My girlfriend treated me, paid for my shopping in campus- KNUN Secretary General Seth Panyako

 Seth Panyako joined University of Eastern Africa Baraton in 1996 and graduated in 2001 Photo: Courtesy

I joined the University of Eastern Africa Baraton in 1996 for a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing.

My favorite unit was Midwifery, which dealt with helping mothers give birth and curbing deaths at birth.

My least favorite was Medical Surgery — my first encounter in the surgical ward was not so pleasant, I almost dropped the course.

Gertrude Jordan was my best lecturer. She taught Psychology and had a tactful approach and very few students skipped her classes.

We took education seriously. Medical training institutions took the practical aspect of teaching equally seriously, and with a class of 27, the teacher-student ratio was superb.

I recall going to Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital many times for practicals. Today, things are different - a medical graduate can hardly administer an injection or even take the blood pressure of a patient.

There were clinical instructors from the Health ministry who took us through practicals to ensure we were the best after graduating.

 I made my first coin in campus washing dishes in the university’s cafeteria. The cafeteria actually hired me before I joined the campus and that’s where I met Dr Cheassee Fonda who paid my campus fees after getting impressed with my O-Level results.

Dating was serious and many girls treated their men. My girl, for instance, took me for shopping out of good faith.

Being a staunch SDA, I spent most of the weekend singing in the choir and never went out drinking or dancing.

I unfortunately stumbled and found myself taking tea, alcohol, red meat and many other ‘abominable’ products that the body desires.

Seth Panyako graduated with a degree in Nursing from Baraton University in 2001.