Wednesday, July 14, 2010
SWEET VALLEY AND M & B
As a typical Nigerian child i grew up reading Enid Blyton's books and it was rather fascinating. She had different series like Famous Five, Secret Seven, The Mallory Towers Series, St Claires, The Three Golliwogs and so many others.Those books were my favorite read in Elementary school but when i got to QC, i found there was a different demand and that was most especially for the Sweet Valley Series. There was Sweet Valley Kids, Sweet Valley High and Sweet Valley University. Anyone who had any of those books had a treasure.Girls would swap garri or cereal to read Sweet Valley. It had become an addiction for some, i remember how some girls would put the book in between textbooks so that it would appear like the textbook was being read and that happened during English literature. Other books a QC girl may give up lunch or their early morning bread and egg for was Mills and Boon romance Collection of novels. Danielle Steel as well as Harlequin Romance a subsidiary of Mills and Boon. Great Memories.
SS2 PHYSICS PROJECT
Physics was one tough class especially SS2. Back then we had our syllabi divided into Mechanics, Heat, Light, Sound, Electricity and Nuclear Physics,the sylabbi was similar to college level Physics. This time we were on the Electricity part of the textbook and all i could hear back then was amps, coulombs,volts, watts, parallel and series.Oh my goodness. We were given a take home project and the content of the project was to build a house and electrivally wire the house showing series and parallel connection. Those were Form Order Points and this project was no joke. I didnt even know where to start from. Most girls had begun theirs, some people had already made their houses out of wood, something a carpenter would put together and an electrician would wire, All those houses looked similar even though they were different sizes. Two weekends before it was due for submission, i built my house with LEGO. As a child, i was fascinated with those colored building pieces and i loved my house because it was painted (since the bricks were colored). It was a red and white house with a red roof, the windows were yello and it had a green lawn.
I had the local electrician wire it for me after giving him directions on what i wanted him to do. It as fun watching him connect the house and he showed me the switches for the parallel connection and one for the series connection.
I took my house to school on the day it was due and a lot of my class girls and other corridor girls were in awe. No one else had a house like mine and a lot of people asked me questions while i was in line to defend my project. I cannot forget the look on Mrs Njoku's face when she saw the elegant architecture. She was in serious awe, she asked me to turn on the switches to demonstrate the parallel and series connection which i did. The light bulbs came on and brilliantly lit up the house, I gave my little demonstration and that was how i got my points. She said it was the most beautiful and creative house she had ever seen since the inception of the project.
I had the local electrician wire it for me after giving him directions on what i wanted him to do. It as fun watching him connect the house and he showed me the switches for the parallel connection and one for the series connection.
I took my house to school on the day it was due and a lot of my class girls and other corridor girls were in awe. No one else had a house like mine and a lot of people asked me questions while i was in line to defend my project. I cannot forget the look on Mrs Njoku's face when she saw the elegant architecture. She was in serious awe, she asked me to turn on the switches to demonstrate the parallel and series connection which i did. The light bulbs came on and brilliantly lit up the house, I gave my little demonstration and that was how i got my points. She said it was the most beautiful and creative house she had ever seen since the inception of the project.
Monday, June 28, 2010
Graduation
Even the most interesting, exciting things must come to an end. Our time in QC also came to an end, although our set was slightly different as we had exams scheduled for after our graduation. I know, don't ask.
Ah well, we took on the graduation call with gumption. Some people were happy to be graduating, others were wondering where all that time had gone. 6 years had literally flown by.
Graduation day was a beautiful ceremony. We were attired in different styles of clothing, all with white as their common theme. Proud parents were also in attendance in the assembly hall. The place it all began, and the place, it all ended.
We cried, we made promises to keep in touch, made promises to remain best friends for ever. Little did we know that our world, as we knew it, was to be changed forever. And it had to, as we were all going to be dispersed to different parts of the country, and the world! Fortunately, post-graduation, we have the internet, facebook, twitter and all these other mediums that help us to remain in touch.
I digress. After the speeches, and the handover from one head girl to another, the ceremony ended. and then the real exciting part (for the remaining QC students!). This is because the tradition was to bring food and goodies for the boarders to celebrate our graduation.
Oh the excitement, oh the rush for food.....food...food...
Then it was goodbye, until results day. although in our cases, it was good bye until the next Monday, when we had to sit exams!
Ah well, we took on the graduation call with gumption. Some people were happy to be graduating, others were wondering where all that time had gone. 6 years had literally flown by.
Graduation day was a beautiful ceremony. We were attired in different styles of clothing, all with white as their common theme. Proud parents were also in attendance in the assembly hall. The place it all began, and the place, it all ended.
We cried, we made promises to keep in touch, made promises to remain best friends for ever. Little did we know that our world, as we knew it, was to be changed forever. And it had to, as we were all going to be dispersed to different parts of the country, and the world! Fortunately, post-graduation, we have the internet, facebook, twitter and all these other mediums that help us to remain in touch.
I digress. After the speeches, and the handover from one head girl to another, the ceremony ended. and then the real exciting part (for the remaining QC students!). This is because the tradition was to bring food and goodies for the boarders to celebrate our graduation.
Oh the excitement, oh the rush for food.....food...food...
Then it was goodbye, until results day. although in our cases, it was good bye until the next Monday, when we had to sit exams!
Etiquette
Etiquette. Sometime towards the end of our time at QC, our principal decided we needed to be taught on how to be ladies, before being sent off to the outside world (ahem, UniLag!)
So, in come 2 poised ladies, who taught us how to walk, speak, laugh, enter a car, arrange cutlery, make a bed, etc. All very useful I must say, although I am not sure to what extent we, their audience fully appreciated them. I for one took it on board, well, how to enter a car (Did if for all of 2 weeks and stopped as it just was so tedious - that said, it does come in handy when you are entering/leaving a car for a date......)
We were taught not to laugh too loudly, we were taught to speak well, we were taught to walk gracefully. You know, all those lovely things that one would always wish that one's children knew.
So, in come 2 poised ladies, who taught us how to walk, speak, laugh, enter a car, arrange cutlery, make a bed, etc. All very useful I must say, although I am not sure to what extent we, their audience fully appreciated them. I for one took it on board, well, how to enter a car (Did if for all of 2 weeks and stopped as it just was so tedious - that said, it does come in handy when you are entering/leaving a car for a date......)
We were taught not to laugh too loudly, we were taught to speak well, we were taught to walk gracefully. You know, all those lovely things that one would always wish that one's children knew.
Moral Assembly
Moral Assembly was held on Fridays, and this evolved through our time at QC. Initially, we had the Christian ones in the Assembly Hall, and the Muslims were sent to the Gym. However, in Senior school ,the Christians were told to remain in their classes.
It was an attempt to help us 'connect better with our faiths', and to incorporate God into our education. To some people it worked, to others, not quite so.
I remember one time when we were having the moral assembly and decided to 'funkify the songs' to make them that little bit more interesting. Needless to say, that was the exact time one of our vice-principals decided to check up on our class, and we got punished.
Can you imagine, getting punished for singing songs in a modern way? Needless to say, we adhered strictly to the Moral Assembly code afterwards....did someone say boring songs?
It was an attempt to help us 'connect better with our faiths', and to incorporate God into our education. To some people it worked, to others, not quite so.
I remember one time when we were having the moral assembly and decided to 'funkify the songs' to make them that little bit more interesting. Needless to say, that was the exact time one of our vice-principals decided to check up on our class, and we got punished.
Can you imagine, getting punished for singing songs in a modern way? Needless to say, we adhered strictly to the Moral Assembly code afterwards....did someone say boring songs?
Exam Fever
Exams! Exams! Exams!
Who created exams? Who ever thought that the best way to people was to test how much they could cram? Well, what can I say, we have exams, and they are here to stay.
Exams in QC were a different phenomenon. Over the years, not much had changed in terms of competitiveness and determination, and also the befriending of the relevant teachers. Not quite sure the extent to which the later worked, but then again, who knows?
During exam time, prep time was that little bit quieter, classes were fuller. Some people could handle the pressure, others not so well. People started to compare speed of reading. Questions like 'how much of Ababio (Ababio was the standard Biology text) - have you read?' 'Can you remember the names of the elements?', some people came up with acronyms to help, others formed the parts into songs, others crammed, and others attempted to devise the most cunning cheating method.
What can I say, the exam periods brought out both the best and the worst in people....and the worst thing after writing exams is...you guessed it...the waiting period for the results!
Who created exams? Who ever thought that the best way to people was to test how much they could cram? Well, what can I say, we have exams, and they are here to stay.
Exams in QC were a different phenomenon. Over the years, not much had changed in terms of competitiveness and determination, and also the befriending of the relevant teachers. Not quite sure the extent to which the later worked, but then again, who knows?
During exam time, prep time was that little bit quieter, classes were fuller. Some people could handle the pressure, others not so well. People started to compare speed of reading. Questions like 'how much of Ababio (Ababio was the standard Biology text) - have you read?' 'Can you remember the names of the elements?', some people came up with acronyms to help, others formed the parts into songs, others crammed, and others attempted to devise the most cunning cheating method.
What can I say, the exam periods brought out both the best and the worst in people....and the worst thing after writing exams is...you guessed it...the waiting period for the results!
Awards Night
Miss Shape!
Miss I love your Smile!
Miss Goody Two Shoes!
Miss Rump-Shaker!
Miss Catwalk!
These were just a few of the awards that were presented to people on the awards night.
The awards night was a huge event in the social calender of senior girls. They could challenge even the Oscars, perhaps not in style but in enthusiasm and excitement no doubt :)
The process was quite organised, and the selecting panel (usually the most gregarious or dare-I-say people that you just could not/would not/should not argue with) and you needed people like that, that had the gumption to decide and stick to their decisions!
Some people took the awards seriously, others took it as something that came with the territory. The night was awash with dressing up, glamour, ladies looking very classy indeed. Some made fashion faux pas, but we were 15/16. Does that really matter? Now?
There was entertainment, music, dancing, miming, the works. There were presentations, there were a few disappointed faces, but all in all, it remains a pleasant, distant, memory....
Miss I love your Smile!
Miss Goody Two Shoes!
Miss Rump-Shaker!
Miss Catwalk!
These were just a few of the awards that were presented to people on the awards night.
The awards night was a huge event in the social calender of senior girls. They could challenge even the Oscars, perhaps not in style but in enthusiasm and excitement no doubt :)
The process was quite organised, and the selecting panel (usually the most gregarious or dare-I-say people that you just could not/would not/should not argue with) and you needed people like that, that had the gumption to decide and stick to their decisions!
Some people took the awards seriously, others took it as something that came with the territory. The night was awash with dressing up, glamour, ladies looking very classy indeed. Some made fashion faux pas, but we were 15/16. Does that really matter? Now?
There was entertainment, music, dancing, miming, the works. There were presentations, there were a few disappointed faces, but all in all, it remains a pleasant, distant, memory....
Valentine's day
Circa mid-January to the first week in February, QC girls would have worked themselves up into a frenzy. Would they get val-ed or not? Should they break up with their boyfriend before val's day, just so that they do not have to spend money? Even if they got val-ed? Would their boyfriend 'represent'? Or would he be stingy?
It was usually a day tinged with great expectations, and for some, a day they did not look forward to, as they were certain they were going to roast (i.e. not get val-ed). So, someone ingeniously started the Roasto's club, where people that were going to roast contributed money so that they could buy chocolates and cakes for themselves to share. It worked brilliantly!
So back to val's day - the morning was filled with anticipation, boys, and there were many of them came in their throngs to present their gifts to their 'babes'. Those that were val-ed were happy and excited, and felt so fortunate, although I must add that the happiness was usually short-lived due to the extremely critical comments that were passed on the gifts when the recipients got back to their classes. Needless to say, much of this must have been due to envy as the gifts were inspected by fellow classmates, many of whom 'roasted'.
It was usually a day tinged with great expectations, and for some, a day they did not look forward to, as they were certain they were going to roast (i.e. not get val-ed). So, someone ingeniously started the Roasto's club, where people that were going to roast contributed money so that they could buy chocolates and cakes for themselves to share. It worked brilliantly!
So back to val's day - the morning was filled with anticipation, boys, and there were many of them came in their throngs to present their gifts to their 'babes'. Those that were val-ed were happy and excited, and felt so fortunate, although I must add that the happiness was usually short-lived due to the extremely critical comments that were passed on the gifts when the recipients got back to their classes. Needless to say, much of this must have been due to envy as the gifts were inspected by fellow classmates, many of whom 'roasted'.
New Year - Bags I this desk, locker, seat!
Girls will always be girls. Young people will always be young people. And the rush for seats and lockers was no different.
People in QC kept* things. You kept a space in the shower, a space at the dining table, a place at the tap next to you at the slaps, a place on a queue, a place to use the toilet, you get the idea.
We also kept seats and lockers. This worked well in theory, albeit a tad bit frustrating, when the person for whom the locker/seat had been kept, had also reserved their own seats/lockers. Meaning a popular someone might have 2/3 or maybe 4 lockers reserved for them, whilst others had none!
Frustrated, some people resorted to unlady-like means - jacking** of lockers were commonplace, and the fights that ensued were entertaining, if not disturbing, at best.
* kept here means - reserved.
** to jack - to forcefully remove the lock
People in QC kept* things. You kept a space in the shower, a space at the dining table, a place at the tap next to you at the slaps, a place on a queue, a place to use the toilet, you get the idea.
We also kept seats and lockers. This worked well in theory, albeit a tad bit frustrating, when the person for whom the locker/seat had been kept, had also reserved their own seats/lockers. Meaning a popular someone might have 2/3 or maybe 4 lockers reserved for them, whilst others had none!
Frustrated, some people resorted to unlady-like means - jacking** of lockers were commonplace, and the fights that ensued were entertaining, if not disturbing, at best.
* kept here means - reserved.
** to jack - to forcefully remove the lock
Chic French Teacher
This was in JS1.
There was this French teacher, whose name I cannot remember.
She was different, apparently she was an 'intern' at our school, on a teacher training course/degree.
What can I say, we found her a refreshing addition to our repertoire of teachers. No less because of her fashion sense, berets, hats, etc..and also as she just seemed so young!
What I remember most especially is her rendition of the French national anthem. And needless to say, I still remember it!
And the Oga Sanni, Oga Sanni, Ou va tu...Ou va tu....something something Medina...................
Anyone remember her name?
There was this French teacher, whose name I cannot remember.
She was different, apparently she was an 'intern' at our school, on a teacher training course/degree.
What can I say, we found her a refreshing addition to our repertoire of teachers. No less because of her fashion sense, berets, hats, etc..and also as she just seemed so young!
What I remember most especially is her rendition of the French national anthem. And needless to say, I still remember it!
And the Oga Sanni, Oga Sanni, Ou va tu...Ou va tu....something something Medina...................
Anyone remember her name?
Ghost Stories
There was a time at QC when ghost stories abounded. There was the story of the lady that could braid her own hair, with her head on her lap. There was the story of the ghost that haunted the uncompleted building next to the assembly hall. There was the story of the girls with no feet, that sauntered across the school. There was the toilet ghost.
Couple all the above stories with girls approaching puberty where mood swings and temperaments fluctuated like the British weather, and you had a recipe for alarmist behaviour.
Some people took to crying, others to 'casting out demons', others took to not allowing any random person to braid their hair. Girls who had previously braided their own hairs, with their arms stretched upright to reach the hair ON their heads stopped, for fear of being called witches.
People moved in groups. Some people didn't move.
Having spoken to some friends from other schools, it appears, the same 'ghosts' also haunted those schools too, at the same time, no less. Someone obviously watched too many scary movies the previous summer.
Couple all the above stories with girls approaching puberty where mood swings and temperaments fluctuated like the British weather, and you had a recipe for alarmist behaviour.
Some people took to crying, others to 'casting out demons', others took to not allowing any random person to braid their hair. Girls who had previously braided their own hairs, with their arms stretched upright to reach the hair ON their heads stopped, for fear of being called witches.
People moved in groups. Some people didn't move.
Having spoken to some friends from other schools, it appears, the same 'ghosts' also haunted those schools too, at the same time, no less. Someone obviously watched too many scary movies the previous summer.
Day in the life of a boarder
Boarding house. Oh the joys! Oh the sadness! Oh the memories...
So you wake up at an unheard of time, just so you can avoid the morning rush for showers, and also, shower in a cleanish bathroom. There is something about traffic that even the cleaning-up process of the body can result in so much dirt and untidiness! How ironic!
So, you wake up, go clean your beautiful body up, and then come back to your dormitory to sleep! I know I know strange. But that is how we did it back then.
Boarding house life as a senior girl is markedly different from life as a junior girl. At least you did not have to run so many errands for seniors. Yet when we became senior girls, just when you thought you were now in the most senior class, they changed the rules, now we were to be housed according to our classes, no more junior girls in the dorms. needless to say, the junior girls were happy to be released from the throng of errands, and felt they could regain some aspects of their life back. Or so they thought. Some of my mates still wanted the junior girls to pay penance for the way that 'they' were treated by other seniors, hence, the somewhat embarrassing trek to the junior's dorm to ask a junior girl to fetch you water, or go buy something for you, or iron your housewear (we had the laundry room then where they did our ironing, but seniors, would be seniors).
The separation into class-dorms also meant we were responsible for the cleaning of the dormitories, and matey (Matron) obviously relished in this. She would come in the morning, to wake any late comers up with lashes! Yes. lashes.
Ah, I digress. Boarding house life - you wake up - do your morning duty - sweeping, cleaning, washing, you name it, all to be inspected by an ever dissatisfied senior. Then you made your way to the dining hall for breakfast - usually bread with either fish stew, butter or egg, during the week anyways.
Afterwards, the bell rang (later became the siren) you 'crossed-over' to the main school for assembly, and the day goes normally, until after classes when the bell/siren rang again and you 'crossed-over' again for lunch - and siesta (or just plain-old gisting) and getting ready for prep.
The bell/siren rang again, prep was one of those social experiments - girls seemed to be able to fight over anything, noise, pencil, seat for prep, pens, stinginess, et ce tera! There was some healthy competitiveness for marks and for revising hard, which was quite stimulating in an environment of very intelligent people.
The bell/siren rang yet again (did these people watch Sound of Music one too many times or something? Whistles? Bells? )
End of prep, and the time to crossover to the other side, for some much needed sleep.
However, you get to your dorm, and you hear
"Who stole my milk/cereal/tissue/slippers? If it was you, you better confess now, or else, your feet will become twisted....blablablabla?" you try to sleep amidst this noise, and then you are confronted for being quiet. "It must be you! Why are you so quiet? don't you feel anything for Linda?" Noises...noises...noises....
Anyone mention Uncouth ladies?
So you wake up at an unheard of time, just so you can avoid the morning rush for showers, and also, shower in a cleanish bathroom. There is something about traffic that even the cleaning-up process of the body can result in so much dirt and untidiness! How ironic!
So, you wake up, go clean your beautiful body up, and then come back to your dormitory to sleep! I know I know strange. But that is how we did it back then.
Boarding house life as a senior girl is markedly different from life as a junior girl. At least you did not have to run so many errands for seniors. Yet when we became senior girls, just when you thought you were now in the most senior class, they changed the rules, now we were to be housed according to our classes, no more junior girls in the dorms. needless to say, the junior girls were happy to be released from the throng of errands, and felt they could regain some aspects of their life back. Or so they thought. Some of my mates still wanted the junior girls to pay penance for the way that 'they' were treated by other seniors, hence, the somewhat embarrassing trek to the junior's dorm to ask a junior girl to fetch you water, or go buy something for you, or iron your housewear (we had the laundry room then where they did our ironing, but seniors, would be seniors).
The separation into class-dorms also meant we were responsible for the cleaning of the dormitories, and matey (Matron) obviously relished in this. She would come in the morning, to wake any late comers up with lashes! Yes. lashes.
Ah, I digress. Boarding house life - you wake up - do your morning duty - sweeping, cleaning, washing, you name it, all to be inspected by an ever dissatisfied senior. Then you made your way to the dining hall for breakfast - usually bread with either fish stew, butter or egg, during the week anyways.
Afterwards, the bell rang (later became the siren) you 'crossed-over' to the main school for assembly, and the day goes normally, until after classes when the bell/siren rang again and you 'crossed-over' again for lunch - and siesta (or just plain-old gisting) and getting ready for prep.
The bell/siren rang again, prep was one of those social experiments - girls seemed to be able to fight over anything, noise, pencil, seat for prep, pens, stinginess, et ce tera! There was some healthy competitiveness for marks and for revising hard, which was quite stimulating in an environment of very intelligent people.
The bell/siren rang yet again (did these people watch Sound of Music one too many times or something? Whistles? Bells? )
End of prep, and the time to crossover to the other side, for some much needed sleep.
However, you get to your dorm, and you hear
"Who stole my milk/cereal/tissue/slippers? If it was you, you better confess now, or else, your feet will become twisted....blablablabla?" you try to sleep amidst this noise, and then you are confronted for being quiet. "It must be you! Why are you so quiet? don't you feel anything for Linda?" Noises...noises...noises....
Anyone mention Uncouth ladies?
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
QC Communication
The dissemination of information or news in Queens College occurred via various methods. The school had its own organized communication system, although not as conventional as a postal service, people still received information. Here are examples of how information was communicated in QC:
Junior Girl Method: For example, if I was in my Efunjoke dorm and I wanted to communicate with my fellow friend who was located in Obi house or in the classroom block, I would send a junior girl.
Information for boarding house students: For example, if I was a senior girl and I wanted to communicate that inter house sport practice was going to be starting on Monday at 5pm, I would assign a group of junior girls ranging from 6-8 to chant sing and clap the following at quadrangle and across all the dorms for 20 minutes – “All Efujoke girls should report to the sport field at 5:30pm “
Boarding house students communicating information to their parents- I would beg my friend to call my house and tell my Mom to come and see me or send food or money through my neighbor who was a day girl.
Phone Booth: In 1997, QC had its own phone booth where boarders could use a loaded Nitel phone card to call home. Students could call home during break time, after school and during dinner time. I don’t know how effective this phone booth was because for junior girls it was difficult to ever get a turn because some senior girls camped in front of the phone all day trying to make phone calls to their boyfriends.
Assembly: At Monday and Thursday assembly, the principal communicated information pertaining to students and teachers.
QC Aurora: A magazine published by the news club that highlighted various activities that have taking place in QC and also upcoming important events
QC Reporters: These were students who were part of the news club that provided information on both local and international news.
Junior Girl Method: For example, if I was in my Efunjoke dorm and I wanted to communicate with my fellow friend who was located in Obi house or in the classroom block, I would send a junior girl.
Information for boarding house students: For example, if I was a senior girl and I wanted to communicate that inter house sport practice was going to be starting on Monday at 5pm, I would assign a group of junior girls ranging from 6-8 to chant sing and clap the following at quadrangle and across all the dorms for 20 minutes – “All Efujoke girls should report to the sport field at 5:30pm “
Boarding house students communicating information to their parents- I would beg my friend to call my house and tell my Mom to come and see me or send food or money through my neighbor who was a day girl.
Phone Booth: In 1997, QC had its own phone booth where boarders could use a loaded Nitel phone card to call home. Students could call home during break time, after school and during dinner time. I don’t know how effective this phone booth was because for junior girls it was difficult to ever get a turn because some senior girls camped in front of the phone all day trying to make phone calls to their boyfriends.
Assembly: At Monday and Thursday assembly, the principal communicated information pertaining to students and teachers.
QC Aurora: A magazine published by the news club that highlighted various activities that have taking place in QC and also upcoming important events
QC Reporters: These were students who were part of the news club that provided information on both local and international news.
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
QC Back Gate- Qc Front Gate
For the day girls, we all know about the different activities that happened at the front and back gate.
Back Gate- This was the gate where you could buy spicy chicken, it was near flavors, it was close to Unilag. All the activity and drama occurred at this gate. Some KC boys used to come and toast girls at back gate. Party organizers came to drop their IVs at this gate. It got bad one time that the principal started filming girls talking to boys at back gate.
Front Gate – The more conservative gate.. Nothing happened at this gate. No spicy chicken.. just plain old ice cream.I wonder why though.
Back Gate- This was the gate where you could buy spicy chicken, it was near flavors, it was close to Unilag. All the activity and drama occurred at this gate. Some KC boys used to come and toast girls at back gate. Party organizers came to drop their IVs at this gate. It got bad one time that the principal started filming girls talking to boys at back gate.
Front Gate – The more conservative gate.. Nothing happened at this gate. No spicy chicken.. just plain old ice cream.I wonder why though.
Tearing of the pinafore
After JSSCE exams, some girls tore their pinafore to make it look like the senior school uniform which was - (Skirt and Blouse).
The principal found out and punished the girls to wear the junior school uniform for a few weeks of SS1 first semester
The principal found out and punished the girls to wear the junior school uniform for a few weeks of SS1 first semester
Memorable QC Events
Although QC had several events, the most memorable events are as follows:
Scruples - Selected JSS3 girls competed in a beauty pageant similar to Miss World. This event was very fun but, the drama involved in becoming the next Miss Scruples was a lot. For example, some girls had to lose weight. Some girls even lost focus on their studies because they were swaying night and day in the dining hall. A sponsoring senior would punish their student for ours to ensure that they learnt their lines, their walk, their talent and other things.
SS3 Awards Night- This was fun nights where social prefects and their award committee presented awards to SS3 girls. Some of the awards were quite interesting though e.g. Miss Transformation, Miss CNN, Miss Pretty, Miss I love your smile, Miss hair cut, Miss Funny etc. This was one of the few times we were allowed to wear mufftie or baffs to school. In our set, some students wore some pretty scandalous outfits that our principal wanted to cancel it.
Interhouse Sports. QC interhouse sport was a fun hangout time in QC. Different food vendors came and sold food products. Also, other v schools came to QC for the competitive sports competition. I particularly enjoyed the Calisthenics. This was also a time for different boys to come to QC. Some boys came to visit their girlfriends others came to find one.
Queens College Awards Ceremony- Selected Students are presented with academic and conduct awards
Queens College Graduation- The graduation ceremony was interesting but I remember the food part where graduating senior gave food to hungry boarders
Scruples - Selected JSS3 girls competed in a beauty pageant similar to Miss World. This event was very fun but, the drama involved in becoming the next Miss Scruples was a lot. For example, some girls had to lose weight. Some girls even lost focus on their studies because they were swaying night and day in the dining hall. A sponsoring senior would punish their student for ours to ensure that they learnt their lines, their walk, their talent and other things.
SS3 Awards Night- This was fun nights where social prefects and their award committee presented awards to SS3 girls. Some of the awards were quite interesting though e.g. Miss Transformation, Miss CNN, Miss Pretty, Miss I love your smile, Miss hair cut, Miss Funny etc. This was one of the few times we were allowed to wear mufftie or baffs to school. In our set, some students wore some pretty scandalous outfits that our principal wanted to cancel it.
Interhouse Sports. QC interhouse sport was a fun hangout time in QC. Different food vendors came and sold food products. Also, other v schools came to QC for the competitive sports competition. I particularly enjoyed the Calisthenics. This was also a time for different boys to come to QC. Some boys came to visit their girlfriends others came to find one.
Queens College Awards Ceremony- Selected Students are presented with academic and conduct awards
Queens College Graduation- The graduation ceremony was interesting but I remember the food part where graduating senior gave food to hungry boarders
Impressionable Teachers
I remember a few teachers because of their fun personality, their story telling and just other things.
1) Mr. Oyedemefun - Introtech Teacher (JSS2)-- The gist was that he was fond of your girls and even expressed it indirectly while teaching
2) Mrs. Aganga- Integrated Science (JSS3) -- She was very strict in her methods. She made us memorize the periodic table. One time as we came late to chemistry class in the labs and as we were running somebody broke the Ammonia Bottle. Our Midterm Punishment - 1000 lines of writing the following statement “I will never be late to Class again"
3) Aunty T: Economics Teacher (SS1) I loved her fun personality. She made economics fun and interesting. She had good real life application examples to explain supply and demand and other economic terms.
4) Mrs. Oguniake - People wondered why her hair style remained the same and why she wore that wig.
4) Mrs. Ogunbekun- She was our head teacher for SS1 assembly. She was always quick to punish us or send us out for assembly in ss2
5) Mr. Obassa- Art Teacher - Mr. Obassa was a very talented artist. As a side business, he sold paintings and even took photographs of students for a fee. I even asked him to paint something for my Dad and gave it to him on his birthday.
6 ) Mrs. Orakuwsi – French Teacher
1) Mr. Oyedemefun - Introtech Teacher (JSS2)-- The gist was that he was fond of your girls and even expressed it indirectly while teaching
2) Mrs. Aganga- Integrated Science (JSS3) -- She was very strict in her methods. She made us memorize the periodic table. One time as we came late to chemistry class in the labs and as we were running somebody broke the Ammonia Bottle. Our Midterm Punishment - 1000 lines of writing the following statement “I will never be late to Class again"
3) Aunty T: Economics Teacher (SS1) I loved her fun personality. She made economics fun and interesting. She had good real life application examples to explain supply and demand and other economic terms.
4) Mrs. Oguniake - People wondered why her hair style remained the same and why she wore that wig.
4) Mrs. Ogunbekun- She was our head teacher for SS1 assembly. She was always quick to punish us or send us out for assembly in ss2
5) Mr. Obassa- Art Teacher - Mr. Obassa was a very talented artist. As a side business, he sold paintings and even took photographs of students for a fee. I even asked him to paint something for my Dad and gave it to him on his birthday.
6 ) Mrs. Orakuwsi – French Teacher
Other QC Terms
Cross Over: A term used to describe the studsents entering and exiting the boarding house facility
Chonko- Best Friend
Dinning Hall Ninja: Girls that love to hurry to the dinning hall to eat all the food and meat
Dinning Hall Badge- A food stain on your school uniform, house wear or Sunday wear
Slabs: A tap area were students can fetch water, or watch their uniforms or dinning hall cutlery
Muftie- Clothes other than your uniform
Princi - The school Principal
Razz girl - A girl that was local
Matie- Boarding house matrons
Brainy - An exceptional brilliant girl
Ajayi Worker - Somebody who liked to over do things
gist - Information
CNN - Somebody who had all the latest information and gist in school and also knew how to spread the gist well
Shadowing- In SS2, during prefect selection, girls observed and imitated outgoing prefect- This process is defined as shadowing
Prep Time- A time set aside for studying
Prep Time- 4: 30 - 6:00pm and 7:30-10 pm (Seniors) 7:30- 9pm (Juniors)
Lights Out - 9pm (Juniors)
Chonko- Best Friend
Dinning Hall Ninja: Girls that love to hurry to the dinning hall to eat all the food and meat
Dinning Hall Badge- A food stain on your school uniform, house wear or Sunday wear
Slabs: A tap area were students can fetch water, or watch their uniforms or dinning hall cutlery
Muftie- Clothes other than your uniform
Princi - The school Principal
Razz girl - A girl that was local
Matie- Boarding house matrons
Brainy - An exceptional brilliant girl
Ajayi Worker - Somebody who liked to over do things
gist - Information
CNN - Somebody who had all the latest information and gist in school and also knew how to spread the gist well
Shadowing- In SS2, during prefect selection, girls observed and imitated outgoing prefect- This process is defined as shadowing
Prep Time- A time set aside for studying
Prep Time- 4: 30 - 6:00pm and 7:30-10 pm (Seniors) 7:30- 9pm (Juniors)
Lights Out - 9pm (Juniors)
Monday, June 21, 2010
WRITE IT ON THE WALL
One very common feature of the classroom apart frim the windos, blackboard, calendars and charts were the writing on the wall. They were everywhere on the wall like a spider's web, they were almost ceiling high.
The writings on the wall were mostly grammatical errors, one could be having a typical conversation with a friend and "shell" ( make a grammatical error) or it would be a teacher talking and just "shell", next would come a cheer and a scream and then someone would volunteer to "write it on the wall". The writings were done in chalk or in pencil, it really didn't matter, some girls had a notebook solely for that, I had one too. One classic writing on the wall that i would never forget is "Open the air and let the window come inside". I refuse to tell you who said that.
The writings on the wall were mostly grammatical errors, one could be having a typical conversation with a friend and "shell" ( make a grammatical error) or it would be a teacher talking and just "shell", next would come a cheer and a scream and then someone would volunteer to "write it on the wall". The writings were done in chalk or in pencil, it really didn't matter, some girls had a notebook solely for that, I had one too. One classic writing on the wall that i would never forget is "Open the air and let the window come inside". I refuse to tell you who said that.
LE FUTUR PORCHE
So in JSS3, we had this french teacher who was real skinny and light in complexion. She was a new teacher or rather a substitute. She had this thing with wearing baggy clothes on her very skinny self and she seemed to drift back and forth the blackboard clutching her handbag , at least any normal teacher would put her handbag down. She didnt feel relaxed, almost felt like when she was unsuspecting, someone would snatch he purse.
There was only one avid member of the class who checked the French dictionary and answered her numerous questions and sometimes i wonder what the word 'le future porche" meant, i think she said something about future tense, but the fact is that she used the word so often that it stuck
There was only one avid member of the class who checked the French dictionary and answered her numerous questions and sometimes i wonder what the word 'le future porche" meant, i think she said something about future tense, but the fact is that she used the word so often that it stuck
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
Have you filled my Sign-out book?
Crossing over from a class year to another class year, does anyone still have their sign-out books?
I still have mine. Some wrote people's names according to how 'close' they were, others had the entire class in their signout book, while some were more selective.
Reading through mine, questions like, what is your favourite colour, music, food, present, actor, actress, musician, movie, etc were asked. Not entirely sure why we wanted to know that, but I suppose now, they could be useful for an anthropological study on our tastes back then.
I found the usually final questions of what do you like about me, what do you hate about me to be of particular interest. Some people were more diplomatic than others, while others were extremely blunt!
I suppose, you get what you ask for...
QC... bank
Many incidences of theft occurred with boarders' monies. Seeing as all we had were lockers, and tiny padlocks to lock them (those padlocks were more a box-ticking exercise, than a serious deterrent to crime).
To think that the same girls who were being educated to be fashionable, sophisticated, classy women were petty thieves is unbelievable, but trust me, there were a few culprits, who stole for the fun of it (Think Thomas Crown in the Thomas Crown affair) they were just thieves, period.
In response to this, the school decided to introduce a banking system - led by Citi. Although a tad bit tedious, in that you had to write yourself a cheque, and sign it, then queued at a make-shift container-bank whenever you needed money; the system mostly worked.
Doubtful how sustainable it was, does anyone know if this system still exists 10 years on?
To think that the same girls who were being educated to be fashionable, sophisticated, classy women were petty thieves is unbelievable, but trust me, there were a few culprits, who stole for the fun of it (Think Thomas Crown in the Thomas Crown affair) they were just thieves, period.
In response to this, the school decided to introduce a banking system - led by Citi. Although a tad bit tedious, in that you had to write yourself a cheque, and sign it, then queued at a make-shift container-bank whenever you needed money; the system mostly worked.
Doubtful how sustainable it was, does anyone know if this system still exists 10 years on?
Preparing for school - sexy uniforms, housewear anyone?
A new school year meant a new trip to the school uniform tailors. At least for most of us it did. If you had grown in height/weight over the summer holidays, or you just wanted to introduce some new funkiness into your dreary housewear wardrobe.
I mean the standard housewear, whilst comfortable was so unflattering, and as most people became seniors/attained puberty (whichever one came first), so arose the need to don some figure-hugging housewears, much to the chagrin of our teachers, especially the male ones ;-)
So one went to the recommended tailors, or at least try to get one's skirts as close to the A-line style of the school, otherwise, you could be sent back for a skirt that was too flattering, that seemed more like a pencil skirt, or that was too A-line. Some pupils dared and wore relatively short skirts, I think more to flaunt their disregard for rules, than any attempt at being sexy...I mean, when were scrawny legs ever sexy-----although I might add, in the eyes of a 14 year old girl, they very might as well have been considered sexy!
I mean the standard housewear, whilst comfortable was so unflattering, and as most people became seniors/attained puberty (whichever one came first), so arose the need to don some figure-hugging housewears, much to the chagrin of our teachers, especially the male ones ;-)
So one went to the recommended tailors, or at least try to get one's skirts as close to the A-line style of the school, otherwise, you could be sent back for a skirt that was too flattering, that seemed more like a pencil skirt, or that was too A-line. Some pupils dared and wore relatively short skirts, I think more to flaunt their disregard for rules, than any attempt at being sexy...I mean, when were scrawny legs ever sexy-----although I might add, in the eyes of a 14 year old girl, they very might as well have been considered sexy!
Day in the life of a day girl
Depending on where you resided in Lagos, you woke up at about 7am to get ready for school. Some people were on the school bus route, and others were taken to school by their parents or went in school groups with other friends, many others had to make their way by the public transport system.
I remember getting ready for school meticulously, your shoes had to be polished, your socks clean and the appropriate books to be had in your school bag. Then you went to school, through traffic all the way to Yaba, and hurried to your classroom, before making your way to assembly. Lateness was frowned upon - something that, in a country like Nigeria known for African time, we tried to adhere to (puzzling though how easily most of us have reverted back to the African time!)
Assembly was a time of nervousness for some people, as you never quite knew whether or not you would be punished for whispering, talking, having long-ish nails, looking as though you had eye-liner in your eyes, you name it!
Then after assembly, we had classes. As a junior girl, most of our classes included English, Mathematics, Literature( I think) and Introductory Technology and Integrated Science. Some teachers were obviously more adept at teaching than others. Some were able to transport you to the scene of the story - who remembers the story of the Sluggard with Mrs Nnaji, or the poem - they say they are better than me, yet they can't walk to the top of the hill. They say they are better than me, but when they blow their nose, they pocket the stuff! Joys!
Break time was a trip to tuck shop, and as a junior girl, you hurried to go, before a senior girl stopped you and sent you to buy loads of food stuff, sometimes without giving you enough money (funny how those same senior girls tried to become your best friends upon finding out you had a senior brother, cute or not cute :-))
Classes recommenced after break, by which time we were mostly tired, but the second part of school was much shorter than the first.
End of school was marked with the ringing of the school bell, and we day girls scurried to meet our drivers, or wait by the back gate, or speak to the boys we knew would be waiting dutifully for us at backgate. Why is it that most things to do with the back, backgate etc were dodgy!
Others had to make their way by public transport, and one day after waiting impatiently for my parent's driver, I agreed to try out public transport with a friend. I found it quite fun, and even now, I think upon that experience with nostalgia.. Needless to say, my daddy was not very happy when I got home that I had not waited for the driver...
Dining Hall
Ding Dong, the bell rang, it was meal time.
When I joined boarding house, you queued at the ground floor to be served your food by the cooks, but as many more people became boarders and queue times became extremely long, the food-serving system was adjusted, to allow for speedy serving of foods.
So we had a huge container of food per table, and each table had seniors and juniors, and there was the whole seniority aspect in the serving of food, as was the case with everything in QC.
The system mostly worked, although tales of senior girls seizing a whole bowl and leaving junior girls semi-full were not unheard of!
When I joined boarding house, you queued at the ground floor to be served your food by the cooks, but as many more people became boarders and queue times became extremely long, the food-serving system was adjusted, to allow for speedy serving of foods.
So we had a huge container of food per table, and each table had seniors and juniors, and there was the whole seniority aspect in the serving of food, as was the case with everything in QC.
The system mostly worked, although tales of senior girls seizing a whole bowl and leaving junior girls semi-full were not unheard of!
Quadrangle
Do you remember quadrangle, The area made of 4 angles where the different boarding house dormitory buildings were situated. Quadrangle, which we had to sweep in the mornings, quadrangle where people gathered to count down and sing happy birthday to you!
Quadrangle was also the place where you could get punished, or where you had to meet up with your friends before going to the dining hall for meals....
What are your memories of the quadrangle? What did you do there?
Quadrangle was also the place where you could get punished, or where you had to meet up with your friends before going to the dining hall for meals....
What are your memories of the quadrangle? What did you do there?
Hair style
Do you remember when compulsory braiding of hair was eradicated? Goodness! Such joy, such happiness among students, and the same amount of bewilderment amongst teachers and prefects, possibly wondering how this new freedom might be taken advantage of.
I remember different girls who, due to not having very long hair resorted to hair-growth-enhancing products, aka virgin! And the different attempts 'hair-must-pack!'
Looking back now, I actually think we looked really nice with braided hair, something of African pride and beauty...
I remember different girls who, due to not having very long hair resorted to hair-growth-enhancing products, aka virgin! And the different attempts 'hair-must-pack!'
Looking back now, I actually think we looked really nice with braided hair, something of African pride and beauty...
Assembly Line
One could never forget assembly line. Through the different principals, Mrs Marinho, Mrs Sojinrin and Mrs Euler-Ajayi. They had their different styles, but the principal one most remembers is Mrs Sojinrin, if only by virtue of the fact that she was our principal for much of the time we were at QC.
So assembly, for some reason, we were always hesitant to be punctual, especially as we got to our more senior years! So we literally had to be ushered/forced to assembly by the tireless Miss Ogunbekun. Goodness, I'm sure we must have added some grey hairs to her head!
Assembly was the first thing one did in the mornings, and included the national anthem, school song and school prayer. Also prefects would go down the line, checking people's uniforms, shoes, nails, hair, make-up, you name it. Discipline was indeed the order of the day!
So assembly, for some reason, we were always hesitant to be punctual, especially as we got to our more senior years! So we literally had to be ushered/forced to assembly by the tireless Miss Ogunbekun. Goodness, I'm sure we must have added some grey hairs to her head!
Assembly was the first thing one did in the mornings, and included the national anthem, school song and school prayer. Also prefects would go down the line, checking people's uniforms, shoes, nails, hair, make-up, you name it. Discipline was indeed the order of the day!
Sunday, June 13, 2010
EH RUSH EH
The school snacking system that began when i was in SS2 was one revolution i would never forget.Tuck shop was closed down for whatever reason but our lunch was catered to is in our classrooms with a bottle of coke delivered by the big red Coca Cola truck that came everyday. Friday lunch was the worst, plantain chips with a bottle of Coke, are u kidding me,the best days were Meat pie days and i think that was Monday, those meat pies were like gold so if one didn't get meat pie, the person would automatically put on her "interesting side" I remember once it is break time and the snacks with drinks got delivered words like "open sesame" became obsolete, the new term, "everybody eh rush eh" was the magic word and the worst behavior would come out. These girls that would form "posh i am too cute to eat eba" or that act like they never use the bathroom should have been checked out at break time,it was like a "Eat or Die" kind of thing. On the days that chemistry students had class right before break and government girls would be in class, we would pray that Chemistry teacher would finish early before the government students would descend on the snacks. Those days were fun and i would never trade that experience for anything.
ASSEMBLY
The school had a variety of assemblies, on a certain day each week, we had different kinds of assemblies. Monday and Thursday was assembly with PQC, those assemblies were pretty long, various announcements were made, the school press gave their news for the day and that was during Thursday assembly and after the school song and the pledge, students happily jogged back to their classrooms.
Tuesday was House Assembly. The six houses had their assemblies in different locations. My house held its assmbly behind the Gym. The assembly was usually led by the House Captain who made announcements, gave advice, said the school prayer, pledge and released the students for first lecture.
Wednesday was Tutorial and we had our assembly with our class advisers. It was one assembly most students never looked forward to in SS1 especially the fear of being punished. It was like we always did something wrong, our classrooms were either untidy or we made too much noise,it was always one thing or another and we always spent most of the time kneeling down when we were in SS1.
Friday assembly was the Christian or Muslim assembly. The Christians held their assembly on the regular assembly ground led by the Christian Religious Knowledge teachers while the Muslims held their own assembly in the Gym.
Everyday of the week, we had one assembly or another to look forward to.
Tuesday was House Assembly. The six houses had their assemblies in different locations. My house held its assmbly behind the Gym. The assembly was usually led by the House Captain who made announcements, gave advice, said the school prayer, pledge and released the students for first lecture.
Wednesday was Tutorial and we had our assembly with our class advisers. It was one assembly most students never looked forward to in SS1 especially the fear of being punished. It was like we always did something wrong, our classrooms were either untidy or we made too much noise,it was always one thing or another and we always spent most of the time kneeling down when we were in SS1.
Friday assembly was the Christian or Muslim assembly. The Christians held their assembly on the regular assembly ground led by the Christian Religious Knowledge teachers while the Muslims held their own assembly in the Gym.
Everyday of the week, we had one assembly or another to look forward to.
EXIT OF A PRINCIPAL
I remember sitting in the car that morning on my way to school thinking "today is going to be a bad day" the clouds were gray and the weather looked depressing.
I got to the assembly ground rather late and PQC wass standing up there on the balcony addressing a bunch of morose looking young ladies.
"And this is my last assembly with you" she said. What did she mean by that, other gils were murmuring and talking back and forth to each other.
"I can't believe she is leaving" someone said.
"Who is leaving?" i asked.
"Princi is leaving." some other girl replied.
The Principal was leaving. What an announcement. The whole school was thrown in disarray, no one wanted to have lectures, senior students made placards stating that they still wanted the principal around, they marched around the school with the placards throwing the whole school into an uproar. some students actually sat on the stairs looking scared, others cried. The emotional aspect of the situation was overwhelming but regardless of what happened, the day ended after she had calmed everyone down. What a day!!!!!!!
I got to the assembly ground rather late and PQC wass standing up there on the balcony addressing a bunch of morose looking young ladies.
"And this is my last assembly with you" she said. What did she mean by that, other gils were murmuring and talking back and forth to each other.
"I can't believe she is leaving" someone said.
"Who is leaving?" i asked.
"Princi is leaving." some other girl replied.
The Principal was leaving. What an announcement. The whole school was thrown in disarray, no one wanted to have lectures, senior students made placards stating that they still wanted the principal around, they marched around the school with the placards throwing the whole school into an uproar. some students actually sat on the stairs looking scared, others cried. The emotional aspect of the situation was overwhelming but regardless of what happened, the day ended after she had calmed everyone down. What a day!!!!!!!
SAMOSA PALACE
Samosa Palace becmae the hot spot for student's during extension classes for JSSCE. Those hot Samosa's were clearly irresistible or else one would have stayed away. It was break time and so a friend of mine decided to eat Samosa's for lunch and just the fact that we mentioned it out loud, someone overheard us and soon other girls were handing us money with change instructions on how many to buy, we were swamped with requests from other class girls.
Ten minutes later, my friend and i headed happily towards Samosa Palace. We walked in through the white gates that led to the Staff Quarters where the Samosa's were sold.
Unkwon to us, the vice principal was sitting in a chair well hidden under a tree whose branches were seriously drooping and there were two girls beside her, they were on their knees. It was too late to run, we had walked right into her trap.
"Come here, don't run awa" she said. We went close to her and knelt down beside her.
"We have said it over and over again, this place is out of bounds, you are in trouble today" she mumbled. Before she could say anything else, two other girls walked into the trap and she instructed them to kneel down.
We were there until 12pm which was after break time. It was a Friday and so once the bell rang, most students went back to their classrooms. She instructed us to get up and we walked towards the Admin building. We knelt down there for another hour and then the secretary came out with a notebook and told us to write our names. There were about six of us, a combination of junior girls and senior girls and in turns we wrote down our names. She took the notebook and went back into the office, by then we all came to the conclusion that we were going to get suspended.
Later the vice principal came and addressed us, she told us to go home, we were actually there until almost the end of school.The whole weekend my mind was not well rested as i anticipated hearing my name called out during assembly in relation to the incident ,i think it was that weekend i learned how to pray because the name calling during assembly never happened.
Ten minutes later, my friend and i headed happily towards Samosa Palace. We walked in through the white gates that led to the Staff Quarters where the Samosa's were sold.
Unkwon to us, the vice principal was sitting in a chair well hidden under a tree whose branches were seriously drooping and there were two girls beside her, they were on their knees. It was too late to run, we had walked right into her trap.
"Come here, don't run awa" she said. We went close to her and knelt down beside her.
"We have said it over and over again, this place is out of bounds, you are in trouble today" she mumbled. Before she could say anything else, two other girls walked into the trap and she instructed them to kneel down.
We were there until 12pm which was after break time. It was a Friday and so once the bell rang, most students went back to their classrooms. She instructed us to get up and we walked towards the Admin building. We knelt down there for another hour and then the secretary came out with a notebook and told us to write our names. There were about six of us, a combination of junior girls and senior girls and in turns we wrote down our names. She took the notebook and went back into the office, by then we all came to the conclusion that we were going to get suspended.
Later the vice principal came and addressed us, she told us to go home, we were actually there until almost the end of school.The whole weekend my mind was not well rested as i anticipated hearing my name called out during assembly in relation to the incident ,i think it was that weekend i learned how to pray because the name calling during assembly never happened.
Lecture Theatre - Mr Olowokere
Do you remember Mr Olowokere? Our geography teacher in the pale pink/lilac coloured lecture theatre. He was so interesting. For some reason or another, I think we irked him, or perhaps he was not happy with the fact that we didn’t take the erosion of land seriously enough….
Coach Asuquo
Coach Asuquo
A new coach from Ghana I think, his arrival at QC was met with many waves of excitement, the appeal of something different, new, refreshing, breathing new life to our sports time. At QC, we boarders had a few days in the week devoted to exercising, and preparing for interhouse sports. We had the high jump, javelin throw, 100m sprint, 400m race. Also Coach Asuquo brought with him hockey. We learnt to play hockey. I found it quite exciting, you know, a game I had never really participated in before, and we all threw ourselves into it with gusto. Some turned out to be quite good, and after afternoon siesta, we looked forward to engaging in this new sport.
Coach Asuquo was a funny personality, and a humble man. I remember him positively.
Do you remember
Do you remember?
It was a beautiful summer day on July 2010. So many people were gathered in the marquees spread across the gardens, fresh flowers everywhere, soft music was playing quietly in the background. About a hundred women were present, some with their partners. All the elements worked together to create a sophisticated and classy event.
The event, the 10th year reunion of QC girls. So many things had happened since in those 10years, many of these people had gone on to become established in their chosen careers, doctors, accountants, lawyers, bankers, architects, engineers, interior designers, fashion gurus, journalists, you name it. Sadly, some had passed on.
Seun, Femi, Tola and Bisi were amongst the many women present. They were not so close whilst they were in QC, but life’s events had brought them together.
Seun met Femi at university, and they had formed a firm friendship. Bisi and Tola met through their boyfriends, ‘small world’ they both echoed as they were introduced. Bisi had kept in touch with Seun since QC, despite the fact that she was in the States and Seun was in the UK.
Bisi saw Seun approaching the marquee, she ran to embrace her.
‘Hi Seun!, how are you?’ Bisi said excitedly. ‘Oh my, it is so lovely to see you, you look so classy!’ Bisi remarked as she took in Seun’s yolk yellow knee-length dress, and beautiful mother-of-pearl earrings.
‘You are not looking too bad yourself my dear, you look well and you have been able to maintain your figure! Lucky you’ Seun replied.
‘Haba now, it’s not that bad, we have all tried you know, being a woman in your late 20s is not easy, what with managing a career, late hours, professional exams, meeting with friends, partying, it is not that easy to exercise, it really isn’t….ah’ Femi said. Always the voice of reason, always calm, she was a gynaecologist, and the job suited her finely.
‘Oh my, it is so lovely to see everyone, we haven’t changed at all. From JSS1 in 1995, some people are still the same,’ Tola said as she looked at the attendees at the marquee. ‘See that is Lola, look at her! Poised and classy, she has not changed one bit, well not in appearance.’
‘Ahn ahn Tola, that is not fair, everyone has their time and moments, and she hasn’t seen many of the people here in ages, I’m sure she will join in the fun soon’ Femi said.
‘Bisi, can you remember when Mrs Aganga asked her to write the names of everyone who was making noise and she wrote your name! Oh my goodness, I cannot forget that day. Bisi you showed her pepper for months, na wa o’ Seun said.
‘Or can you remember when we all went for assembly and Mrs Sojinrin’s hair was styled in a funny way, hehe, I do not know what was more amusing, us trying to maintain a serious face, or her acting like nothing was wrong’ Tola said
‘Can you remember the different interhouse sports that we had? People going through so much effort to buy the best trainers, and look hot! Oh my, all the different fakes that were sported that day, Nikke, Rebok, Pumma, ha ha!’ Those were the days……
10 years since QC, this book is about our, the different experiences we had whilst we were at QC, the good times, fun times, not so happy times and the competitive moments. We have tried to be as accurate as possible, but this book has been written in a prose form for continuity and also to preserve some identities. Enjoy!
What do you remember?
Thursday, June 10, 2010
First Day @ QC
It was November 4, 1996. This was no ordinary day; it was a new beginning for Yemi Benson. She was finally starting secondary school at Queen’s College, Yaba Lagos. She had waited for several weeks for this day. The admission process into Queen’s College had been very difficult for several reasons.
Queen’s College was one of the prestigious federal government colleges in the country; housing and training the brightest girls in Nigeria. The school was ranked among the top five secondary schools in Nigeria; it had a record of having the best Junior Secondary School Examination (JSSCE) and West African School Certificate Examination results (WSSCE).
At that time, everybody wanted their daughter to attend Queen’s College. Admission into Queen’s College was very competitive. Like any other Federal government school, students could be admitted into Queen’s College by two methods. By writing a competitive National Common Entrance exam, where students are given admission into federal government secondary school of their choice based on their performance of the examination. The second method involved applying through the Federal Ministry of Education for a transfer into Queens College in JSS2 and SS1.
In Yemi Benson’s case, her family had just relocated to Nigeria from the United States that October. She was 11 years old and she had just started the 7th grade, equivalent of JSS1. Unfortunately for her, the National Common Entrance Examination was written only in April and she had missed that opportunity. There were two options for her at time, either wait another year or write the National Common Entrance Examination the following April or apply for a transfer to JSS2.
Yemi’s Benson’s parents chose the second option. Attending Queens College had been her Mother’s dream. It was where all the girls in her mother’s family had attended. Her grandmother, mother, aunty and female cousins had all attended Queen’s College. And her mother did not want her to be any different or left out from getting her education from the best female secondary school in Nigeria.
The admission process was not very straight forward. It was not entirely based on academic performance but also based on your connections. Her aunty knew somebody in the Federal Ministry of Education who said that they could help with the admission if her family were willing to pay a N75, 000 fee. After paying the fee and after weeks and weeks of waiting and going to the Federal Ministry of Education, Yemi’s Benson Admission letter finally came in on Thursday, October 31, 2006.
That Thursday evening, Mr. Lanre Benson came home excited from work and said, “God has answered our prayers. Yemi you are going to Queen’s College. Your admission letter along with your boarding house accommodation came in today”
“Thank you Jesus” her mother shouted
Yemi looked very indifferent. She did not understand what the fuss was about. There were so many other schools in Lagos including private ones, why had parents not just sent her to one of those.
“My daughter, you don’t look very excited. Don’t you know that you are going to get the best education from the best and most experienced teachers in the country?”
“Mommy I am happy. At least I get to go to school; I have been sitting at home ever since we moved back”
“Good. Don’t worry you will like Queens College. You know that is where I went to school. All your cousins are there. “
Lanre Benson butted in “Anyway Ireti the admission letter came with boarding house accommodation.”
“ Daddy I want to go to the boarding house. It will be a good experience”
“Honey, I don’t think we should send her to the boarding house. I feel that she will have a lot to adjust to and it would good to monitor her academic progress from home
The academic system in the US and Nigeria are quite different"
“ Ireti I agree with you. Anyway you guys should be prepared to go to the school tomorrow. The admission letter says that you will need to pick up her books from the school book store and pay the school fees at the bursar’s office. You will also need to buy her school uniforms from the school tailor in Onikan.”
“That should be easy, I am sure the school has not changed much since I attended.”
So that Monday morning, Yemi woke up at 5:30am. She said her prayers and wore her ironed blouse and pinafore. She picked up the beret and looked at it in a weird way and wondered why they had chosen a funny looking blue cap with a QC logo for a school cap.
That morning, at the family breakfast with her brother, sister and parents her father spoke to her
“ My dear, I hope you enjoy the first day of school. Remember that you will have a lot of catching up to do. You have missed JSS1. That is an entire academic year. You are also joining your classmates in the middle of the first term of JSS2. Examinations will soon be approaching. So try and get notes from your classmates"
“ Yes Daddy. I know, I will work as hard as I can”
“ Lanre don’t worry , I am sure she will make us proud.”
“ Good Ireti, I want you to take her to school on her first day. I will take Bode and Funmi to school. I want you guys to go early so you can beat the early morning traffic."
“Yes dear, we will head out in the next fifteen minutes”
“ Lets pray then”
After the family prayer, Yemi and her Mom headed for the car and drove to Yaba. The drive to Yaba from Lekki should was a 45 minute drive. That morning Yemi was quite nervous. She did not know what to expect. During the visit to Queen’s College the previous Friday, to pay her fees and pick up her books, she had learnt a lot about the school. She was already feeling overwhelmed. Every JSS2 student was enrolled in sixteen subjects. The subjects included: mathematics, English integrated science, (physics, chemistry, Biology), Yoruba, intro to technology, agricultural science, music, fine arts, business studies, social studies, commerce (shorthand and typewriting), home economics, clothing and Textiles, Christian Religious Studies and French. To her, that was a lot of classes to be enrolled in. In the US, she had taken eight subjects at a time.
Her Mom had also filled her in on how she had to respect seniors even those just a year above her. She was told that these seniors could send her on a errand or even punish her. Yemi was not looking forward to any of this.
“Why should a senior send me around anyway?” She pondered
As they approached the front gate of the school, her mother spoke
“ Yemi, everything may look very challenging but don’t worry I know you will make us proud.”
“ Yes Mommy. I will try”
Her Mom drove into school compound and pointed the location of the junior block . Yemi walked to the Junior block and climbed the stair to JSS2.
To be CONTD!
Queen’s College was one of the prestigious federal government colleges in the country; housing and training the brightest girls in Nigeria. The school was ranked among the top five secondary schools in Nigeria; it had a record of having the best Junior Secondary School Examination (JSSCE) and West African School Certificate Examination results (WSSCE).
At that time, everybody wanted their daughter to attend Queen’s College. Admission into Queen’s College was very competitive. Like any other Federal government school, students could be admitted into Queen’s College by two methods. By writing a competitive National Common Entrance exam, where students are given admission into federal government secondary school of their choice based on their performance of the examination. The second method involved applying through the Federal Ministry of Education for a transfer into Queens College in JSS2 and SS1.
In Yemi Benson’s case, her family had just relocated to Nigeria from the United States that October. She was 11 years old and she had just started the 7th grade, equivalent of JSS1. Unfortunately for her, the National Common Entrance Examination was written only in April and she had missed that opportunity. There were two options for her at time, either wait another year or write the National Common Entrance Examination the following April or apply for a transfer to JSS2.
Yemi’s Benson’s parents chose the second option. Attending Queens College had been her Mother’s dream. It was where all the girls in her mother’s family had attended. Her grandmother, mother, aunty and female cousins had all attended Queen’s College. And her mother did not want her to be any different or left out from getting her education from the best female secondary school in Nigeria.
The admission process was not very straight forward. It was not entirely based on academic performance but also based on your connections. Her aunty knew somebody in the Federal Ministry of Education who said that they could help with the admission if her family were willing to pay a N75, 000 fee. After paying the fee and after weeks and weeks of waiting and going to the Federal Ministry of Education, Yemi’s Benson Admission letter finally came in on Thursday, October 31, 2006.
That Thursday evening, Mr. Lanre Benson came home excited from work and said, “God has answered our prayers. Yemi you are going to Queen’s College. Your admission letter along with your boarding house accommodation came in today”
“Thank you Jesus” her mother shouted
Yemi looked very indifferent. She did not understand what the fuss was about. There were so many other schools in Lagos including private ones, why had parents not just sent her to one of those.
“My daughter, you don’t look very excited. Don’t you know that you are going to get the best education from the best and most experienced teachers in the country?”
“Mommy I am happy. At least I get to go to school; I have been sitting at home ever since we moved back”
“Good. Don’t worry you will like Queens College. You know that is where I went to school. All your cousins are there. “
Lanre Benson butted in “Anyway Ireti the admission letter came with boarding house accommodation.”
“ Daddy I want to go to the boarding house. It will be a good experience”
“Honey, I don’t think we should send her to the boarding house. I feel that she will have a lot to adjust to and it would good to monitor her academic progress from home
The academic system in the US and Nigeria are quite different"
“ Ireti I agree with you. Anyway you guys should be prepared to go to the school tomorrow. The admission letter says that you will need to pick up her books from the school book store and pay the school fees at the bursar’s office. You will also need to buy her school uniforms from the school tailor in Onikan.”
“That should be easy, I am sure the school has not changed much since I attended.”
So that Monday morning, Yemi woke up at 5:30am. She said her prayers and wore her ironed blouse and pinafore. She picked up the beret and looked at it in a weird way and wondered why they had chosen a funny looking blue cap with a QC logo for a school cap.
That morning, at the family breakfast with her brother, sister and parents her father spoke to her
“ My dear, I hope you enjoy the first day of school. Remember that you will have a lot of catching up to do. You have missed JSS1. That is an entire academic year. You are also joining your classmates in the middle of the first term of JSS2. Examinations will soon be approaching. So try and get notes from your classmates"
“ Yes Daddy. I know, I will work as hard as I can”
“ Lanre don’t worry , I am sure she will make us proud.”
“ Good Ireti, I want you to take her to school on her first day. I will take Bode and Funmi to school. I want you guys to go early so you can beat the early morning traffic."
“Yes dear, we will head out in the next fifteen minutes”
“ Lets pray then”
After the family prayer, Yemi and her Mom headed for the car and drove to Yaba. The drive to Yaba from Lekki should was a 45 minute drive. That morning Yemi was quite nervous. She did not know what to expect. During the visit to Queen’s College the previous Friday, to pay her fees and pick up her books, she had learnt a lot about the school. She was already feeling overwhelmed. Every JSS2 student was enrolled in sixteen subjects. The subjects included: mathematics, English integrated science, (physics, chemistry, Biology), Yoruba, intro to technology, agricultural science, music, fine arts, business studies, social studies, commerce (shorthand and typewriting), home economics, clothing and Textiles, Christian Religious Studies and French. To her, that was a lot of classes to be enrolled in. In the US, she had taken eight subjects at a time.
Her Mom had also filled her in on how she had to respect seniors even those just a year above her. She was told that these seniors could send her on a errand or even punish her. Yemi was not looking forward to any of this.
“Why should a senior send me around anyway?” She pondered
As they approached the front gate of the school, her mother spoke
“ Yemi, everything may look very challenging but don’t worry I know you will make us proud.”
“ Yes Mommy. I will try”
Her Mom drove into school compound and pointed the location of the junior block . Yemi walked to the Junior block and climbed the stair to JSS2.
To be CONTD!
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
LAST JSSCE PAPER
I remember the last JSSCE paper we had was technical drawing. It was a class i really didn't care much for and the idea of using TD (technical drawing boards) even made matters worse for some reason,it made us feel like mini architects which we weren't. The T squares were like weapons to us, so sometimes we would T Square fight like a sword fight of some sort. After the last paper, everyone went to the school field throwing the T Squares up in the air causing serious chaos and commotion, writing on pinafores with black ink as well as the pinafore blouses words such as "Kemi was here",Lara class of 1998.Awww those memories
EVOLUTION OF SCHOOL SHOES
The new principal had bitterly complained about the type of shoes we wore to school. Before the evolution of school shoes there was freedom to wear any kind of shoes as long as they were:
1) Brown
2) had a lace to tie
3) Were sandals or covered shores.
Moccasins, loafers and sandals of various sorts were the norm back then, girls would come back to school the next term with new shoes.My shoes were off limits because not only were they brown loafers they had silver metal on the sides, topic for another session. Meanwhile PQC was giving her assembly and her conversation with us which really didn't make sense at that time was
"These shoes you wear are very hurtful, i see some girls walking around in heels and they are not good for your knees, you are young and your legs need to be properly supported so that when you get older you won't suffer the consequences of wearing these shoes at this age so I have decided to design a new pair of shoes that would become part of your uniform."
I listened t her in amazement. True some people had off limit shoes like high heels or my silver sided brown loafers but no one complained.
So after a couple of months, the shoes were ready, they were made by Bata and sincerly those were the ugliest shoes i have ever seen a dn that a young girl would ever wear.
"Who designed these shoes?" was the common question, some said it was "Chupa Chops", others said it was the administration, regardless of who did it, i though they were ugly, some refused to buy it but in order to increase awareness and make us buy them there was a mandatory check for them during assembly and one would be punished if they were not worn. The contractor for those shoes would have been in serious money, by the way the second generation of those shoes were better looking. I wonder if thee was an improvement to these shoes leading to a third generation.
1) Brown
2) had a lace to tie
3) Were sandals or covered shores.
Moccasins, loafers and sandals of various sorts were the norm back then, girls would come back to school the next term with new shoes.My shoes were off limits because not only were they brown loafers they had silver metal on the sides, topic for another session. Meanwhile PQC was giving her assembly and her conversation with us which really didn't make sense at that time was
"These shoes you wear are very hurtful, i see some girls walking around in heels and they are not good for your knees, you are young and your legs need to be properly supported so that when you get older you won't suffer the consequences of wearing these shoes at this age so I have decided to design a new pair of shoes that would become part of your uniform."
I listened t her in amazement. True some people had off limit shoes like high heels or my silver sided brown loafers but no one complained.
So after a couple of months, the shoes were ready, they were made by Bata and sincerly those were the ugliest shoes i have ever seen a dn that a young girl would ever wear.
"Who designed these shoes?" was the common question, some said it was "Chupa Chops", others said it was the administration, regardless of who did it, i though they were ugly, some refused to buy it but in order to increase awareness and make us buy them there was a mandatory check for them during assembly and one would be punished if they were not worn. The contractor for those shoes would have been in serious money, by the way the second generation of those shoes were better looking. I wonder if thee was an improvement to these shoes leading to a third generation.
ALLERGIES
In order to escape punishment, ailment became a remedy and that was an excuse to claim a certain type of allergy or another and it usually worked causing an exemption for the student. The two common allergies known to plague QC girls were "Allergy to toilet water" and "allergy to grass". The latter can be acceptable, the former is absolutely ridiculous.
KOSTE
I was walking past the Victoria Secret's store in the mall and i saw the new poster for their latest Push Up bra, I smiled to myself because i remembered "Koste" from back in the day. I guess it is still called "Koste".It made me think of an Economics teacher who used those bras as an illustration for Supply and demand.
B AND C GIRLS
1. Babade Adeola
2. Babajide Ololade
3. Bablola Tolulope
4. Babatola Adenike
5. Babtola Oluwafeyi
6. Babatola Oluwatoyin
7. Balogun Abimbola
8. Balogun Basirat
9.Balogun Idiatu
10.Balogun Kafayah
11.Balogun Oluwakorede
12.Balogun Omolade
13.Balogun Tolulope
14.Bamigboye Roseline
15.Banjo Abosede
16.Baruwa Olayinka
17. Bashari Abdulahhi B
18 Bashari Hauwa
19. Basharu Hauwa
20. Bassey Omosholape
21 Bellgam Tubonimi
22.Bello Jamila
23.Bello Fadimatu
24.Bellu Georgina
25.Bishi Kafayat
26.Bob Egbe Bolanle
27.Bolaji Oyindamola
28.Borha Bisola
29.Boyd Barbara
30.Braide Eniba
31.Braimah Jane-Therese
32.Buba Mohammed Aisha
33.Caven Doreen
34.Chigbue Amaka
35.Chijioke Osueze Nneka
36.Chira Nneamaka
37.Chukwude Sandra
38.Coker Bolatitio
39.Coker Oreoluwa
40.Dabiri Omolola
41.Dada Oluwatoni
42.Dahiru Jamila
43.Dallas Oluwabusola
44.Daodu Tolabi
45.Davies Gloria
46.Dawodu Jadesola
47.Debo Akande adejoke
48.Didigu Chineye Diette
49.Spiff Ayebaemi.
50.Domingo Temilade
51. Dore Jane
52.Dosunmu Peji
53.Dosunmu Funmilade
54.Dosunmu Odunsi Abioye
55.Douglas Chika
56.Dublin Green Soala
2. Babajide Ololade
3. Bablola Tolulope
4. Babatola Adenike
5. Babtola Oluwafeyi
6. Babatola Oluwatoyin
7. Balogun Abimbola
8. Balogun Basirat
9.Balogun Idiatu
10.Balogun Kafayah
11.Balogun Oluwakorede
12.Balogun Omolade
13.Balogun Tolulope
14.Bamigboye Roseline
15.Banjo Abosede
16.Baruwa Olayinka
17. Bashari Abdulahhi B
18 Bashari Hauwa
19. Basharu Hauwa
20. Bassey Omosholape
21 Bellgam Tubonimi
22.Bello Jamila
23.Bello Fadimatu
24.Bellu Georgina
25.Bishi Kafayat
26.Bob Egbe Bolanle
27.Bolaji Oyindamola
28.Borha Bisola
29.Boyd Barbara
30.Braide Eniba
31.Braimah Jane-Therese
32.Buba Mohammed Aisha
33.Caven Doreen
34.Chigbue Amaka
35.Chijioke Osueze Nneka
36.Chira Nneamaka
37.Chukwude Sandra
38.Coker Bolatitio
39.Coker Oreoluwa
40.Dabiri Omolola
41.Dada Oluwatoni
42.Dahiru Jamila
43.Dallas Oluwabusola
44.Daodu Tolabi
45.Davies Gloria
46.Dawodu Jadesola
47.Debo Akande adejoke
48.Didigu Chineye Diette
49.Spiff Ayebaemi.
50.Domingo Temilade
51. Dore Jane
52.Dosunmu Peji
53.Dosunmu Funmilade
54.Dosunmu Odunsi Abioye
55.Douglas Chika
56.Dublin Green Soala
Saturday, June 5, 2010
THE "A' GIRLS
617 graduated on Sunday June 15,2001. Since about 145 have their last names starting with A i will seperate the list, it would be added together later.
1, Abah Obianuju Ruby 51.Adigun Sinmisola 101. Alabi Omolade Yetunde
2.Abarshi Fatima Marma 52. Adisa Adeogun 102. Alatishe Arinola M
3.Abbe Eseosa Itohan 53.Adun Omolade Oghogho 103. Aliyu Mariam
4.Abdul Adedayo Kafayat 54.Afelele Oluwadamilola Sekinat 104. Alli Abisola Alero
5.Abdul Aderonke Atolani 55.Afolabi Titilola Ololade 105. Alo Babfunke Babafikayo
6.Abdullah Fatima Zainab 56. Agbaosi-Loko Yewande 106. Aluede Abisola Morayo
7.Abdulahhi Zainab 57.Agbetoba Modinat Ololade 107.Amadiume Nnenna J
8.Aboaba Olusola Adebisi 58.Agbetoyinbo A 108. Amao Olabunmi
9.Abolarin Olabimpe O 59. Agbim Nwaamaka Rosemary 109. Amaku Kelechi C
10.Abubakar Farida 60. Agbionu Nneka Maureen 110 Amajor Nene
11. Abudu Adebimpe Aina 61. Agunbiade Omowunmi 111. Aminu Yasmin
12. Abudu Adefolahan 62. Agwuibe Nnkea Rosemary 112. Amosu Stephanie Larai
13.Achinivu Rebecca 63. Aimiuwi Adesuwa 113. Anaesiuba Kelechi
14. Achinivu Kanu Ijeoma 64. Aina Olawumi Olufunke 114. Andah Edemanwa Bassey
15.Achoba Augusta Ojone 65. Aisien Adesuwa 115. Anibaba Tolulope F
16. Adamu Aliyu Fatima 66. Ajao Mosunmade Adebusola 116. Anuimashaun Temitayo
17. Adamu Yahaya Asmau 67. Ajayi Olubukunola.O 117 Animashaun Temitola
18,Adasen Efetobore 68. Ajayi Oyinkansola Modupe 118 Animashaun Tolulope
19. Adebanjo Moturnayo Abisola 69. Ajayi Oluwadamilola 119. Annan Oluwadamilola
20. Adebanjo Adeyinka O 70. Ajayi Temitope 120. Antia Obot
21 Adebayo Morayo Tiwalade 71. Ajediti Temitope 121. Anyanwu Chika Cecilia
22. Adegbite Adedoyin Alice 72.Ajiboye Ololade Adetoun 122. Anyigbo Ijeoma Coreen
23.Adebiyi Abiodun Boluwaji 73. Ajidahun Abimbola 123. Apakama Onyinye
24. Adebowale Adedoyin A 74. Ajufo Onyeka Adesuwa 124. Apulu Eneibimo
25.Adebule Adebukola T 75. Akanbi Folake 125. Arije Bukola Ganiyat
26. Adebule Adetoun Adepeju 76. Akanbi Temitope Olubukola 126. Arokoyo Oluwakemi S
27. Adedeji Aderonke O 77. Akande Grace Olubunmi 127. Aromen Sainab Aibu
28. Adedigba Ololade Fatima 78. Akande Olabisi Halimat 128. Arowosafe Olufunlola
29. Adediran Taiwo Moriamo 79. Akande Oyinkansola 129. Aruna Hadiza Victoria
30. Adedokun Ololade Adetayo 80. Akeredolu Olawunmi 130. Aseroma Jenavi June
31. Adedoyin Wuraola Bamidele 81. Akilo Oluwatosin 131. Ashorobi Tawa
32. Adefuye Oluwagbemisola A 82. Akin-Aderibigbe Adejoke 132. Asugha Alfa Adanma
33. Adejobi Adeyanju Lydia 83. Akinde Soburat Mojisola 133. Atoki Busayo Mary
34. Adekoya Yewande 84. Akindele Oluwabusola 134. Atolagbae Bisayo Y
35. Adekunle Olabisi 85. Akinkuotu Justina O 135. Atolagbe Busayo Y
36.Adeleke Ayomide Elizabeth 86. Akinlabi Abisola 136. Awoleye Oluwaseun
37.Adeleye Oyinade Adewunmi 87. Akinsowon Kehinde. O 137. Awo Onidanla O
38.Adelodun Ibironke 88.Akinsowon Omoyeni 138. Awoponle Ifeoluwa M
39 Ademola Sadipe 89. Akinsowon Taiwo 139. Ayanbadejo Francisca M
40. Ademoyega Oyinkan 90. Akin Taylor Omosalewa 140. Ayanbule Olushola
41. Adeniyi Adesola 91. Akintilo Oluwafemi 141. Ayemi Olayemi
42. Aderemi Adedamola 92. Akinwande Folaseto 142. Ayo Olayinka O
43. Adesina Elizabeth T 93. Akinwolere Ololade 143.Ayodele Oludiya A
44. Adesina Temitope 94. Akinyosoye Oluwaseyifunmi 144. Azeez Damilola
45.Adetoye Abisola 95. Akinyosoye Oyinkansola 145. Azinge Chinenye N
46.Adewale Gladys 96. Akiode Omobolanle
47.Adewusi Yetunde 97. Akiyode Rabiquat Olubusola
48.Adeyeba Adenike 98. Akosionu Odichinma
49.Adeyemi Oluwafunmilola 99. Akpan Esther Idongesit
50. Adeyemi Rosemary 100. Akpofure Okiemute
1, Abah Obianuju Ruby 51.Adigun Sinmisola 101. Alabi Omolade Yetunde
2.Abarshi Fatima Marma 52. Adisa Adeogun 102. Alatishe Arinola M
3.Abbe Eseosa Itohan 53.Adun Omolade Oghogho 103. Aliyu Mariam
4.Abdul Adedayo Kafayat 54.Afelele Oluwadamilola Sekinat 104. Alli Abisola Alero
5.Abdul Aderonke Atolani 55.Afolabi Titilola Ololade 105. Alo Babfunke Babafikayo
6.Abdullah Fatima Zainab 56. Agbaosi-Loko Yewande 106. Aluede Abisola Morayo
7.Abdulahhi Zainab 57.Agbetoba Modinat Ololade 107.Amadiume Nnenna J
8.Aboaba Olusola Adebisi 58.Agbetoyinbo A 108. Amao Olabunmi
9.Abolarin Olabimpe O 59. Agbim Nwaamaka Rosemary 109. Amaku Kelechi C
10.Abubakar Farida 60. Agbionu Nneka Maureen 110 Amajor Nene
11. Abudu Adebimpe Aina 61. Agunbiade Omowunmi 111. Aminu Yasmin
12. Abudu Adefolahan 62. Agwuibe Nnkea Rosemary 112. Amosu Stephanie Larai
13.Achinivu Rebecca 63. Aimiuwi Adesuwa 113. Anaesiuba Kelechi
14. Achinivu Kanu Ijeoma 64. Aina Olawumi Olufunke 114. Andah Edemanwa Bassey
15.Achoba Augusta Ojone 65. Aisien Adesuwa 115. Anibaba Tolulope F
16. Adamu Aliyu Fatima 66. Ajao Mosunmade Adebusola 116. Anuimashaun Temitayo
17. Adamu Yahaya Asmau 67. Ajayi Olubukunola.O 117 Animashaun Temitola
18,Adasen Efetobore 68. Ajayi Oyinkansola Modupe 118 Animashaun Tolulope
19. Adebanjo Moturnayo Abisola 69. Ajayi Oluwadamilola 119. Annan Oluwadamilola
20. Adebanjo Adeyinka O 70. Ajayi Temitope 120. Antia Obot
21 Adebayo Morayo Tiwalade 71. Ajediti Temitope 121. Anyanwu Chika Cecilia
22. Adegbite Adedoyin Alice 72.Ajiboye Ololade Adetoun 122. Anyigbo Ijeoma Coreen
23.Adebiyi Abiodun Boluwaji 73. Ajidahun Abimbola 123. Apakama Onyinye
24. Adebowale Adedoyin A 74. Ajufo Onyeka Adesuwa 124. Apulu Eneibimo
25.Adebule Adebukola T 75. Akanbi Folake 125. Arije Bukola Ganiyat
26. Adebule Adetoun Adepeju 76. Akanbi Temitope Olubukola 126. Arokoyo Oluwakemi S
27. Adedeji Aderonke O 77. Akande Grace Olubunmi 127. Aromen Sainab Aibu
28. Adedigba Ololade Fatima 78. Akande Olabisi Halimat 128. Arowosafe Olufunlola
29. Adediran Taiwo Moriamo 79. Akande Oyinkansola 129. Aruna Hadiza Victoria
30. Adedokun Ololade Adetayo 80. Akeredolu Olawunmi 130. Aseroma Jenavi June
31. Adedoyin Wuraola Bamidele 81. Akilo Oluwatosin 131. Ashorobi Tawa
32. Adefuye Oluwagbemisola A 82. Akin-Aderibigbe Adejoke 132. Asugha Alfa Adanma
33. Adejobi Adeyanju Lydia 83. Akinde Soburat Mojisola 133. Atoki Busayo Mary
34. Adekoya Yewande 84. Akindele Oluwabusola 134. Atolagbae Bisayo Y
35. Adekunle Olabisi 85. Akinkuotu Justina O 135. Atolagbe Busayo Y
36.Adeleke Ayomide Elizabeth 86. Akinlabi Abisola 136. Awoleye Oluwaseun
37.Adeleye Oyinade Adewunmi 87. Akinsowon Kehinde. O 137. Awo Onidanla O
38.Adelodun Ibironke 88.Akinsowon Omoyeni 138. Awoponle Ifeoluwa M
39 Ademola Sadipe 89. Akinsowon Taiwo 139. Ayanbadejo Francisca M
40. Ademoyega Oyinkan 90. Akin Taylor Omosalewa 140. Ayanbule Olushola
41. Adeniyi Adesola 91. Akintilo Oluwafemi 141. Ayemi Olayemi
42. Aderemi Adedamola 92. Akinwande Folaseto 142. Ayo Olayinka O
43. Adesina Elizabeth T 93. Akinwolere Ololade 143.Ayodele Oludiya A
44. Adesina Temitope 94. Akinyosoye Oluwaseyifunmi 144. Azeez Damilola
45.Adetoye Abisola 95. Akinyosoye Oyinkansola 145. Azinge Chinenye N
46.Adewale Gladys 96. Akiode Omobolanle
47.Adewusi Yetunde 97. Akiyode Rabiquat Olubusola
48.Adeyeba Adenike 98. Akosionu Odichinma
49.Adeyemi Oluwafunmilola 99. Akpan Esther Idongesit
50. Adeyemi Rosemary 100. Akpofure Okiemute
Thursday, June 3, 2010
Boarding House Check in Process
The check in process for boarders began on the Thursday before school resumed and ended on the following day. Boarding house students had a list of items that had to bring every term. Some of the items included cleaning materials such as brooms, mops and cleaning soap. Personal items included bucket, four uniforms, house five house wears, Sunday wear, towel, school bedspread, bed sheets, toiletries, night gown and food items. Food items included a tin of milk, sugar, milo, cornflakes, garri, Pringles, Nabisco biscuit, cookies etc. Sardines, noodles and other food items were considered contraband and were seized from girls during the check in processes.
All traveling boxes and Ghana must go were searched by senior prefects for items such as baffs or mufftie, boiling rings, contraband food items and hair relaxer. If such items are found in your bag, they were typically seized at the entrance gate. The check in process was done according to the school houses which included Danfodio (red), Obassa (blue), Obi ( yellow), Obong (orange), Efunjoke (purple) and Emotan (green). Each girl went to their respective house and checked in before 6pm.
As girls dragged their boxes through the gate, they passed slabs (tap area) and sick bay. Boarding house was also divided into houses. At the gate, each girl should have received their assigned dormitory. Depending on the size of the dorm, students could range from 20 in a room to 50 in a room. Most dorms were divided into senior and junior corners. Typically senior girls arrived before junior girls. Bunk space for junior girls was first come first serve. Once a student locates her bunk space and locker, she begin unpacking her stuff and settling in.
All traveling boxes and Ghana must go were searched by senior prefects for items such as baffs or mufftie, boiling rings, contraband food items and hair relaxer. If such items are found in your bag, they were typically seized at the entrance gate. The check in process was done according to the school houses which included Danfodio (red), Obassa (blue), Obi ( yellow), Obong (orange), Efunjoke (purple) and Emotan (green). Each girl went to their respective house and checked in before 6pm.
As girls dragged their boxes through the gate, they passed slabs (tap area) and sick bay. Boarding house was also divided into houses. At the gate, each girl should have received their assigned dormitory. Depending on the size of the dorm, students could range from 20 in a room to 50 in a room. Most dorms were divided into senior and junior corners. Typically senior girls arrived before junior girls. Bunk space for junior girls was first come first serve. Once a student locates her bunk space and locker, she begin unpacking her stuff and settling in.
RMD's Visit TO QC
It was a bright Thursday morning sometime in November 1996. At about 7:45am, girls from all arms and all years filled down quietly to the assembly ground located below the Administrative block. As we approached the assembly ground, we lined up according to class and arm and waited patiently under the Yaba hot sun, for the principal, head girl and her deputies to arrive. The assembly ground was as big as a football field and it had the capacity to house 4000 students. Teachers and prefects were stationed at various locations of the assembly ground to calm talkative girls down and to ensure that students maintained the straight line. Usually, when the principal arrived, assembly would start with the school prayer.
However, this Thursday morning was different. We did not begin assembly with the school prayer. The Principal, Mrs. Marinoh, came out of her office very angry. She started assembly by punishing every girl to kneel down on the hard concrete assembly ground floor. She lashed out at us, expressing her disappointment for our unruly behavior the previous day.
On the afternoon of the previous day, Richard Mofedamijo (RMD) visited Queen’s College. Just like how any other gossip travels in Queens College, the news of RMDs visit travelled like wild fire. Despite the fact that classes where going on, many girls from both junior and senior block ran haywire, skipping their classes to see the famous movie star. Some even left their classes as Teachers were teaching them. There was commotion in Queens College that day. It is not everyday a Nollywood star visits a Federal Government School. The school became chaotic as girls scurried to see the famous RMD. Every girl was talking about RMD till next day. “Oh my gosh he so good looking”, “I did not realize he was that tall” Did you see what he wore” “He smiled at me”. Have you seen his latest movie” “I heard he is married with kids etc.
Although his visit brought excitement, the aftermath of the event was nothing to write home about especially for innocent girls who stayed at their class and continued their regular business. Assembly the next day was cut short as Mrs. Marinoh gave us a 20 minute bashful lecture about how unruly we had behaved and how we had disgraced Queen’s College. Mrs. Marinoh punished the entire school that day for precisely 4 hours. Girls knelt down under the hot screeching sun while they suffered miserably for their bad behavior. Trust me, the pain was very unbearable, by the time we got up from our knees, we were shaking profusely and if she had waited just one more hour, I am sure some girls who have fainted. School that day was sober as unruly girls reflected on their behavior.
However, this Thursday morning was different. We did not begin assembly with the school prayer. The Principal, Mrs. Marinoh, came out of her office very angry. She started assembly by punishing every girl to kneel down on the hard concrete assembly ground floor. She lashed out at us, expressing her disappointment for our unruly behavior the previous day.
On the afternoon of the previous day, Richard Mofedamijo (RMD) visited Queen’s College. Just like how any other gossip travels in Queens College, the news of RMDs visit travelled like wild fire. Despite the fact that classes where going on, many girls from both junior and senior block ran haywire, skipping their classes to see the famous movie star. Some even left their classes as Teachers were teaching them. There was commotion in Queens College that day. It is not everyday a Nollywood star visits a Federal Government School. The school became chaotic as girls scurried to see the famous RMD. Every girl was talking about RMD till next day. “Oh my gosh he so good looking”, “I did not realize he was that tall” Did you see what he wore” “He smiled at me”. Have you seen his latest movie” “I heard he is married with kids etc.
Although his visit brought excitement, the aftermath of the event was nothing to write home about especially for innocent girls who stayed at their class and continued their regular business. Assembly the next day was cut short as Mrs. Marinoh gave us a 20 minute bashful lecture about how unruly we had behaved and how we had disgraced Queen’s College. Mrs. Marinoh punished the entire school that day for precisely 4 hours. Girls knelt down under the hot screeching sun while they suffered miserably for their bad behavior. Trust me, the pain was very unbearable, by the time we got up from our knees, we were shaking profusely and if she had waited just one more hour, I am sure some girls who have fainted. School that day was sober as unruly girls reflected on their behavior.
Shadowing By Force:
The act of shadowing is emulating a senior prefect so much that when you get to SS3 your name would be called during the general assembly as a new prefect in the same line and you would be filled with much pride. Nevertheless, I have the right to a claim to be completely innocent of these mouthful hideous accusations of shadowing an Emotan House Prefect in my dormitory.
Shadowing occurs during the period where the SS3 prefects are about to graduate. So they become desperate in their ultimate search for the perfect SS2 girls who would walk in their footsteps. During this period, the accusations poured in like an ever-flowing river.
"See the way you're loving up to her."
"Hmm...Chonko by force, all because of prefect badge."
"What have you been bribing her with?"
These were the sounds of my dilemma. Meanwhile, I was just being myself. I was and am still a neat freak. Till this day my eyes can spot microscopic pieces of dirt from a distance. I still iron my clothes with extreme detail and make my bed maybe too neatly and precisely.
But there were many of our classmates who would have killed for the badge. They would have gladly given up their provisions, lunches, or buckets of water just to have the shiny gold prefect badge. They did everything they could- they were extremely quiet during prep time (head girl shadows), they never forgot their sports-wear behind in the dormitories (sports prefect shadows), told junior girls to pick up the thrash (tidiness prefect shadows), wrote the names of noise-makers (assistant head girl shadows), and so on. They became efikos on automatic push buttons. Let's not talk about the eye service. The buttons were pushed most when the real prefects were near-by so they could see them in action.
Admittedly, yes I did all these things. But I refuse to believe I was chonkolizing by force. I am glad I became a tidiness prefect for Emotan House though. It was the beginning of many more responsibilities to come in my life.
Shadowing occurs during the period where the SS3 prefects are about to graduate. So they become desperate in their ultimate search for the perfect SS2 girls who would walk in their footsteps. During this period, the accusations poured in like an ever-flowing river.
"See the way you're loving up to her."
"Hmm...Chonko by force, all because of prefect badge."
"What have you been bribing her with?"
These were the sounds of my dilemma. Meanwhile, I was just being myself. I was and am still a neat freak. Till this day my eyes can spot microscopic pieces of dirt from a distance. I still iron my clothes with extreme detail and make my bed maybe too neatly and precisely.
But there were many of our classmates who would have killed for the badge. They would have gladly given up their provisions, lunches, or buckets of water just to have the shiny gold prefect badge. They did everything they could- they were extremely quiet during prep time (head girl shadows), they never forgot their sports-wear behind in the dormitories (sports prefect shadows), told junior girls to pick up the thrash (tidiness prefect shadows), wrote the names of noise-makers (assistant head girl shadows), and so on. They became efikos on automatic push buttons. Let's not talk about the eye service. The buttons were pushed most when the real prefects were near-by so they could see them in action.
Admittedly, yes I did all these things. But I refuse to believe I was chonkolizing by force. I am glad I became a tidiness prefect for Emotan House though. It was the beginning of many more responsibilities to come in my life.
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
THINGS I REMEMBER-QC LINGO
Princi- A name for the Principal QC, an endearing term
Love Garden- The seats in between lecture theatre under the tree. Qc girls usually sat under the trees to gossip or day girls sat there to wait for their drivers to pick them up or boarders sat down there to wait for their parents or visiting relatives.
Chonko- A very good friend, a favorite pal
Chasis,Chasco,Chacha- Those three words evolved consecutively but Chacha became the most commonly used word.
Chupa Chops- A name given to one of the prefects who had a great liking for that particular candy
Garri cake- A cake made for someone on their birthday, it is a very potent mixture of washing detegrent with garri as the main ingredient, cereal like corn flakes or Golden Morn, sugar, toothpaste, Milo or Bournvita, powdered milk and occasionally groundnuts.
RoseofSharon
Love Garden- The seats in between lecture theatre under the tree. Qc girls usually sat under the trees to gossip or day girls sat there to wait for their drivers to pick them up or boarders sat down there to wait for their parents or visiting relatives.
Chonko- A very good friend, a favorite pal
Chasis,Chasco,Chacha- Those three words evolved consecutively but Chacha became the most commonly used word.
Chupa Chops- A name given to one of the prefects who had a great liking for that particular candy
Garri cake- A cake made for someone on their birthday, it is a very potent mixture of washing detegrent with garri as the main ingredient, cereal like corn flakes or Golden Morn, sugar, toothpaste, Milo or Bournvita, powdered milk and occasionally groundnuts.
RoseofSharon
A DRINK OF WATER
Boarders always made water seem like something out of an oasis. Surely. It seemed very precious to them especially cold water. As a day girl i was used to my fellow classmates who were boarders holding out cups begging for cold water to drink early in the morning and giving it to them was like a blessing. Water from home was unlike the dining hall water or any other place on campus and this made Day girls prey to the thirsty boarders in the morning. There was this particular chic who was not so generous, she didn't seem to have compassion for those needy girls who begged for water, its like everyone expected her to say "no"so a lot of people gave up. No one even asked her for water. One day, it was tome to go to the gym for P.E. Most of the girls in class left after changing into the PE outfits which consisted of white T shirts and shorts which were the colors of individual houses the student belonged to and left three girls behind. As soon as everywhere was quiet, the girl's laughed and this was the conversation that ensued between them.
"I guess i will take my time to get to the gym"said the first girl.
"I know" the second girl replied
"I am thirsty, i need to drink some water, who has water in this class?" the third girl said. The first girl struggled to take her shirt off revealing her black bra.
"There is water in the orange and white flask by the window, you know the owner is a miser" the second girl said.
"I don't understand why some people don't like to share, even to the point of ordinary drinking water," the third girl responded as she walked towards the location of the flask.
"You know whta, lets finish the water," the second girl suggested.
"No, it would be too obvious, just drink to your heart's fill and i would spit inside the water," the first girl responded. The third girl opened the flask and poured out some water. The second girl went to her locker and brought out a blue cup.
"Pour some here, I will use it to soak garri later," she said as she handed the cup to the third girl who poured out some water. The first girl took the cup and poured some water into it and drank.
"Are you guys done with the water?" the first girl asked.
"Yes" the other two replied. The first girl spat inside the flask, shook the contents and covered it up. The three girls laughed.
"Watch, if you ask her for water, she will say no" the third girl said.
"You girls,lets go' the first girl said and the other two scrambled up their things and they walked out of the classroom towards the gym.
******************************************************************************
An hour later, most members of the class walked back to class. It was a relief and some girls sank into their seats, it was break time. Most of the girls started changing from their PE outfits back into their school uniforms. The owner of the flask went to her seat unsuspicious of anything. The three girls sauntered into the classroom laughing. The first girl walked to the owner of the orange and white flask that contained the water. The other two girls stood watching.
"Can i get a cup of water from you,' the first girl asked.
"No, i don't have enough water to give you" the falsk owner replied.
"It's not fair oh, i haven't asked you for water at all this week, you have never given me water and see how I am begging you, its not fair" the first girl said. The flask owner said nothing, seeing the first girl was bent on getting some water she was forced to respond.
"Look, don't disturb me, I already said no" the flask owner responded as she took her flask which was sitting on the floor. She opened the flask and poured herself a cup to drink. She began to drink, the other two girls who were watching laughed. The first girl smiled contentedly. Mission accomplished!!!!!! In m my own opinion. Ewwwwwwwwww!!!!!!!!!!
Evidence: What doesn't kill you makes you stronger.
RoseofSharon
"I guess i will take my time to get to the gym"said the first girl.
"I know" the second girl replied
"I am thirsty, i need to drink some water, who has water in this class?" the third girl said. The first girl struggled to take her shirt off revealing her black bra.
"There is water in the orange and white flask by the window, you know the owner is a miser" the second girl said.
"I don't understand why some people don't like to share, even to the point of ordinary drinking water," the third girl responded as she walked towards the location of the flask.
"You know whta, lets finish the water," the second girl suggested.
"No, it would be too obvious, just drink to your heart's fill and i would spit inside the water," the first girl responded. The third girl opened the flask and poured out some water. The second girl went to her locker and brought out a blue cup.
"Pour some here, I will use it to soak garri later," she said as she handed the cup to the third girl who poured out some water. The first girl took the cup and poured some water into it and drank.
"Are you guys done with the water?" the first girl asked.
"Yes" the other two replied. The first girl spat inside the flask, shook the contents and covered it up. The three girls laughed.
"Watch, if you ask her for water, she will say no" the third girl said.
"You girls,lets go' the first girl said and the other two scrambled up their things and they walked out of the classroom towards the gym.
******************************************************************************
An hour later, most members of the class walked back to class. It was a relief and some girls sank into their seats, it was break time. Most of the girls started changing from their PE outfits back into their school uniforms. The owner of the flask went to her seat unsuspicious of anything. The three girls sauntered into the classroom laughing. The first girl walked to the owner of the orange and white flask that contained the water. The other two girls stood watching.
"Can i get a cup of water from you,' the first girl asked.
"No, i don't have enough water to give you" the falsk owner replied.
"It's not fair oh, i haven't asked you for water at all this week, you have never given me water and see how I am begging you, its not fair" the first girl said. The flask owner said nothing, seeing the first girl was bent on getting some water she was forced to respond.
"Look, don't disturb me, I already said no" the flask owner responded as she took her flask which was sitting on the floor. She opened the flask and poured herself a cup to drink. She began to drink, the other two girls who were watching laughed. The first girl smiled contentedly. Mission accomplished!!!!!! In m my own opinion. Ewwwwwwwwww!!!!!!!!!!
Evidence: What doesn't kill you makes you stronger.
RoseofSharon
THOSE FUNKY BADGES
Our uniforms were pretty plain. If those uniforms had to change i guess we should have gotten something entirely different. A Qc girl's idea of a "remix" uniform is short pleated skirt with a blouse and a tie so lets say the blouse would be white and the skirt would be black.Bringing Sexy back. I think the thought of those colors used to be a rumor running around the school at one point in time. Fantasy!!!! The next term there was an implementation in the uniform, those D and B badges. Ughh. I cringe to think about it somethimes. The school administration wanted to distinguish boarders from the day students, a security measure (it didn't work 100% though) so those badges were sewn to our uniforms. We looked like Julius Berger workers walking around with those badges. The measure was also enable the gatemen tell who the day girls were from the boarders especially as some boarders were in the habit of sneaking out,but yours truly students found a way of working around it,just borrow some day girl's blouse and the promised land (off campus) is right around the corner.
Roseof Sharon
Roseof Sharon
THE DAY AIT CREW CAME TO QC
It is rather amazing looking back so many years later at our behavior when some rather interesting television personalities came to visit the school. Girls were everywhere, heads and bodies were hanging from both the windows and the half falling windows just to catch a glimpse of Ke Ke Kenny and D1, most especially D1.I think the sight of D1 made some girls have butterflies in their stomachs.Its really amazing what testeterone does to estrogen. The worst part of it was that these two men left the school just waving their hands to about a thousand girls. There was a display of serious misbehavior.The flourescent lamps that were on the balcony in the junior block had been trampled upon. . It was crushed to white powder. Hmm, the power of a thousand feet.
4 FIGURE TABLE
One of the things i really appreciate about going to QC was learning to use the 4 figure table. I think in this age and decade the sound of figure table sounds archaic but it is one experience my children may not have because calculators and all these modern electronic devices have been made and that is enough to discourage them from learning how to use it. I remember the mundane task of having to look for logarithms in between the lines and how i groaned about having to look for the logaritthms in between the lines and how i groaned about not being allowed to use a calculator which was supposedly faster. It was not until one of my college professors asked the class who had seen or used a 4figure table. I grinned. Special thanks to Ms Abdul Gaffar and Mrs Olagunju, we didn't hear the last of that table.
RoseofSharon
RoseofSharon
Tuesday, June 1, 2010
THANKS
Its been almost a week since we networked. I am very thankful for this project and that everyone is excited to do it. I have gone through my year book and seen tons of pictures. I don't know if we can get more pics from people but lets write first. I have written tons of ideas and QC was such a memorable experience. Looking forward to reading everyone else's stories. Thanks Jaycee once again for the design of this blog.
RoseofSharon
RoseofSharon
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
Welcome to the Blog
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