Short story: A step too late
When I graduated from Primary Six to junior high school (JHS)Form One, it seemed like I was in a different world where I was the only stranger in a crowd.
It was a new place; with new teachers who I thought were too strict, a new set of rules and regulations, I asked for God’s help to enable me to finish my basic education without any problems.
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Unlike the primary school, where I wore different colours of socks to school every day, it was a different ball-game in JHS as I was asked to wear only white socks, all in the name of neatness and uniformity.
When all these were happening, I thought: ‘what is all the fuss about?’ Little did I know that I was being prepared for life in senior high school (SHS).
In JHS, we spent long hours in school, as compared to the primary level. We started classes as early as 7:00 a.m. and closed as late as 4:30 pm.
“What level of education ladder is this?’ I thought. But I wouldn’t complain much because everybody was going through that system so who was I to complain? Life has to go on. I did everything in my power to obey the rules and regulations.
Everybody was very serious so I also joined the fray of seriousness. I also started going to school with my bag full of books to be seen as serious.
I even wanted to wear spectacles as most of the students who were clever wore a pair but my mother refused to get me one.
The teachers who came to the class to teach all talked about Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE). They talked about how there was no time and how it was important to take everything we were taught seriously because we had little time to sit for the BECE.
I was baffled at the teachers’ fears. To me, there was more time because we had two more years. So why the worry?
One teacher, who was noted for his motivational speeches, would take any little opportunity he got to give us pieces of advice. He gave us guidelines on how to study effectively. He instructed us to learn three hours every night while in Form One, two hours in Form Two and an hour in Form Three.
I took his advice seriously and went by it judiciously because my friends were already doing it and they would always ask whether I was also doing it. So, to impress them, I did it. This way, I always had something to tell them when we met to learn or gossip.
In Form Two, I took his advice for granted, because I thought I still had more time before BECE. But I regret that now.
Now that I am in Form Three, I have realised that I have forgotten so many topics taught in Form One and I know the examination would not be based on what we have been taught in Form Three alone.
I am still struggling to catch up but it is not easy. I am wondering how I am going to study to fully prepare for the BECE.
I tried to convince my mother to find me a private teacher to help me revise my notes but she said no and said I should have made hay while the sun was shining. And she is right.
I am still trying to prepare but I had this realisation rather too late and have promised not to do that when I gain admission to SHS and also at the university. I will never joke with my studies again.
As the saying goes, ‘once bitten, twice shy’. I am going to follow the advice of our motivational teacher, to make things easy for me during the WASSCE. I entreat my younger brothers and sisters in Primary Six and junior high school Form One, to heed to any piece of advice given by their teachers. They could also try out my method and see where it gets them.
All starters of this journey should follow the advice of their teachers and learn from my mistake.
Vivian Mensah, Cape Coast,
Central Region.