The cliché ‘October rush' has been a popular phrase in Nigerian Institutions for quite a long time and its still in vogue today. October which happens to be the tenth month of the year, is a time when new students usually referred to freshmen are been admitted into universities worldwide, Nigeria included. The month is the last quarter of the year and is always busy with activities because it marks the beginning of the new session with freshmen trying to get themselves acquitted with two new environment they find themselves.
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October Rush is used mostly in various Colleges, Polytechnic and Universities to describe the sudden brief exhilaration mostly seen among the male folks towards the newly admitted females. It’s a time when guys usually used as an opportunity to change their girlfriends to a 'novice' which are the newly admitted females.

They achieve this purpose by trying to help them out with the admission process and also helping them to get adjusted to the new environment they find themselves. They can ever go a step further by helping them secure accommodation, course materials and relevant contacts at school. In some funny cases, you may see Engineering students taking Fine Arts students on tutorials. Interesting!!! Most girls in time past have fallen prey to this scheme, and some times even into the hands of the bad guys.

This surge comes with many negative consequences to both parties involved. Firstly, this can lead to premarital sex or even rape. The ladies who eventually gain an admission into higher institution may not have had the opportunity to engage in premarital sex before now, she may fall victim as a result of ‘October rush' . God is against fornication, it’s the only sin in the bible that God clearly made us to understand that its against the body. Our body is the temple of God and whosoever destroys his/ her body with the sin of fornication God will surely destroy the person. Sex is more than just few minutes pleasure is something very deep no wonder God created to be only in the confines of marriage. It enables the couple to get back to the beginning, opening them for a deeper or intimate relationship with each other. Its obvious that today this very purpose has been tossed to the ground and undergraduate students are seriously going against God. What seems to be very bad has become a normal way of life these days.

Unfortunately many of the so called freshers these days have done things one can't imagine they could do sexually in high school or at the so called tutorial centers

Again can be seen in increase rate of unwanted pregnancy and abortion among undergraduate students. This menace often times makes it impossible to these girls to focus on their studies. In some cases they may not be able to finish what they have barely started.

The stress of combining the emotional trauma, pregnancy and studies may be too much for some leading to the increased rate of abortion among students in the higher institution.

Some girls once they have started this may find it very difficult to withdraw from the act not knowing the impending danger they bring to themselves.

Research shows that there is a correlation between abortion and breast cancer and these girls who engage in such tend to bring this impending doom on themselves. Also, the side effect of abortion includes damage to the uterus especially the endometrium which happens to be the innermost layer of the uterus, blockage of the fallopian tube as a result of some dangerous chemicals ladies take in a bid to terminate a pregnancy. Indescribable emotional trauma that accompanies abortion follows both parties; that is, the guy and the lady for the rest of their life.

In addition to the already listed consequences is the possibility of contracting STIs and HIV and AIDS. Research has it that there is an increase of HIV and AIDs and other sexually transmitted infections on a daily bases in Nigerian institutions. The statistics have it that a sizeable population of Nigerian tertiary institutions students are HIV positive.

Finally, I would like to advise prospective students especially the females to avoid been a victim of October rush bait but to stand your ground.

a)Become a lady of virtue and principle and be mindful of the people you let into your life in the name of been helped as a new student.

b)Also get yourselves
acquainted with a good fellowship on campus, because this is where you meet people who really care for you and love you without any string been attached to it.

c)Beware of the people you call your friend some of them may be wolves in sheep’s clothing who will turn you into something you never expected to become or even make you get involved in a fraudulent act.

d)Set boundaries to your interactions with a male student. Never visit them in their hostels or lodge. Always chose an open place to interact.

In all be safe and always remember that the campus world is filled with a diverse set of the people. The question is, who is rushing you? Is it the Good, The bad or Ugly? Find out today.

This article was written by Rejoice Obiora.

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