Is it greener on the other side: Exploring the lifestlyle of students living off campus!

At university level, students are free from their parents; and the administration has limited influence as to how they chose to live. As a result, some chose to live on campus while others choose to live off campus. We sought to delve deeper into the lifestyle of those living off campus at Daystar University, and discovered that cohabiting is a reality.

What are some of the reasons one would ask?

Financial

Most of the students that we spoke to admitted that one of the reasons is that it allows sharing of costs. Those who live together share expenses and therefore life becomes cheaper, and especially with the increased day to day cost of living.

Social peer pressure

The highest percentages of students are in their early twenties.  This is an age where most of them want to be associated with their peers. As freshmen, female students are often lured into thinking that life off campus, living with a guy is the ‘in thing’ in campus. Little do they know that at the beginning of another semester, their boyfriend will be out following another female fresh man. And the cycle continues.

Fun

Some students get into this kind of life knowing well that it is not serious. They are just in it for fun, or to make life more interesting. As one of the students we interviewed, they claim that life is too short and one has to spice it up by trying out different things.  Like him, many claim that at university level, they are finally free from their parents and therefore can try out anything they wish.

And the consequences are not without impact. As Abraham Lincoln once said, freedom is not the right to do what we want but what we ought. Is it really right to stay off campus so as you can cohabit, smoke and take drugs?

Another quote by Karen Pletcher’s states that freedom isn’t free, it cost a soldier a day. So the next time you are thinking of moving off campus simply because you want to be free, think of what this freedom will cost you.

The same students who agreed that cohabiting is not a big issue had this to say about some of its down falls.

Arguments/disagreements

Two people can never be the same and therefore at times, there are chances that arguments will arise on different things. As a result, break- ups occur. As one female student admits, when that happens life can be miserable.  The second year student argues that this really put her down as everyone knew about their relationship. She could not even face her friends who had advised her against moving in with the guy.

Drop in academic performance

Our social life affects other aspects of our life in one way or the other. When people who were in a relationship break up, other aspects of their lives are likely to be affected. For students at university level, their academic performance is what suffers the most.

I have given you just a tip of the ice berg. I am sure that you can think of even more repercussions. Feel free to share your thoughts.

The following are also interesting links that I found on the issue.

Links:

http://www.ecampustours.com/campuslife/livingonandoffcampus/livingoncampusvsoffcampus

http://map.ais.ucla.edu/go/1000601

http://www.collegeboard.com/student/csearch/campus-life/9870.html

http://www.daystar.ac.ke/

My weekend!

Hey people.

Again won't get tired to share my experieces ove the past weekend.  There is a feeling one gets, once they

just do i say, exhale? How i feel when i express my self through writing.

My weekend

It normally starts on friday...You see, friday is my free day! However, still have so much going outside

school...guess it shows my time to clear is fast approaching!

First stop

So on this weekend, my first stop is at Internews...My second home....Doing my third feature story and i

must say they are like family! On this particular friday, my mentor is taking me to the field to do a story 'out

of my comfort zone' that's Daystar....

Mission for the day

An awesome experiece it turns out to be...In between, i also learn that it's very important to book

appointments early if you want to carry out interviews, and its also important to confirm before starting out on

the mission...Am not letting the cat out of the bag on this one...All i can say, Internews is great!

Great night!

As the sun goes down, i have to attend Slam Afrika. This is a spoken word event that is hosted by our very

own Pepe Haze. I am honoured to be part this.



Interactions

I get to interact again with great poets of my day and even those of the older generation. Mama C's piece

especially blows my mind away!

It's title is detox and urges the youth to detatch themselves from drug abuse. Giving a brief history about how

she was born in the states though she's lived in Africa, the question that comes up is What is being African?

Is it clothes you wear, how you live talk or what....Something to ponder about!

It's great to catch up with other artists like Grand master Masese, Budha Blaze, Ngwatilo Wawiiyo and

wow...the list is endless!


Good to see the Kibera girls empowered throug spoken word.... As i walk out, i am privilenged to meet

people also from the media industry, former Daystarians .....I enjoyed Slam and the

Daystar Theatre Arts

performance....I enjoyed..Awesome night there...It was worth every second!

'SEEING BEAUTY IN WHAT MAY SEEM UGLY'

Inspiration through my lenses!



It's that time of the semester again when there is so much to do, leaving one confused about where to

start and especially if you've been procastinating. Am not one of those though! :)

However, ofcourse there is alot coming up with projects and all. At such a time, it's also good to unwind

especially after a hard day's work. For me, the place to find me is definately in the art events happening in

Daystar. Speak of the Daystar Theatre Arts spoken word event or even the International student that went

down yesterday.....Sure you can think of others.


Janette Inkz: Inspiring through words


At such events, you get to learn about what other people have been watching or listening to and if you

are into spoken word like me, got to learn about Janette Inkz.

At a moment like this when i need to unwind, been checking her out on you tube and i must say, am

impressed.


Speak of powerful spoken word and with positivity inspired by God. Amazing how we can all share

even our worst experiences. I especially love the pieces ' The truth without photo shop and 'I'll wait for

you.'




The following are some of the links:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=igCj3jsbcqs

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0KQ9xG3yWfw

Let's embrace who we are: Let's tell the world our African stories!

My day at the Kenya International Film Festival.

Hey people, was inspired to attend the film festival recently...was glad to share a setting with literature Nobel

winner prof. Wole Soyinka, whom people engaged in debates on issues facing the film industry in our

continent.

Lessons

To share what i learnt, we shouldn't be afraid to tell our African stories...we shouldn't stand and

just watch other people tell them. Africa has a lot of potential...watching films like 'It takes two to tango' and

'Figurine' was awesome....Interacting with great minds in the field, was a great oppotunity.

Interactions

Speak of Kunle Afolayan, the producer of 'Figurine' and Mahmoud Ali Baugoon the director of 'It takes two

to tango. It was also great meeting actors like Genevive Nnaji and Ramseh Noah amongst others....All these

are people who dared to believe that there is wealth in Africa in terms of content. So people,take this as a

challenge. 


Lets tell African stories...we have what it takes! -:)