Exit The Corridors Of Knowledge And Start Real Education.
Fear. Oh! Did I say fear? Yes, I did. Fear, a phobia, is what most students in their fourth year dread. When you first join school at any level, you anticipate nothing but the best. In first year, perhaps, the lecturers lecture you on how wise a decision you have made. Out of college, you will likely work in a different field than the one you studied, in fact dreamed of.
In high school, for instance, I remember the teachers insisting that “school is a place where men are made out of boys.” This was borrowed from the Half a Day short story in Half a Day and Other Stories, an anthology.
For the man I am today, I will alter the already mentioned statement. This is for all the finalists at all levels. Understand that secondary schools make teenagers out of young boys. Universities make young men out of teenagers, and life makes real men out of young men. The same can be said of girls in equal measure.
In other words, the greatest learning and education is what you get past your college days. Why do I say so? You spend around eighteen years clearing the 8-4-4 system, and you spend the rest of your life drinking from the cup of real-life education.
So what do you expect of life past campus?
I am not sure if my experience is the same as that of others. Nevertheless, some things are common. They could be called the “rules of the game,” momentarily. And I hope they do not tarry with time, or its progression thereof. But of course they will, and things will hopefully be better. Remember, it is hope that drives life after campus. That is rule number one.
In the new life, you have to forget about teachers. I mean human teachers in that case. Your new teachers will be experiences. In school, you learnt about “once bitten twice shy.” In life, you will practice and experience it. This is the moment you wish someone gave you a test to write a composition about it and prove to the world that you were not dumb after all, but rather naive and ignorant.
In your life after campus, you will learn more from your own experiences as opposed to from other people. Rule number two.
While I was on campus, I trusted people a lot. In secondary school, I trusted people even more. Now I am past college and am not usually sure if I trust people that much, just a little. I have ended up trusting far fewer people than you could imagine. The reason is simple: new experiences with people alter your perception of them, and hence the birth of trust issues. Be prepared to trust very few people.
On the same note, some friendships will disappear because of trust issues. If you realize it is only God you trust; that is ultimately golden. Rule number three.
Immediately after college, just like I said in the article preceding this, we forget our dear friends. It is not going to change for you. Those dear classmates will carve their own paths. Accept this, that in as much as you will try to keep in touch, time will outwork you unless it is mutual effort from both of you.
But here is the beauty of it all: you will make new friends as you lose some of the college ones. Accept it as a fact and live with it. Remember the world has close to seven billion people, a great pool for forging new associations. Don’t fear losing friends. Rule number four.
Last week, in a short discussion with my friend, Miss Flavian Asuma, I recalled an earlier discussion we had. I told her that she might not end up working in social development as her profession dictates. She might end up wearing a lot of “hats.” You understand what I mean? Ok she might end up wearing different “shoes” in her career path. You’re even more confused. I mean multiple roles. As technology advances, perhaps the world will need more human help than machines since they don’t have “human feelings.” Good news to her. But then new challenges will bring up new opportunities far from our professions. You could be a psychologist, a social worker, a business person or something far from what you studied in college. Or you could be all that. Even something totally different.
Don’t be too rigid on your profession. The job market of the future will need people who can do more than one job. Prepare yourself for that “shock.” Be flexible or agile, and better still, be ready to absorb it. Rule number five.
Finally, in my few rules about life after college, I tackle fear. I started by talking about fear. Rule number six states that “don’t fear to take risks. Don’t fear to move out of your comfort zone. Don’t fear to experiment. You could be losing a lot of opportunities by not trying.” Remember this rule always.
My friend Flavian Asuma, young brother Jackson Ndege, and all people in or beginning their final lap in college, fear fear itself. Maim fear. Conquer the world and soar to greater heights, my great buddies.
As I have always said to most of my friends, read books. Not just books but books others don’t read. I am sure things will never be the same. You will have to discipline yourself to read a lot, to develop passion for the work you do, and to finally have a lot of hope and faith. Those two drive the world.
Ultimately, remember you leave behind your lovely teachers and become your own teacher. Learn to discipline yourself.
By Geoffrey Ndege with guest additions by Flavian Asuma and typing work by Jackson Ndege.
