The One Where I Obeyed the Clarion Call

mo fuck up big time

Past Ola

Ladies and gentlemen… We’re going to OSUN!!!!

(Tbh, I don’t feel terrible about this.)

I’m lowkey trying to be optimistic about this whole NYSC thing. I think this might actually be the year I lock in. There’s something I like about the idea of structure—doing something consistently for a year. You know, with all the monthly clearance, PPAs, and stuff (can you tell I know nothing about NYSC?). There’s a rhythm to it that I think I need right now.

It’s just so sad what NYSC has become, though.

When I was younger, I remember seeing pictures of the older generation during their camp days—smiling, joyful, proud to show them off. These days? The mandatory post-camp question, “How was it?” is usually met with:

“It is well.”
“I just want it to end.”

No excitement. Just exhaustion.

And it’s not even about the program itself—it’s the state of the country. The idea behind NYSC is actually beautiful. A year to live in a new part of Nigeria, work, serve, immerse in an entirely different environment. That should be exciting. That should be an adventure.

But the reality?

Bleak.
From terrible infrastructure to insecurity to wild mismanagement—there’s just this heavy energy around it all. Like no one even has the capacity to try to enjoy it anymore.

But still... I won’t lie, I’m low low lowkey excited.

I’ve felt stagnant for a while. That’s actually one of the reasons I quit my job. I wanted change. I wanted something with a start and end date. And now? This is it. NYSC might just be the shake-up I need.

Plus, I get to travel to a whole new state for camp—and honestly, that kind of thing really excites me.

I love experiences—good, bad, messy—because they always make for the best stories. And this year? I want to be intentional about documenting it all. I'm learning to lean into hope more.

So I’m going in with an open mind.
Open hands.
Open heart.

Here’s to the chaos.
Here’s to the stories.
Here’s to NYSC.
fingers crossed

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Present Ola

Fuck past Ola fr.

I landed in camp today and let me just say… I should have stayed at home.

For the uninitiated: at the start of NYSC, every corper has to do a 3-week orientation camp.

I’m currently in the thick of mine, and today was Day One. And let me tell you.

It. Is. Well.

The registration process was unnecessarily difficult and stressful. Part of the fault goes to the system, but the other half? On the corpers—because I swear, everybody is mad.

You guys…
There’s no toilet.
Only a pit latrine.

You heard me, oh.

PIT. LATRINE.

What the hell?
What the belly??
What the helleante???
What the hellborn James????!!!

Pit latrine in 2025 is insaneeee.

But honestly speaking, it wasn’t that bad. I’ll give today a solid 5/10—and that’s thanks to my friends (shoutout to Konge and Ife).

I met Ife on the bus to camp and she has been so nice to me. I love nice women fr. I’m more introverted, and I don’t like talking—especially in public transport—and she did all the talking while I just nodded along like a groggy bobblehead. (I had to take pills for my motion sickness, so I was out of it the whole ride.)

I’m currently lying on what I guess is a mattress (spoiler: it’s not) and listening to the latest episode of the I Said What I Said podcast. I’m about to try and sleep.

Day One: solid 5/10.
And weirdly? I’m kinda looking forward to tomorrow.
Mostly because of the heat, though. Because tell me why the light goes off at 10pm in this Nigeria heat???

Anyway. I’m off to “sleep” on this glorified yoga mat.

Wish me luck. I have to be up by 3am.

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Side note: Someone recognized me today from a YouTube video I was in and I don’t know how to feel about that.