Meet Zainab Omobolanle Alimi, a graduating student of Education and English Language, as she reflects on her undergraduate journey, her experience with research, friendship, academics, and the role Adroit Tutors played in her university education.
What is your name?
Zainab Omobolanle Alimi
What’s your course of study?
Education and English Language
Did you pick the course or was your course changed?
I picked the course.
How has the course shaped you?
I became better at writing, became more articulate when speaking, improved my interpersonal relationships and it also changed how I view the educational system of this country.
What’s your project topic?
Influence of Teachers’ Variables on Students Academic Performance in English Language among Senior Secondary School Students in Ife-East Local Government Area of Osun State.
Are you done with your project?
Yes.
How was/has been the project writing experience?
It was hectic. I didn’t initially realise I would have to put in as much work as I did, as it was probably my first hands-on experience with research work. Eventually, I grew into it and learned to enjoy the process.
What level did you join Adroit Tutors?
Part One.
To what extent will you say the tutorial helped you in your undergraduate journey?
The tutorial helped me a whole lot. There are times we don’t get the full picture of certain topics in class and our tutors would take their time to explain and break them down for us. They even go the extra mile, giving us other source materials that would further improve how much we understand said topics.
Rather than just reading aimlessly, the tutorial helps to read smart by highlighting the very important areas to cover and giving references to past questions.
What’s your favourite course at Adroit Tutors?
EGL302.
Who is your favourite tutor at the tutorial and why?
Tutor Tosin.
Tutor Tosin has a peculiar way of teaching. He breaks down complex topics into simpler parts when teaching and still somehow maintains the pace to teach all parts of a particular topic. I also like the way he relates with his students. He makes it easy to approach him when we need him.
Which part did you have the strongest CGPA?
Part One.
What was your most challenging course?
LIT405.
What’s your relationship status?
In a relationship.
Were you a lone wolf or did you have a clique?
I wouldn’t call them a clique. I feel like that reduces how much they showed up for me. We were very good friends; some were my sisters, in fact.
How advantageous did you find your clique/being a lone wolf?
Like every set of friends, we had our ups and downs, but I found having them very much helpful. They turned up for me at various points in my school life, both academically and non-academically.
Aside from academics, what other things did you do as an undergraduate?
I did a lot of volunteering, learned technical writing as a skill and a lot of cooking for some reason.
What would you do differently if you were to be an undergraduate again?
Take every session more seriously than the previous.
What will you miss most about OAU?
Lectures and exams.
The thrill, the constant feeling of having to beat deadlines and submit assignments.
Did you have any life-altering experience as an undergraduate?
In Part One, I offered a quite challenging course—the type of course your seniors would tell you about, with a history of bad grades.
For some reason, it bothered me and I was very scared. I think I read a whole day, barely eating anything. I ended up having a very good result and it changed the way I prepared for exams.
I went from barely reading and overlooking some courses to giving equal preparation for all my courses.
“It doesn’t get easier, don’t be deceived. Keep the same intensity you started with or improve on it if possible.”
— Zainab Omobolanle Alimi, to Adroit Juniors
What’s your advice to juniors?
It doesn’t get easier; don’t be deceived. Keep the same intensity you started with or improve on it if possible.
Is Master’s part of your graduate plans?
Yeah.
Who are you making shoutouts to?
My baby and my friends.