Daniel attended missionary schools from primary to secondary school. He was taught morals, discipline and godliness.
Right from primary school, he learnt that examination malpractice in any form is a big offence and highly frowned upon.
Daniel graduated from secondary school after six years and got admission into the University of Jos to study Medical Laboratory.
His first lecture attendance was such an experience. First, it was the hall, it was large and full of students, probably a hundred, if not more, all seated on desks arranged in rows.
At the front of the hall is a step slightly elevated above the floor. A wooden podium and a chalkboard stood on the stage facing the crowd.
Daniel stood at the entrance, perplexed, his eyes racing through the hall.
“Hey,” a random guy sitting at the front beckoned to him.
“Me?” Daniel widened his eyes and touched his chest with his hand, looking at the guy, his lips barely meeting.
“Yes,” the guy whispered, nodding swiftly.
Daniel hesitantly came close. Holding his backpack firmly.
“Good morning,” he greeted.
“Morning, please sit.” The young man adjusted on the wooden desk, making space for Daniel.
“Thank you, thank you," Daniel repeated, after sitting.
"I am Emmanuel," the young man said, extending a hand to Daniel.
He grabbed it firmly, “Daniel,” he replied.
“Why were you standing there?” Emmanuel asked.
“The hall is already filled, and I didn't want to sit at the back because I wouldn't hear anything due to the crowd,” Daniel replied.
“Well, you are very lucky Mr Julius isn't here yet, he would have sent you out of the hall. He doesn't like anyone standing by the door when he is lecturing,” Emmanuel responded.
While they were still talking, A black, tall man, holding a brown handbag stepped in.
And immediately, the hall was quiet. As soon as he entered and headed to the blackboard, Daniel stood up and shouted, “Good morning, sir!” his voice echoed through the hall.
The whole class burst into laughter, Emmanuel hid his face under the desk and laughed hard as well.
“Guy, are you crazy?” Emmanuel dragged Daniel instantly. “We don't do that here; this is a high institution.”
“Silence,” The man who just entered the hall ordered, and the place was calm. “Who is the boy who just greeted me?” He asked.
Daniel didn't want to respond out of fear. But Emmanuel whispered, “That is Mr Julius, you'd better stand up.”
Daniel mustered courage and stood up. “It was me, sir,” he responded, barely raising his head.
“All you, stand up and clap for him,” Mr Julius ordered.
The students murmured as they stood and clapped audibly for Daniel.
“What's your name?” Mr Julius asked, pointing to Daniel.
“Daniel, sir,” Daniel replied, standing up.
“You really impressed me. I know you probably did that out of ignorance, but it shows that you came from a good background. However, this is the university, you don't need to stand to greet your lecturers.
This is the lesson for today: you must never allow where you find yourself to destroy your identity. Now, let's do biology, Mr Julius added.”
He lectured for like two hours and finally came to the end of the class; it was such a day for Daniel. He had never stayed in class for that long.
Although he didn't understand much from what Mr Julius taught in class, he was motivated to hold firm to his standards even when others didn't see it as something necessary.
Daniel and Emmanuel became very close friends, supporting and standing by each other.
Many times, other students say Daniel is crazy due to how he holds firm to his standards, saying “no” to examination malpractice in any form, preferring rather to fail than to copy or even ask for help during examinations.
Whenever he is faced with mockery and confrontation from students, his common response is “I am not crazy, I am only doing what I believe is right.”
Throughout his school days, he never cheated, whether in examinations or in tests, and he graduated with a very good grade.
N.B: All Images Were Generated By Gemini AI
