The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) protracted strike provided an opportunity for some students to explore new grounds. During the almost six-month strike, they tried their hands on vocations that would prepare them for life after school. OLUWAFEMI OGUNJOBI (400-Level Language Arts, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife) reports. Students never thought that the last Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) strike would last for almost six months. Many of them expected a short action. While some hoped to return to school sooner, the wise among them found solace in skill acquisition that would make them self-reliant after their degree programmes. Gabriel Ayodeji got admitted a few months before the ASUU strike. As a first year student of Social Studies, he did not have any background in engineering work. But as the strike progressed, he was employed as his father’s tool manager in the latter’s engineering venture. During the period, Gabriel went on several trips with his father and was paid for his services. “My dad has always taught me that there is dignity in labour. Instead of staying idle at home, I took the opportunity of the strike period to learn some skills from my dad’s engineering work. We embarked on several business trips together; and as a student studying the environment and human relations, I had smooth interactions with my dad’s clients and made money too. It might sound funny being my father’s apprentice, but, at least, it is through the vocation he fends for the family and pays my school fee,” Gabriel said. “I put up my ego to learn tailoring last September. People thought I wanted to abandon schooling because they wonder how a ‘big girl’ like me and also an undergraduate, would take up such a vocation. I was not ashamed to wash plates, clean floor and fetch water for my master,” Tosin Olatunbosun, 400-Level Language Arts told CAMPUSLIFE.