By Abdulrasaq Kamaldeen
The ethos that led to the creation of a public hostel embodies the “spirit of love, peace, and endurance.” When choosing to reside in a school hostel, it’s crucial to remember that it’s meant for a diverse range of people from various tribes and religions.
Living in a school hostel means sharing space with individuals of different backgrounds and behaviors. To maintain peace of mind, one must be adaptable, intelligent, and composed, avoiding being unreasonable to a certain degree, as you might encounter situations you find challenging, such as having an unhygienic roommate or dealing with disturbances.
It’s indeed concerning when students isolate themselves based on tribal or religious differences or as space that promotes exclusivity rather than love. Hostels are meant to foster an understanding and sense of belonging among diverse groups. As the Yoruba saying goes, used to say “Omi ni èyàn,” (Humans are water), this highlights the fluidity and adaptability of human beings to coexist and thrive regardless of differences.
The roommate that you see as a fiend can be your helper in the future; the one you sense as a low class can be in the high pinnacle in the future–let’s embrace as one. Living together in a school hostel should not be the best means of igniting the fire of tribalism and secularism but rather uniting. Some roommates’ behavior is indeed difficult to adapt to, but as it is, one needs to take his victim as he finds it.
To me, living with other tribes is the best opportunity one can use to network and connect with others because the world now requires a connection for survival. How will you feel if the roommate you detest will be the future president or senator? How will you feel if he’s living in a big mansion, but you are managing a rented apartment with children? Dine and wine with your roommates shun tribalism, hatred, stereotypical behavior, and more.
Therefore, if you show love to them, they will surely pay you back. Love is reciprocal. Don’t put yourself in suspense anytime they discuss their language, this is very common and it’s not good–one needs to portray good behavior towards each other. Thus, living in the school hostel is an umbrella of unity, not a seclusion.