As we walk into the month of February after what seems like a year-long January, the excitement of resumption has faded. What remains is the harsh reality of the mid-semester grind. Walking from the hostels to the lecture theatres, the first thing that greets any student is the harsh, dusty wind characteristic of the peak Harmattan season.

The combination of academic pressure and the unrelenting weather presents itself as a problem to students. The temperature has dropped, and the air is dry, making simple things, like waking up early and staying healthy, much harder than usual

The Physical Toll

The impact of the weather is visible and persistent. Aisha Hassan, a 300-level student, explains that the season has brought more than just discomfort. She describes battling “sore throat, catarrh, and cough,” noting that the cold environment makes it difficult to even listen in class.
“Looking for a heater to boil water is another problem entirely, which often leads to lateness,” Aisha adds. “And the one that breaks the camel’s back is that clothes become dirty easily, meaning more soap is used.”

For students staying off-campus, the situation is worse. Rahmarh, another 300-level student, notes that the unpredictable switch from warm to cold weather hits hardest during the trek to school. “It affects a lot of us who do not commit to public transport,” she says. “Trekking has made us more exposed to the harsh weather, especially during early morning classes.”

The Shift from Break to Books

While the weather is slowing students down, the academic calendar is speeding up. There is a general feeling of being “stuck” between the lingering holiday relaxation and the reality of deep-semester work.

A 300-level student, Muhideen admits that while he is accustomed to the extreme Sokoto weather, the academic flow has been inconsistent even as February begins. “We are now in the 8th week of lectures, yet some lectures are yet to get started, this makes it difficult to focus for there is little or no motivation,” he lamented.

This same perspective is shared by another student, Azeezah, who feels the classes are being “starved.” She explains her struggle to settle in. “Having lectures is one of those things that push me to read. I would not want to leave material earlier treated in class for another time.”

Strategies for Endurance
Despite the dust and the mounting pressure, students are finding ways to cope. Neemah shares that her approach to avoiding burnout is to break the syllabus down. “I am trying not to overload myself,” she says. “I am breaking topics into smaller chunks and prioritizing difficult courses first.”

As school is getting serious, things are finally starting to feel normal again. It may not be the easiest start to the year, but as Rahmarh puts it, the cost of not doing the right thing is high enough keep everyone moving.