27/01/2022
*LASCOHETSU PRESIDENT MATRICULATION SPEECH*
Unlocking the Merit
The provost ,registrar , Deputy Provost , Dean of the Schools and the entire school management,greatest students of the first Health institution in west Africa,matriculants of today, distinguished ladies and gentlemen. It is my immense pleasure to be here today, giving the matriculation lecture as the Students Union Government President of this great institution, and setting an applaudable standard. I thank the management for extending me such a rare privilege to speak with this 2021/2022 set of matriculants.
Introduction
As a student of this great citadel,the memories and experiences are fresh in my mind, and today, I shall do my best to share them with you and help you draw lessons that I believe will guide you during arguably the most interesting time of your lives.
Allow me to congratulate you for finally making it here, the best and first College of Health institution in West Africa! Do this with me, take a deep breath, hold for three seconds, now exhale. That’s it. This marks the beginning of a new chapter in your lives, and I must say, it is going to be memorable and filled with lifelong friendships, connections, laughter, some tears (frankly), but most importantly, lessons that will shape you and pave the way for huge successes you can only begin to dream of.
The College is a top-tier,producing legends in various fields of expertise in healthcare sector . They walked these same streets, discovered their potentials and honed their skills in this same environment. Therefore, dear matriculants, be rest assured that greatness lies within each and every one of you, and you are in the right place to harness it for the greater good. If they could do it, so can you!
These halls, these classrooms, and most importantly, these people, prepared and equipped me for every adversity along my journey, molding me in ways I never anticipated as I sat in this same place, listening to the matriculation lecture. At that point, I could not wait to delve into the college experience and be independent for the first time. If you had told me then that I would be in this position today and give this very lecture, I would probably have laughed, because I was unaware of the greatness within me!
As ‘freshers’ as you will be fondly called, there is the bombardment of all your sense organs with new sensations- the smell of the shared hostel outside the college , the taste of cafeteria food, the sound of lecture halls being filled up, and many more. You might be unsure how to register for your courses, the shortest routes to class, the best way to balance academic and extra- curricular activities, etc. A new undertaking such as embarking upon tertiary education comes with a certain level of uncertainty and anxiety, both mixed with excitement. Do not let anxiety outweigh your excitement, it gets better from here.
Navigation Keys
Having been in your shoes not so long ago, and having hope of success passing through this institution, I will be offering some tips which I have divided into 12 keys, to help you navigate this 2-3 year journey. You will be able to extrapolate some strategies for success if you can pay attention and take note of them.
KEY 1: PURPOSE- First, I urge you to find your purpose. Now comes the real work. As the college anthem goes ‘to reach the height of healthcare,obtainable anywhere’. Set your sights on a noble cause from now and work tirelessly to achieve it.
KEY 2: PERSEVERANCE- Secondly, never, ever, fear failure. As a teacher of mine once said, “Success is not final; failure is not fatal. It is the courage to continue that counts.” Look at failure as the fuel that drives you to success. I remember failing my first test in LASCOHET cause I was not prepared, which ironically, was also preparing for the first semester examination , few weeks before the commencement of the exam . After recovering from the shock, I decided to learn from my mistakes and put in extra effort for that particular course, not letting it affect my morale or prevent me from reading. I can only imagine what the case would have been had I stayed down after failing, instead of pushing through.
KEY 3: HUMILITY- This brings me to my next point. Be Submissive Nobody knows it all. Always be teachable and ready to learn from your mistakes. Accept constructive criticism and never stop improving upon who you were yesterday. There is always an area to improve upon.
KEY 4: STUDY SMART- It is not enough to isolate yourself in your room all day, flipping through textbooks and questions. You need to utilize the vast network of colleagues and seniors at your disposal. Ask questions to help beat your own path and surmount obstacles that may arise. That is the entire point of having people who have gone before you; they help you avoid making the same mistakes they might have made. Past questions cannot be over emphasized, as they help you detect the tone of exams and how to answer questions. Join tutorial groups and as we like to say, ‘move stuff’. We created Lascohet Medical World 2019, leading a group of theoretical aspects of our different courses. Apart from being an avenue to gain leadership and teamwork abilities, it also helped me to retain and recall information that I might not ordinarily have remembered, contributing greatly to my successes in this Health Institution .
KEY 5: LEARN/ EXPLORE- Step out of your comfort zone. Learn a new skill, make a new friend and be deliberate about your personal growth. Make conscious efforts to apply yourself to learning; not just to pass your exams, which is important, but to attain skills that will help you in the future. These are the attributes that distinguish a well-rounded individual. They also serve as coping strategies and help one to relax when the stress gets to a head.
KEY 6: SUPPORT- Friends are just like crowd, they dinned with you, play with you mostly at the blowout time while circle are the people you shared the same goals and dreams ,Have a support group of serious-minded that have similar aspirations. These friends will form a bedrock of support that will help you throughout your time here. Not only are you going to serve as study partners and cheer leaders for one another, you would learn from one another, how to interact with people from different backgrounds and of different personalities, a skill which would prove useful both within and outside the four walls of the college. my assignment for you now is to identify your circle and your friends then know the group of people to follow.
KEY 7: TIME- Proper time management and prioritization helps you to imbibe discipline. Do not wait until the last minute to turn in your assignments or start preparing for a test. It is so true that proper preparation prevents poor performance. I would implore you to get involved with extra-curricular activities but not at the expense of your studies/ do not let them take pre- eminence over your studies.
KEY 8: KINDNESS- Be kind whenever possible; it is always possible. This could come in different forms. Be kind to yourself by shunning dangerous habits such as drug use, exam malpractice, fighting, plagiarism and driving under the influence. In other words, know the difference between enjoying your youth and destroying your future. Violation of the school’s code of conduct may result in rustication from the college. Show kindness to others by volunteering for causes that are dear to your heart.
KEY 9: SET YOUR OWN STANDARDS- Don’t aspire to standards set by strangers on social media, or even by classmates and friends. Live within your means and work to attain goals that you have set for yourself. Who you were yesterday should serve as a yardstick to measure your own growth and progress. Not everyone has their entire plan all laid out yet. So, take things one step, one day and one posting at a time, being accountable to yourself.
KEY 10: HEALTH- Pay attention to your physical, mental and spiritual health. There are facilities available to tend to your ills, whatever they may be. Do not wait until you have reached your breaking point before seeking help. That is why it is also important to surround yourself with intelligent and observant people that can infer when something is going on with you, even if you cannot voice it out yourself. There is strength, rather than weakness in being able to ask for help when you need it.
KEY 11 : MODE OF DRESSING - let’s note this ,scrub are processed in a specialized facility (and not in employee homes) prevent the spread of possibly contagious infections and viruses. Scrubs must be cleaned with as much precision and with the same focus on hygiene as any other medical care linen, scrubs allow healthcare professionals to be easily identified and they create a more sanitary workplace. Moreover, scrubs help professionals identify contaminants and bodily fluid , so dear Lascohetians follow the normal procedure of putting your scrub ( well ironed ) with a black sneaker , Muslim sisters shoulder tucked in their Hijab, tinted hair and heavy hairstyle is not allowed.
KEY 12: LMS - Starting this key ,I am aware that 80% of Lascohetians does not like lms operation due to the poor server connection and lack of available data connection in the school environment. However 90% of students are performing well and actively involved in social media like Instagram ,tikTok,Facebook,LinkedIn and Twitter because all this aforementioned social media have good server connection , well upgraded and properly managed , in this view I believe if the lms is properly upgraded and managed it will be more easier for students to applicate . So am soliciting as the number one Student of this great citadel of learning and as the mouthpiece of the student to the school management to look into the discrepancy and deformity of the LMS operation.
Closing Remarks
Dearest matriculants, having made it this far into the lecture without dosing off, I congratulate you. I urge you to keep hope alive and never forget that this is a stepping stone to discovering your purpose if you haven’t already. Remember that within each and every one of you, lies a greatness to overcome seemingly insurmountable obstacles. This is only the beginning of an amazing experience that will teach you invaluable lessons and build you into an individual worthy in character and learning. I end this peroration with an affectionate quote we use in LASCOHET MEDICAL WORLD ‘’ remember our agenda” and do not forget. KYC (know your circle)
Welcome to the LAGOS STATE COLLEGE OF HEALTH TECHNOLOGY !
Long live the 2021/2022 set!
Long live the LAGOS STATE COLLEGE OF TECHNOLOGY !
Thank you for listening and I wish you the very best .
I remain my humble Comrade Abiodun Adebosin popularly known as Submissive.
