Freshman Of The Week

Freshman Of The Week - Richmmon Banks Egbe

 

NAPS PRESS: Can we meet you?

Banks: Yes, please. My name is Richmmon Banks Egbe. I am a philosophy freshman. My interests, amongst many things, include playing board and video games, reading and watching movies. Not to mention that I have a penchant for Jazz music.

NAPS PRESS: Did you choose Philosophy or Philosophy Choose you ?

Banks: Yes, I think I am one of such persons who came into the department by choice. So, yes, I suppose one could say that I chose philosophy. But then I am not yet ready to rule out the possibility that philosophy chose me

NAPS PRESS: How have virtual classes been for you?

Banks: From the onset I think I was frustrated most of the time. Both the students and lectures were still struggling to wrap our heads around the what-hows of using the various social platforms as lecture medias. Not to mention that some of these platforms were new to most, if not, all of us. Take Zoom for instance. Let's just say that it was a icky situation at the onset. Besides ignorance, which in every way impeded the smooth running of things, there were other factors such as the quality of network reception from area to area, which did not make things satisfactory for all parties involved. I don't want to say that the whole virtual class situation is something I now enjoy, but at least it's working in it's own commendable way. Lectures are being run. Study materials uploaded. The whole lot, you know. So things are at the moment not as sticky as they were in the beginning. Like everything you throw at the human race, we have learned to adapt to the new norm. But it is hard to say that everything is sweet and rosy sha. As students, our workload, in terms of things we've to do both in and out of class, has been doubled which automatically means our stress doubled as well. Not to mention that some of us, if not all of us, are still struggling to cope. Most of the concepts we're being exposed to in our various departments are new to us. So think of how hard our situation is. I think the odds are stacked against us. We all can't wait to get out of this new-normal called virtual learning and we pray that it does not affect us any more than it should. Like I said, the odds are stacked against us.

NAPS PRESS: Do you think it would affect students academic performance?

Banks: Yes. There most definitely will be ramifications. Decisions are always bound to have consequences and ramifications. As Confucius once said, when you choose an action, you choose the consequences of that action, when you desire a consequence you'd damn well better take the action that would create it. (smiles) Don't mind me jare. Confucius never said that.

But my point is this: decisions bear consequences. So, yes. The decision to go virtual will definitely affect the performance of the students in one way or another. We just have to wait and see.

NAPS PRESS: What's your philosophy of life?

Banks: Life sucks and reality is a bummer. That is my philosophy of life

NAPS PRESS: Any memorable moments?

Banks: Yes. It was the moment I discovered I could write. I'd spent my entire growing-up days readings books and having no social life. The closest I could come to having any reasonable conversation with anybody was to put a book down on the table and criticize the writer. My sister was almost always irritated when I did this. So one day she said to me, "It's easy to criticize other people's efforts. But where is yours? The day you write a single intelligible line of thought is the day you get the right to keep talking rubbish about other people's work."

I was sixteen and her words hit straight home, struck me straight to the heart

So I said, "I have every right to criticize any book that finds its way into my hands. If the writer has a right to waste my time by making me read his rubbish I have every right to criticize him or her for writing rubbish!"

And my sister said to me in Ijagham, "You're so full of shit. But here is a deal. There is a poetry-slash-short-fiction competition coming up at the Local Government Secretariat in two weeks. Enter for the competition and let's see if your head can support your big mouth."

Long story short, I enlisted for the competition. Most memorable day of my life.

NAPS PRESS: Relationship status

Banks: Single. People like me understand a book better than they understand the opposite sex. So, yes, I am single.

NAPS PRESS: If you would go back in time to change anything what will that be?

Banks: Everything. I would go back and change everything. My life, like most people's, is full of errors and misjudgments. So if I could head back in time, I'd go back and do everything differently. But I guess that's just wishful thinking. Who's to say I won't go back and mess things up all over and again?

NAPS PRESS: Has the Excos been helpful to freshmen in any way?

Banks: Yes. In every way. They've been most helpful and I must say that their efforts are commendable. The President, his P.R.O, everyone! They've been solid gold. Without them I think we'd be lost. And besides the excos some of our senior colleagues have done more than their share to help us cope. Take for instance, the tutorial sessions they put together for us. A shout-out to Senior Batman. I love that guy. And Senior Pope. And Senior Dark Philos. We love you all.

NAPS PRESS: Shout out to anyone?

Banks: Shout-out to everyone