“Soft Life 101: Baba Say Make Una Dey Copy, Him Go Chop Small First!”

 Secondary school no easy, but these guys dey balance am well - food, cruise, and classwork in one sitting!

If you ever attended a public secondary school in Nigeria, you’ll understand that school life no be beans. E get as e be. From the morning assembly wey dey loud like crusade, to classroom wahala, and that unforgettable break time wey sweet pass everything — e no easy. But somehow, students dey always find small ways to enjoy themselves, no matter the struggle.

Recently, I stumble upon one viral photo online — omo, I just weak with laughter and nostalgia. The picture show a group of secondary school boys just dey vibe during break time. The setting alone tell story. One boy dey sip drink from an old recycled Coca-Cola bottle like he just sign endorsement deal. Another dey jot serious notes, full concentration, as if exam dey start immediately. Right in the middle, a full container of rice dey chill on top desk, like king wey dey wait make him servants serve am. I no go lie, that picture take me back to my own school days in one shot.

The struggle in secondary school na real life. Every day na hustle — you rush early, pray say teacher no go ask you question when your head still dey blank, dodge class prefect, hope principal no go notice your haircut, and try remember wetin you read last night. But even with all this stress, break time dey bring a kind of freedom wey you no fit explain. If mama or sibling pack food for you, na double joy. Small money fit buy puff-puff or buns wey be like stone, but you go still chop am with pride. That small joy na the essence of school life.

Those boys for that photo dey show that students no dey only go school to read. Some dey go school to cruise, some dey survive, and some na for food and vibes. But na that balance dey make school life memorable. Everyday hustle na preparation for tomorrow, but na today memories dey form.

The guy wey dey sip drink no care. The way he hold the bottle, the way he dey pose, you go swear say influencer photo shoot. Meanwhile, the classmate wey dey write notes dey show discipline. That contrast na life. Na that balance dey burst brain. School dey teach many lessons — na not only from books, but from observing life, from interactions, from tiny moments wey dem take chop and laugh together.

But the gist no end with the rice container or the drink. School life dey reveal human nature early. You go see the serious student, the jollof lover, the entertainer wey dey crack jokes even when teacher dey vex, and the ones wey dey live in their own world. Everybody dey, and everybody dey try survive the system every day. That’s the Nigerian public school experience in raw form.

Nigerians online no dey carry last when e come to social media. As that picture trend, reactions scatter everywhere. People dey joke: “This guy don chop influencer life before JAMB, see swag with Coke bottle!” Another one talk say, “If that rice no sweet, make thunder judge am.” Some dey admire the guy wey dey write notes: “Soft life na your portion if you sabi combine food, note-taking, and vibes.” Na these reactions dey show say even in tough situations, Nigerians sabi enjoy themselves and laugh with memories.

My own school days? I remember how we dey form friendship gangs. No be fight gang, but friendship gang. We dey share food, copy assignments, write love letters for people wey no sabi English, and sometimes collect flogging together for small group noise. My guy Daniel no dey carry last. Every break time na him dey pull out one heavy cooler of rice like na party food. Everybody go gather, even people wey no dey talk to him for class. One go hear: “Daniel, you get spoon?” Na so cruise go start.

School for Nigeria fit humble you. If you dey alone, e fit be struggle. But if you get right people around you, school go become one of the best moments of your life. That na the lesson wey the photo dey show. Life dey teach us balance — how to find joy inside small moments, how to survive, and how to create memories wey go last forever.

Moments like this na the real school of life. Textbooks dey important, but real education dey come from people wey dey around you. From the guy wey dey share last spoon of rice, to the girl wey dey lend biro for test, to the unserious friend wey dey make everybody laugh — na these moments dey shape character. Sometimes joy no dey come from big things; e fit come from holding a Coke bottle, laughing with friends, and enjoying small small pleasures.

To all students still dey hustle today, trying balance school, stress, and small soft life — I dey salute una. Whether you dey top class or dey fight survive exam, your story dey valid. School life no suppose dey one kind serious boring grind. If you fit find joy inside that struggle, hold am tight. Na those small joys dey form memories wey go dey with you forever.

So, next time person try act like students no dey enjoy life, show dem that picture. Make dem see how we dey blend food, friendship, discipline, and vibes into one sitting. Because na so we dey survive, and sometimes, we dey enjoy small life too.

What do you remember from your own secondary school days? Drop your thoughts in the comment section, tag that classmate wey used to cruise and chop with you like say una be blood, and don’t forget to follow @BigChiefVibes for more school throwbacks, street gist, and real-life stories behind the smiles.

Ekpu Code:

"Even when learning hard, find the laughter in the lesson; t

hat's how you truly graduate."