Zee's diary: Black and white days.

I'd never forget how I struggled through the university to graduation. It was a very tough one for me. After my first year which was just an introduction to my course of study, I began to regret ever choosing university over learning tailoring. One of my lecturers used to come to class to tell us of how unfortunate we would likely be in the profession just because we dressed neatly.

I was a law student and as such, black skirt or trouser and white shirt was our daily outfit. I remember wearing a blue skirt to class one time because there wasn't any black skirt available for me to wear. That morning, as I tried to wear the only available black skirt, the zip went off. I couldn't miss the class because the lecturer was unpredictable and could conduct a test at anytime. I decided to settle for a deep Navy blue skirt. Coming from afar, you'd think it was a black skirt. I got into the class five minutes late that day and I was used as a scapegoat. After raining insults on my family and I, she asked me to get out of her class. She insulted me for coming late and for wearing an inappropriate outfit. I cried out of the lecture theatre that afternoon.

The results for the session was released and so many people failed. I had two carryovers and that was the beginning of my days of anxiety. I moved into the school's hostel the following year in order to be  more focused. I also drew out a reading timetable. I dedicated at least two hours to reading daily. Well, my efforts paid off. I passed all my papers.

My parents put me up to study law. Left to me, I'd have just studied mass communication. My dad was always calling to remind me to aim at first class. It was frustrating when I heard those words and my academic life was falling apart. At some point, I contemplated suicide. Hmm. Thank God for strength.