UI 2019 best graduating student from Law Reveals her secrets to success

Recall we posted that only 5 out of 2,515 students made first class in the Law School Result. Out of the 5 students, 3 are from the University of Ibadan.

Jesudunmo Longe is one of those 3 UI students who graduated with first-class honors in Law School.

She also emerged as the best graduating student from the Department of Private and Property Law, University of Ibadan, having scored 6.20 CGPA.

In an interview with TUNDE AJAJA, she revealed that she worked hard to pay her parents love. Below are excerpts from the interview.

What inspired your plan to work towards graduating with a first-class degree?

I didn’t exactly plan to graduate with a first-class degree. I could say I stumbled into it. My elder sister, Jesuferanmi, who was a senior in my faculty, saw some of my 100 level first semester results and told me that I could graduate with a first-class degree if I sustained that performance. After that, I became conscious of it, and I also felt if I could graduate with a first-class degree without necessarily working towards it, I could as well keep up with whatever I did because it was apparently working.

At the Law School, however, I was more intentional. I worked super hard and I’m, however, grateful that things worked out for me. Overall, I would give the credit to Jesus Christ and of course my mum’s prayers, my dad’s love and the support of my siblings and my inner circle (of friends).

READ ALSO: JAMB Best Candidate, Agnes Maduafokwa reveals her Secrets to attaining highest UTME score.

What should students do to have excellent results like yours?

‘Know yourself and to thyself Be True.’ Personally, I have God and I don’t joke with my mother’s prayers. I called her before every examination from my first year to the final year. Students should find what works for them. A strong support system really helps, no matter your method.

I also like to add a few things; grades are great, but your value is not in the grades neither do your grades define you. Balance is a myth. Some things require more attention than others, depending on individuals and it varies from time to time. So, choose what to feed your attention with.

Just because you are good at something does not mean it is what you were called to do. It is good, however, to stick to what you are good at and stay where you shine with ease except it does not give you joy.

Do not be unduly eager or crumble under the burden to monetise your hobbies or passion. It is okay to enjoy things just for the sake of it. Young women should not shrink themselves to accommodate the inflated egos of other people.

In school, Jesudunmo Longe was an event planner, MC and many things of interest. When asked how she combined School and Work, she had these to say:

I didn’t have a reading schedule because I was involved in too many things; some, out of interest and others, out of curiosity.

In fact, my free time was for everything else outside of books. I could be busy with event planning, movies, food hunting, sleeping and church engagements. I tried not to miss classes, though. I wanted to have my cake and eat it, so, I took risks.

I was into blogging and I joined Man O’ War. I would even say I underperformed at the university and law school and some friends told me that. I knew that if I had taken my studies a bit more seriously, I would have done far better.

The fact that I reached a standard that is usually unattainable without hard work does not mean it was my best output.I do not have a formula for how I combined everything but I also will not advise people to engage in too many activities.

For me, those things helped as I learnt a lot, gained tremendous experience and learnt to work on teams. There were definitely times I almost let go, especially in Law School, but with a great support system and Mercy Chinwo’s songs, I pulled through. I had good friends but I did not go out of my way to pursue friendship with people.

However, I was sufficiently receptive and did not want to be noticed or become popular in Law School. Within my circle, I was the hype woman and I always had enough energy to go round (laughs).

ALSO CHECK OUT: List of Best Graduated Students With Great CGPA in 2018/2019 Academic Session.

Other Questions from the INTERVIEW:

What have you been doing since you left Law School?

I work with a top tier law firm in North-Central Nigeria as a youth corps member and the programme ends in June. Besides that, I have started a YouTube channel, where I discuss legal and societal issues, relationship, family life, lifestyle and faith-related matters.

You must have won a few awards on account of your successes, could you share that?

When I graduated from university, I received an award as the best student in Land Law and best (graduating) student, Department of Private and Property Law. In the Law School, I received the Director General’s Prize for first-class students.

What were the things that attracted you to law?

I had varied interests and hobbies while growing up but law always had its appeal, and the restricted access the profession has was a factor; it’s either you are a lawyer or you are not. You can’t just wake up and buy yourself a wig and gown, but vocations like writing, acting or any of the other activities I was passionate about, you could do them side by side with being a lawyer. Also, my dad, whom I adore so much, is a lawyer, among the many other things he does too. That might have had some influence on me, no matter how little. My elder sister is also a lawyer. That could have also played a role, but no one forced us into it.

How did you combine these with your academic work?

I didn’t have a reading schedule because I was involved in too many things; some, out of interest and others, out of curiosity. In fact, my free time was for everything else outside of books. I could be busy with event planning, movies, food hunting, sleeping and church engagements. I tried not to miss classes, though. I wanted to have my cake and eat it, so, I took risks. I was into blogging and I joined Man O’ War. I would even say I underperformed at the university and law school and some friends told me that. I knew that if I had taken my studies a bit more seriously, I would have done far better. The fact that I reached a standard that is usually unattainable without hard work does not mean it was my best output.

I do not have a formula for how I combined everything but I also will not advise people to engage in too many activities. For me, those things helped as I learnt a lot, gained tremendous experience and learnt to work on teams. There were definitely times I almost let go, especially in Law School, but with a great support system and Mercy Chinwo’s songs, I pulled through. I had good friends but I did not go out of my way to pursue friendship with people. However, I was sufficiently receptive and did not want to be noticed or become popular in Law School. Within my circle, I was the hype woman and I always had enough energy to go round (laughs).

Which was easier between life in university and Law School?

University was easier; I was younger, I had simpler expectations and there was less external pressure. Whereas, Law School was like being in a pressure cooker for a year plus a workload that seemingly burgeons into something huge close to the end. Some of my friends and I joke that the law school syllabus should be spread out to at least two to three years. The grading system did not help matters either. Excelling is one thing, having your lowest score recorded as your overall grade is another and the fact is that it is also a get-it-at-first-trial situation. No supporting semesters to fix errors. But thank God for standing by me.

What were your most memorable moments in school and at the Law School?

In my first year, I remember the day my matriculation number was called in class that a lecturer wanted to see me. It was a borrowed course. Understandably, I panicked but when I met him, he told me ‘well done, you did extraordinarily well’.  Also, in my final year, a lecturer gave the top three students in her course money and I was one of them. I made conscious efforts not to be known in class but those moments were memorable. Surprise visits by my parents and siblings, especially to support me very close to examinations helped greatly. It meant a lot to me.

Did they reward you for excellent performance sometimes?

Yes, they did, although I believe being their daughter is a sufficient reward for me. My parents are great, excellent people. So, most of the time, making them proud is enough motivation. I can’t say if anything they did was to reward me for great performance because they would still have been there if I did not have a great performance. They are awesome; ever supportive and they and my siblings mean the world to me. I could not have asked for better parents.

Did you have a history of such excellent performance in your previous schools?

Yes, I was the valedictorian in my secondary school and every year in my senior secondary school, I had a pile of presents and awards to take home. I didn’t have any delay with my admission; I used the result of the General Certificate of Education examination that I took in SS2 to gain admission.

How would you have felt if you had not graduated with a first-class degree at both institutions?

I’m happy I graduated with a first-class degree at both institutions but I’m not one that defines value based on academic performance. My grades do not define me. However, I’m blessed that my smartness reflects in my grades. I really did not mind but I always told God that if not for me, for my parents. I wanted it for them. They really supported me.

SOURCE: PUNCH.