SENIORITY IN VETERINARY SCHOOLS:RESTORING THE LOST GLORY
As veterinary students, we are part of a noble profession that demands dedication,compassion professionalism, respect and teamwork. However, a crucial aspect of our educational journey has lost its luster - seniority. Once a revered tradition, seniority has become a fading memory in many veterinary schools,FUNAAB inclusive.In this article, I would be exploring what's gone wrong, the current state, and how we can revive the glory of seniority in Veterinary schools.
Before that, I hope someone read this with an open and liberal mind and not with a poisonous and toxic one.
The decline in the usefulness and maximization of seniority can be attributed to both seniors and junior students. There's been a palpable discord between seniors and juniors with seniors becoming increasingly disconnected from juniors, failing to mentor and guide them positively.The platform that propels juniors to success is no more there, and this unfortunately shows in the recent academic meltdown ravaging the college students.
Additionally,there's a big gap in leadership roles and transfer of knowledge, experience, and responsibilities.It seems to me sometimes as if we are trying to marry off a Veterinary Doctor to an Animal scientist. We all know such marriage would likely not work.But I later came in to the realization that it's a problem of cultural or mentality defect.
Take for instance,just recently,I was conversing with some of my colleagues as we were re-collecting and recounting those horrible 200L days, one of them recalled how 400L,500L and 600L classes then were like CONTROLLED DRUGS, infact like POISONOUS SUBSTANCE, that's always under lock and key and can't be accessed unless by an authorized and qualified personnel.As we cast our mind back to this common travails, one person specifically recalled an instance where he was drived out of a higher class during a night class all because the seniors wanted to use it for their reading.
This sounds cruel right? You may want to think so but I don't, Familiarity certainly breeds disrespect whether you agree with that or not.
On the other hand,one of the most common abnormalities seen among junior veterinary students is the level of disrespectfulness to their seniors not minding the widening gap in age, experience and even status sometimes.This has become a menace that need a profound solution. Its becoming a cancer that's not only eating deep in to the tissues but also rapidly metastazing to other body parts. In fact, as a former Fin.Sec of AVMS, I could still recall of an instance where an 100L student dropped a threatening voice note to my DM all because he hasn't gotten his receipt and expect me to be running after him. It's not only pathetic but depressing.It's as if there's a common dementia going rabid among the junior students that makes them forget the Veterinary ethics they learnt in their VCM 102.For the sake of clarity, Veterinary medicine is a professional course and not like any other course,and respect to seniors even on the field is one of the most important building blocks of this profession just as nucleotides are to DNA and RNA.
Another typical example of this is my perceived understanding of what happened in the recent manifesto conducted last session, it seems as if a group of people or each class is turning themselves to a group of Rottweilers nurtured to hyena, taking it upon themselves to tear every seemingly adversarial or critical commentator against their candidates to shred.Forgetting the fact that the essence of manifesto is to vet and scrutinize the candidates to see if they are up to task and not fall short of our expectation when they get to office.Again, I stood on that podium around 2020/2021 session vying for the Fin Sec unopposed and was still dirtied and soaked with battalions of questions, in fact I had to be given a bottle of water when it got to a stage. Whoever was there that day can bear me a witness. Yes, I felt that was too much then but the fact is I was made to realize the gravity of the office I'm going to hold on that stage.I was called privately after the manifesto by those seniors and we all laughed about it.Till date, one of them is still my go to after person for so many things I may want to know. This is the kind of junior-senior relationship we should try to build.
Current situation
It's sad that the current situation is bleak. Seniority has become a mere formality, devoid of substance and meaning. Mentorship and leadership opportunities are scarce, and knowledge sharing is limited. Skills are not being passed down, and the sense of community is dwindling.
To revive positive and impactful seniority in veterinary schools,here are my recommendations:
1. Revitalization of mentorship programs, pairing seniors with juniors for guidance and support.
2. Intense sensitization by AVMS on the code of conduct, rules and regulations guiding individual activities in the college.
3. Fostering a culture of respect, recognizing the value of seniority and experience.
4. Improving communication channels will ensure open dialogue between seniors and juniors.
5. Punishments/Fines to anyone that fall foul of the rules and regulations.
Conclusively,It's important that the seniors understand that they are to steer the ship through choppy waters, while the juniors shouldn't forget that the young shall grow and chicks would definitely come home to roost.
To write this article, I had to put my head above the parapet as I believe that we must not all succumb to devilish deity just because millions of people tether goats for it, sprinkle oil, pour libations and offer "ekuro" of appeasement.
Restoring the glory of seniority is crucial for our veterinary school community. As Carl Jung said, "The art of healing is rooted in the art of listening." Let us listen to each other, learn from each other, and revive this glory of ours.
Akaso Mujeeb 600L Veterinary Student, FUNAAB Akasom80@gmail.com
Well said ❤️
ReplyDeleteGod bless the Leader
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