MY FIRST DAY AT THE GHANA INSTITUTE OF JOURNALISM

Ghana Institute of Journalism (GIJ) happens to be the first tertiary institution I ever attended in my life. As a first year student, lectures started on Monday, 17^th September, 2012. I am offering a Bachelor of Arts degree course in communications (journalism option)

My first ever lectures as scheduled took place in lecture hall with the inscription Lecture Hall B, by Dr. Wilberforce Dzisa, the vice rector of the institute. He took me in the course titled “introduction to media systems”

Lecture hall B is somehow large and does not contain the usual desk or tables and chairs associated with S.H.S system but it was made up of arm chairs or seats with one broad arm used for writing. I also realized that the lecture hall was about two times big than that of my classroom at the S.H.S level.

It was about 7: 20 am, the stipulated time for my first lectures. But the lecturer is yet to come. I sat somewhere in the middle waiting to see my lecturer. Where I sat afforded me the opportunity to get a broader view of colleagues both before and behind me. As I look on, I realized that about seventy percent of my course mates were fathers and mothers. If this be not the case, I can still say without a blink that I am no were near them in terms of age. The total number of people present for that mornings lecture was about hundred.

It was 7:45am. At the door, I saw a man, not so tall. In his hands was an ipad, a marker and a duster. This is the lecturer, I guessed. I reposition myself in my seat so that I can see him well from hair to toe.

He is a middle age man with countable grey hair and somewhat dark in complexion. He responded to the greetings of the class and welcomed the students,

He introduced himself as Mr. Wilberforce Dzisa, the vice rector for the institute.

He told us that for the first day he is not going to teach but will do a brief introduction to the course. The do’s and donts during lecture hours. 

He gave the codes of ethics that students must follow during his personal lecture hours. Some of the donts are: talking when a lecture is in progress, no chewing gum and no absenteeism. You will get to know more as I lecture you and I hate lateness, he stressed.

The dos are effective participation or contributions, punctuality and asking questions.

He urged students to be serious with their academic works because there is something called reference when you get a “D” In a subject. No student should think that when referred in my subject would be favored in any way or the other.

Again, he added that student must work hard and give back to their alma mater as he did. He started,” I am a product of this school, went overseas to do my masters after working with the media for a while, now am here as a lecture” He finally demanded for questions.

Among the questions asked are, why are you late? He answered it by saying that he didn’t apologize for his lateness because it is his habit and him as a lecturer can’t come and be waiting for students as teachers in S.H.S do and will end his lecture before time. Is actually not my fault but problem of traffic jam, he added. At 9:00 am he ended his lectures by wishing students a good day.

After I came out of the lecture hall I tour the campus. All level 100 students are called fresher’s by the continuing students, but I must confess that unlike the Senior High System where one can easily identify a senior from a junior, here, it if is very difficult to do that. But one distinctive factor that enables one to do that is the confidence level of an individual in question.

As a way of getting our impressions about the school, some continuing students took turns to query us with questions like, what are your impressions about the school? What informed your decision to choose GIJ ahead of the numerous universities in the country? GIJ is smaller than I thought, was among the replies given.

The only word of encouragement was GIJ is small in size but big enough to offer you the best if and only if you persevere. Oh I see… I said.

Afterwards I went to the cafeteria to have my breakfast.

I have really seen the transformation or the change people have been talking about.

SETSOAFIA HARRIET ELORM

GHANA INSTITUTE OF JOURNALISM