How NYSC affected my mental health and made me depressed.

Depressed?! I know many of you might be thinking. What do you mean depressed? Is that not a fancy word young people use when they feel sad? Well, You know that feeling when you had a good night's rest but you still can not muster up the energy to start your day? Yes, I was not just sad, I was lonely, I was exhausted mentally and physically, nothing interested me, not even the things I loved to do and I felt hopeless because the program was for a year

The National Youth Service is a scheme to empower Nigerian youths and inculcate discipline and real-life knowledge in those who have concluded their tertiary education. Making use of their three cardinal programs

The Orientation Camp, Place of Primary Assignment(PPA), and Passing out parade (POP).

It all started early that year when I finally decided to be a patriotic citizen of Nigeria and registered to be a National Youth Service Corp member. Without connection or corruption, I was posted to one of my travel destinations in Nigeria. Oyo state, Ibadan. The state with the brown roofed aesthetic, history, and these artifacts brought this feeling of nostalgia. For these reasons, I eagerly anticipated it. 

Filled with enthusiasm I embarked on my journey and after all the hassle I was at Iseyin camp. We were searched thoroughly by the soldiers. The youths wore white T-shirts and shorts in uniform which made it look like they were at a correction facility but that was the least of my problems. I was exhausted and I had to go through many tedious and unnecessary manual registration processes. 

My first issue was the corp members who were eager to start camping activities, they started preparations for the next day by two A.M making it difficult for those of us who just wanted to sleep because we slept in large halls that catered for about thirty to fifty corp members 

Every activity on camp was vigorous. We woke up by four A.M to prepare for devotion and morning drills with soldiers chasing us skelter to avoid late coming and those who loved to escape camp activities. It was under the sun or in the rain literally, as stated in the Nysc anthem. I have been stripped of my human rights, I had to stand in long queues for everything, the deafening noise from the corp members constantly made me have a headache, and I had to sit five hours daily for lectures, the punishments, and the evening parades, I lost weight and Indefinitely, I became ill twice in twenty-one days. 

I impatiently anticipated leaving and soon It was over, I was finally free I thought, Later that day came the next level of my frustration.

It was the last day of camp, we were all posted to our PPA where we would continue our service for the year. Provisions for transportation were made to convey corp members posted to the same local government. It was a remote village and on a typical Nigeria road filled with large potholes and gallops, it took two hours. We arrived looking like black albinos as the red mud dust had covered our entire head and eyelashes. A vast number of us were posted to schools as was a usual thing with NYSC but to my surprise my PPA was no longer in existence, It had been shut down for three years. Three years!? And the Nysc staff were unaware. Many thoughts ran through my head, I was confused, I was furious, I felt like I would explode but I had to keep going because I was not alone. Other corp members had their issues, we decided to wait at a village to be reposted and it finally happened after three days.

Getting to my new PPA was when I realized what I signed up for, this was where It became unbearable and I eventually broke down. All my hope to explore was shattered. The standard of living was new to me. I had to fetch water every day, and when Electricity came it felt like Christmas, There was no proper medical center nor market, cobwebs grew everywhere and even when you cleaned out they returned two days later, Rodents and several unknown Insects became my companion and on some days I woke up with scars from their bites. The wooden doors were asymmetrical and never fit properly into the spaces designed for them. Despite all of these, I had to make it early to school and act like everything was fine because I had students who looked up to me. I stayed there for months wondering and manufacturing reasons to complain every day. 

One beautiful weekend while I was scrolling through my phone, I came across a church program and decided to join, It was already concluding with a massive praise session. It was mind-blowing, I started by nodding, gradually moving my body as I sat there. Eventually found myself dancing. I danced so much I danced my way out of that depression, I know, I could hardly believe it myself after the joy I felt that day I did not want to go back. I consciously put in the effort to be happy I took notice of the cotton candy clouds in the sky, the most beautiful autumn leaves sunset I had ever seen, the serenity that came with living in a remote area, the flowing stream, the beautiful trees, the butterflies and many things I lost focus on bothering myself with things I could not change. 

The environment was dull and there was nothing to do. To this effect, I made up my mind to be a better version of myself. I tried out new dishes and now I know Mushrooms taste like dense meat and Tofu tastes even better. I grasped the act of discipline and patience, I got back into the habit of reading and daily journaling, I built proper communication with my friends and family, and learned financial intelligence.

Honestly, It is safe to say it did help me, though the experience was tough, It was new but It is one I would cherish for life.