Writer’s Diary: How I Bade Night Class Farewell -By Ola Suleiman

The first time I partook in night reading was an amazing day filled with experience. It was a memory that can’t be skipped whenever I tell the tale of my academic pursuit. “One man’s food is another man’s poison”—if I had construed this maxim properly, I strongly believe that I wouldn’t have fallen victim to the night class reading because that night was full of memorable scenes.

On the UDUS campus, where I belong, students always dress up in a very elegant dress and also threaten the atmosphere with a ton of deodorant that can last for a couple of days while going to the so-called night class. Priorly, I thought these people were a party-rock-star but, I didn’t digress from my first idea because nothing like that can happen in my school. Our focus is to read, read and re-read!

Truth be told, I am not fond of reading at night from the outset of my life, but I have cultivated a passion for it recently. I joined the bookworms in their traits, I dressed like a gentleman even, my deodorant suffered that night. What could have led me to that? Maybe I was influenced.

Don’t mind me, I will certainly tell you what happened on this fateful night. “I will wolf down these bulky books tonight,” I affirmed. This was the most beautiful fallacious lie I have ever told myself.

As I was striding on the walkway along with many like-minded people, one will assume that we are Julius Caesar’s troopers who are marching to the war zone. Though, I was thrilled to experience the night-long walk because the energy was inspirational.

The impression on me was quite strong that night. I entered one of the most spacious classes which was crowded with close to 300 students that night. Most of them came in mates, very few sat alone like me. Not long after my arrival, I saw one mates facing each other instead of their books which were widely opened before them. They had this long gossip discussion and more likely a nitt-wittery chatting.

Maybe they were doing that for relaxation purposes. Perhaps, I’m not disturbed by their doings if not for their laughter that ceased the air. Since I was the only serious person in the class, I couldn’t bear up with their acts any longer. Then, I challenged them in an Aluta voice to keep the class conducted. An unidentified voice replied to me from the back seats, “See this Jambito, you better give up if you are tired.”

At first, I couldn’t believe my ears because I was not expecting such a risible response. Mockery engulfed the class for some moment but later faded away, and they resumed their frivolous discussions. After some time, the class appeared discounted. Half of those remaining were dozing already, and the rest were still on the matter (ill chatting). Maybe they left when I was sleeping. Of course, I slept too when their noises didn’t allow me to read.

I stretched my body carefully when I woke up, scratched some part of my body which had been bitten by those friendly mosquitoes, and I continued with my pretentious study. Surprisingly, it was midnight already, I jumbled my books and gave up as said earlier by that comrade. I left for hostel without having the best from that night reading, this made me bid night class reading a farewell. It wasn’t helpful to me.