Whether it鈥檚 bathing in the cold, bathing with just a bowl of water or bathing with just five minutes left before the hostel gate is closed, boarding school has taught us to live life on the fast side. So you know that harmattan showers ain鈥檛 got nothing on you, you can have your bath and rush out the house if you ever find yourself running late, and if your landlord thinks he can suffer you by locking the well and hiding the key, he鈥檚 got another thing coming, a satchet or two of pure water will be聽just enough to do the job.
2. How to dress even when under duress.
When there鈥檚 only two seconds left on the clock and you have to put on your underwear, slip on your school uniform, wear your socks and your shoes, and maybe even toss on a beret, boarding school has taught us that speed and agility are qualities that don鈥檛 only belong to the cheetah. So that when you聽find yourself聽running late for work, there鈥檚 no fear of showing up in the office wearing bathroom slippers for shoes.
3. How to think on your feet.
When a senior student suddenly appears in front of you and is about to send you on an errand, you have a split second to think of an excuse or risk being the J-girl messenger of the day. The ability to come up with an elaborate excuse like this, 鈥淚鈥檓 sorry Senior, I have a drug in the sickbay that I have to take every 30 minutes in front of the nurses鈥, will save you in many future on-the-spot moments like when you have a聽presentation聽at work, or even trying to convince a lover that you didn鈥檛 do something you both know you did but which you would very much like to get off the hook for.
4. How to be resourceful with little in order to get much.
When it鈥檚 nearing the end of the term and provisions are scarce, the 鈥渟oak and travel鈥 method of drinking garri is one example of how boarding school taught us to be careful with little so that we can get much. And this is one skill that will definitely serve well at moments when the adulting life hits hard but the pride is too much to ask anyone for help.
5. How to eat quickly so no one can join you.
In the dinning hall, there鈥檚 barely any time to eat your food. You alternate between eating standing or walking, and there鈥檚 no time to chat or take occasionally sips of water, not to talk of even read a book. This is a very important skill for life, especially when dealing with those kinds of people who actually bring a spoon when you out of courtesy tell them, 鈥渃ome and eat鈥. Ain鈥檛 nobody got time for a ration-stealer, so you cut them short. Finish the food so they can鈥檛 find anything to eat on the plate.
6. How to drink water without ever having to put your lips to the mouth of the bottle.
It鈥檚 slightly tricky and it might take some time, but eventually every boarder gets the hang of it. Tilt your head back, lift the bottle, angle it parallel to the lips, open the mouth 鈥 stylishly, not too wide like an idiot 鈥 and then pour. The key is to bring the bottle to you not your lips to the bottle. There are several benefits of this skill, and all of them revolve around it being healthy. No more shared saliva, no fear of backwash, no risk of contracting mouth diseases, if ever a life skill was needed, it鈥檚 definitely this!
7. How to tell a story and tell it well.
Much of your time in boarding school, apart of the time spent in class, running errands for seniors or serving various punishments, is also usually spent engaging in spirited conversations with classmates. A lot of gist and stories gets passed round. This is typically when the myths of the various things haunting the hostel comes out, and the people who tell these tales do so in the most captivating and enthralling way. A necessary life skill when you have to make small talk at a dinner party or gathering of otherwise boring colleagues from work. You become the life of the party, and because of the exciting stories you tell, everyone will know your name, including your聽boss!
8. How to pinch, manage and save for the rainy – and sometimes harmattan – day.
When you have to find a way to manage with just one pair of uniforms or housewear after all the others have been stolen from the clothes line, washing and towel-drying it so you can have something to wear the next day, you develop the ability to manage and style your one good pair of work pants in such a way that even your boss will start to wonder where you get the聽time to go and shop.
9. How to use the toilet without using the toilet.
When it comes to using the toilet in boarding school, it鈥檚 all about the arch. Whether it鈥檚 with a traditional toilet, a pit latrine or just yourself, a piece of paper, and the side of JSS1 block, you have to be quick, precise and careful with the arch. This is so that you make no mistake by either catching a toilet disease or tossing your 鈥減ackage鈥 the wrong way when you鈥檙e done. The key is to be able to do your business as quickly and discreetly as possible. And just like being able to drink water without putting your lips to the mouth of the bottle, this life skill will definitely save you, especially when you find yourself stranded in the middle of nowhere with a broken down car and a desire to relieve yourself, or when you get mobilized and sent to an NYSC orientation camp that has more bushes than it has toilets.
If you feel these life skills are the truth, here’s more boarding school truth for you:
What other life skills did boarding school teach you?
