I ENTERED SCHOOL, SCHOOL ENTERED ME — A Nigerian Fresher's Survival Story

“it’s not just a story—it’s an experience.”

May 22, 2025

[March 26th, 2025]

After I had finished my exams in March, something happened to me that bore the title and the idea to write the book.

There was an exam I was set to write in the morning but ended up writing it in the afternoon and leaving the halls towards the evening. The time would be delayed, papers weren’t printed, and even if they were, you had forgotten all what you ~~crammed~~ read for.

The time I wasted as time ticked away slowly, but fast enough for me to realize I had wasted 3 minutes by blinking.

I thought about the waiting. Students, under the harsh sun, waiting in long lines to get into the exam halls, where they’d meet yet another worse line.

I had jotted down every single thing. Every discussion, voice notes I listened to, people on the roadside talking and even those who I glanced and observed do their thing. I was a hawk, looking for where inspiration would strike, and I’d be ready to add it all down in my book.

After the excruciatingly long thinking, pondering and examining of thoughts and seeking assistance, I finally came up with a title for my book.

I had tried many options.

My first day in school? No.

Life of an undergraduate? No.

School Life? No.

A day in life in school? Goodness, no.

My First Year In School? Yes!

That title stuck cords. I asked around and they said it was really catching, and it made them curious, let alone the book cover design.

The book was formed from a place of thoughts, wonder and a lot of existential questioning.

I had written about my school life, in senior secondary and how hard it was to navigate choosing the perfect career path every parent expects of their child.

I wrote about going for my jamb exam. My teachers, classmates, and ended it in the first chapter bearing the eBook’s title, in “pack your things, you’re going to school”.

Buy My E-book Here

Why I wrote the book?

I over-heard and had seen students complain about a day being so complicated in school, and I thought about writing a post to explain what that means for students who have this unanswered dilemma within them.

To submit an assignment, get ready for classes, and it slowly transformed into the first page of my book’s draft and the second and the third and the fifth. And soon it wasn’t just a draft, it was an experience.

One which I knew if students were to get their hands on, they’d love it. They’d feel seen, heard and understood.

From drifting away in lecture halls, to attending lectures just to sign attendance, and so much more experiences, it’s all these and many more that shape our experiences in school. And “my first year in school” is sure to explain why these predicaments happen and how best you can understand them through my point of view, as a university student.

This book is a short summary of my journey through that first year—yes, that very tedious first year we’ve all been through. The lessons I learned, the friends I made, and how I grew in ways I never imagined.

And now, on the 6th of June, I’d be releasing the eBook out there for numerous students to purchase and read.

But this isn’t a story about school.

It’s about growth.

Fear.

Friendship.

Loneliness.

Becoming.

And learning to be myself when everything around me felt unfamiliar.

I also tried something different with this project—a new writing style.

More reflective. More expressive. More like how I think, feel and breathe in real time.

Less polished, More personal.

Less performance, more presence.

N1,000 only — Limited-Time Student Offer: Hurry Now and get the book before 6th of June!

HOW TO GET THE BOOK?

Grab your copy now, on Kobo!

Grab your copy now, on Selar

Launch price: N1000, valid until 6th of June

Full price: N1,500 from 7th of June

If you’ve ever felt lost in a new space, if you’ve ever questioned who you’re becoming—this eBook is for you.

line borrowed from @Fidelia, on substack

That's all I can tease, if not…how'd you read? 😭😂

Mark your calendars: The Ebook releases on June 6th

Title: I Entered School, School Entered Me

A personal journey. A bold new voice. A release I can’t wait to share with you.

Read it. Feel it. Share it with a friend.

And please don’t forget to leave a review—it helps more than you know.

Love,

Kingsley

P.S., if you know of any publishing media I could try, do let me know in the comments. A virtual book-launch is all I’ve got as of now.

Interesting things that happened this week:

Completed my Ebook and set the date for it's release.
Uploaded my Ebook on Selar & Kobo (tried Amazon, Lulu, etc., but can't get over the “tax information" without the sites banning my account, like on draft2digital).
Looking forward to traditionally publishing my book.
Making plans towards achieving a book launch in my school, at the entrepreneurship DIUSCADI event.
Tagged Chimamanda Adichie on twitter to invite her to Substack.