Alma mater means "nourishing mother". Alma mater is the school a person graduated from. My Alma mater is Queen's college, Lagos.
I entered Queen's college at the age of 9. I did common entrance at that age just because I wanted to experience it. I was in primary 4 and it wasn't the initial plan for me to actually go to secondary school.
I did the exams and I passed but because my mum knew how difficult it was to get into Queen's College (QC) on merit, we couldn't give up the admission just because I wasn't ready.
The journey was a lot TBH, I was small and I wasn't cut out for what boarding house turned out to be. Every time I complained people always said "it's because you're still new, you'd get used to it". PS: I never did, I hated it till the end. The only difference was, I learned to stop complaining.
Nevertheless, I learnt a whole lot from QC. I learnt how to relate with people from various backgrounds, how to mix up, how to take responsibility, how to be independent, how to clean, wash clothes, lay beds, fold clothes and other basic coping skills. And I'm so grateful to QC for that.
My Alma mater is 95 years today and they've been having a series of events.
I was opportune to attend the walkathon that held on Saturday, 8th October, 2022 and it was lovely. I had the opportunity to meet with older people who attended Queen's College (Queen's College Old Girls, QCOGs for short). It was a good opportunity to network and advertise myself to people who might need my services in future.
Queen's College, Lagos has been known for its standard of raising booksmart and street wise, well cultures and educated girls who thrive wherever they are.
For decades (almost a century now), they have groomed young ladies who have risen to toppermost parts of the world both in Nigeria and abroad.
Queen's college girls speak Queen's English and have this in built confidence, when you see a QC girl, you'd know her.
Queen's college girls help one another when they see each other, it's an unspoken Queen's code (a Queen always helps a Queen!)
Infact, almost every QC girl must've met another QC who paid for something she bought or helped her in one way or another. I experienced one of those my when I was in junior school. I was resuming so I went to get food with my dad, I met a QCOG at the restaurant and she paid for my food. It's just how it is.
When people know that you went to QC, they automatically expect the best from you. You are expected to stand out, be excellent.
It's even in our mantra:
"At Queen's, we're classy, we're excellent in all we do, we are the best!"
"Queen's college leads, others follow!"
I hated you at first, but looking back, I'm glad you passed through me. Thank you for doing your share in making me the woman I am today. I'd keep passing on the torch, may your light never dim and may it keep gleaming brightly. Amen.
A few of them are:
Phebean Ogundipe née Itayemi, author, educator and the first Nigerian woman to be published in English
Modupe Omo-Eboh, first female judge in Nigeria
Folasade Ogunsola, first female Vice-chancellor of the University of Lagos (UNILAG)
Sefi Atta, award-winning writer
Lara George, award-winning Gospel artiste
Grace Alele-Williams, first female vice chancellor of a Nigerian university
Late Tosyn Bucknor, media personality
Toni Tones, actress
Shodayo Itunuoluwanimi, award-winning writer. Manifesting!
