MY FIVE-YEAR NOTRE DAME JOURNEY, 1965 – 1969 PART 6
This is the 6th and final of a six-part series from an article published in the 2019 Chicago anniversary brochure by the Notre Dame Alumni Association, North American Chapter – Part 5 here
PART 6: ACADEMIC DEVELOPMENT
As mentioned elsewhere in this write up, we were well baked and groomed to face life after Notre Dame and for higher studies. The path to success was prepared by the school in various ways without our knowing it. The school supplied us with books in ALL subjects. We had a well stocked library where it was compulsory to borrow a novel EVERY WEEK, read, summarize and submit for marking. We were always loaded with assignments which kept us busy during the afternoon and evening preps. Our terminal exams were highly competitive; we normally read till late in the night (illegally) even though ‘lights outs’ were scheduled for 10.00pm.
With this regimented training, it was difficult for anyone not to do well in WAEC. Nineteen of us passed out in 1969 December, nearly all of us advanced progressively in our various callings attaining the peak of our careers.
We want to use this medium to show our gratitude to the almighty God for seeing us through and shower praises on our dedicated teachers who trained us to become what most of us are today, we are proud to say that all the nineteen of us are by the grace of God, today, are:
Engineers/Lecturers
Pharmacists/Medical Personnel
Journalists
School Principals
Quantity Surveyors
Technocrats in the Civil Service
World acclaimed marketer
It is regrettable to report that during our journey in life, we have lost some of our very fine members. May their souls and the souls of all the faithful departed through the mercy of God rest in peace.
CONCLUSION
There is nothing that has a beginning that does not have an end. Just like a flash in the pan, our five years’ sojourn came to an end to the amazement and joy of all in December 1969.
We entered Notre Dame with enthusiasm, hope and aspiration for a better tomorrow in January 1965. By the time we were leaving, we had all known what we wanted to become in life; our aspiration was for higher education. We thank our Almighty God for allowing the school to pass through us notwithstanding our ups and downs during our journey. We also thank the then Catholic Diocese of Ondo that established the school for giving sound education to us all.
Whatever we are today, whatever might have been our achievements in our various callings, we owe it all to our dedicated, disciplined and loving teachers. To our departed friends and teachers, may their souls rest in peace. Those of us who are still on this side of the divide, we’ll keep moving our Alma Mater forward.
Thank you for reading.
UP NODACO!