friendships with them out of it.

Now here are some things people don't talk about camp;

📌 You are going to wash whites(shirts, shorts and shoes) a lot! Unless you have the funds for laundry.

📌 You are constantly racing against time in camp. You might not be able to eat, sleep and have free time as much as you want!

📌 I stopped being a cereal lover a long time ago so I didn't bring much with me. Provisions might not fill you enough, carry money for food.

📌 Some people might tell you kitchen food is tasteless etc but honestly if you know where you're coming from and the kind of stomach, you can handle the food. I know people who never missed a meal in the kitchen.

📌 Spend wisely and only on what you can afford!

📌 Don't force yourself to do anything strenuous.

📌 Be pleasant to your roommates, platoon members and anyone you come across(if they deserve it).

📌 Don't spend too much to fix your khaki. Manage it till you get home.

📌 Be very vigilant after camp. Some transportation companies are just out to extort you and might just succeed. I was extorted and I heard stories too.

📌 Stay hydrated and rest as much as you can.

📌 Prepare for the carnival on camp. Go with your best traditional outfits!

I took up the NYSC Orientation camp as a challenge and I enjoyed my experience.

I always said I had a boring life in uni and I made sure it didn't repeat itself in NYSC camp!