College—the inevitable breeding ground of unprotected, unauthorized sex and drugs.

It's not necessarily where it all begins, nor is it the only place you can find it, but it is certainly its playground.

The overuse of contraceptives among female students who don't trust their partners' protection has become so excessive that it's now as common as taking painkillers for a headache.

College is where life truly begins, but trust me when I say it can just as easily become the epitome of someone's downfall. It all depends on the role you play—are you the player or the victim?

And more importantly…

Can you play the game?

The Reality of College Dreams

What was your first thought when you got to college?

Was it:

"Oh my God, I'm finally here! Time to fulfill my dreams, study hard, and make the most of my time!"

Or maybe:

"Wow, a fresh start! A new chance to redefine myself and be whoever I want to be."

Or perhaps:

"Finally, I'm in college! Time to party hard, make new friends, have fun, and create crazy memories I can share with my loved ones and kids in the future."

Because honestly, I had all three in mind.

And yet, here I am, sitting in the corner of my room, lost in my own thoughts, reminiscing about my past mistakes, hating myself for my own foolishness.

Trust me, it's not a good feeling.

You hate yourself so much you wish it was all just a dream. But unfortunately, mistakes are real, and time doesn't rewind.

You can't undo the bad and keep only the good. You can only try to fix your mistakes while making sure you don't make new ones.

Meet Me: Tessica Sawyer

Hi, everyone.

My name is Tessica Sawyer, a nineteen-year-old, 200-level Anatomy student at Niger Delta University, Wilberforce Island, Nigeria.

Yes, I'm Nigerian.

And trust me, you'd be intrigued by the decisions we Nigerians make in college.

Year One: A Story of Humiliation

My first week in college, I was determined to look my absolute best—I wanted to be exceptionally beautiful to avoid being made fun of.

There was one thing I hated more than anything in this world: public humiliation.

I was a naturally shy person and had no intention of attracting unnecessary attention, but that day… it was like I went out of my way to invite it.

The Wrong Outfit, The Wrong Day

It was a Wednesday evening when my friend, Queen, called me, asking for help. She was at the school gate with too many things to carry alone.

So, I got dressed and headed out.

I wore a pink puffy crop top and a tight short skirt—a look that always got me compliments back home. People would call me beautiful and ask for my number.

But in school?

I felt weird.

It was as if all eyes were really on me for the first time, but not in a good way.

My heart pounded as I suddenly remembered Amaka warning me never to wear that top. My confidence dropped instantly. I felt exposed, uncomfortable, and I wanted to turn back.

But Queen was waiting.

If I took too long, she might get mad, or worse—start coming by herself, and then I'd have to start begging for forgiveness.

"Ah, what have I gotten myself into?"

I frowned, feeling like crying when a voice suddenly pulled me from my dilemma.

"Hey, fine girl!"

I turned toward the football field, where a group of boys had just finished playing.

"You're too pretty!" one of them called out.

The next thing I knew, everyone was staring.

My body started shaking.

I loved being the center of attention when it came to my beauty, but this? This didn't feel right.

The boy continued his ridiculous serenade.

"I could take a bullet for you."

"I can die for you."

Someone, please just kill this guy and save me from this embarrassment.

"See, I can do anything for you, my love."

Desperate to escape, I forced a smile, nodded, and walked faster.

That's when I heard someone say:

"They're insulting her, and she's smiling."

Laughter erupted.

I wanted to disappear.

Then, his friend mockingly asked, "Would you really die for her?"

And without hesitation, the boy laughed and said, "God forbid! That thing?"

They all laughed.

I didn't stop to look back—I was too humiliated.

I just kept walking, my face burning with shame.

By the time I reached Queen at the gate, I ran to her and hugged her as she started complaining about her stressful journey.

Trying to shake off the embarrassment, I laughed along and then told her what had happened.

Queen? She burst out laughing.

"Of course they were making fun of you!" she cackled.

Then she took a good look at me and said, "And what are you even wearing? Didn't you check the mirror?"

At that moment, I wished I had ignored her call and gone back to change.

I was mortified.

I had no hole to hide in, no escape.

The best I could do was go back to the hostel and burn these clothes because I was never wearing them again.

A Trauma is Born

I thought that was the end of it.

I was wrong.

That one incident created a trauma I didn't even realize I had.

Now, I can't leave my room without asking at least five people how I look.

I always let Amaka pick my clothes—like a child who can't go out without her mother's approval.

But the worst part?

I was in line for medical verification when I overheard students gossiping about me.

"You know that girl from the field? The one who thought they were flirting with her but didn't realize she was being insulted? She was in the medical line today!"

I froze.

Then, one of them pointed directly at me.

"Oh look, that's her!"

And they all laughed.

I wanted to vanish.

To make matters worse, the line didn't even move because the workers closed for the day.

What a waste of time—just to get insulted again.

The First Death on Campus

Frustrated, I returned to my hostel.

Since my assigned hostel was still under renovation, I had been staying with Amaka.

As I entered the hall, the matron greeted me warmly, showering me with praise and blessings, even though she was seeing me for the first time.

She asked for my room number, and I told her Room 9.

She led me there while singing the praises of my new roommate, saying how wonderful she was.

But before I could open the door, I overheard another group of girls gossiping.

"Did you hear? The assistant hostel rep just died!"

I stiffened.

Just earlier, I had jokingly wished for something crazy to happen—to take the attention off me.

And now?

Someone was actually dead.

A chill ran down my spine.

"Did my stupid wish just come true?"

Overwhelmed, I bumped into the door, and it swung open.

I blinked.

Staring back at me inside the room was someone I never expected to see.

Was this fate? Or was I being punished?

And that…

Was how my story began.