Recently, my graduating students invited me to give a talk in a Departmental event they organized to celebrate the outgoing and incoming executives of the Departmental student's association. The title of the talk was " Places you can work as a chemist after graduation"
When I saw the topic, I thought to myself, either these students are oblivious of what is going on in the real world or they just want another academic discourse.
Don't misunderstand me, I was not going to discourage them from pursuing a job after graduation, I just don't want to set them up for disappointment given what I know about employment in Nigeria.
Anyway, I honored their invitation and gave them some pieces of advice which might be of use to someone reading my blog. So, I will be sharing with my readers the thoughts I once shared with my graduating students in this blog.
I started by informing them that although I was going to address the topic of the talk, I will not be dwelling on it for too long because I think it is too narrow and might not actually be useful for a good number of them. They gave me the liberty to do as I deemed fit.
I informed them that the topic was too narrow in my view because of three points viz:
Our faulty Syllabus
I have no doubt that the syllabus we use in training our students is faulty. It was designed to make them job seekers rather than job creators. It is evident from the topic they choose for their celebration after four years of schooling. What have been built into their consciousness is how to get a job.
The fearful Statistics
According to the information available on the website of National Bureau of Statistics, the rate of unemployment among Nigerian youth is 42.5 %. Now, that is a fearful statistics. That was why I thought dwelling on their topic may not been too helpful.
The future Strategy
Given the condition of the nation, I personally think every graduating student should have a strategy in place for a happy life.
So, what are the guiding principles of the future strategy that I am advocating? There is no doubt that it is impossible to come up with one correct answer for everybody but principles of success is applicable to everyone.
Here are the principles that I suggested to them:
The Importance of definiteness of purpose in life
It is very important to discover the purpose for which God created you otherwise you will most likely be pushed around by every wind of suggestion from family and friends.
Let me make it clear that your purpose is something awaiting your discovery and not something you decide. Remember that when purpose is not known, abuse is inevitable. There is so much dehumanization going on in our country because people are not aware of their purposes in life. Don't let this happen to you.
The Indispensability of your decision to plan your life
You have to plan your life in such a way that your purpose will be fulfilled. Your purpose becomes your guiding compass in planning your life. Your purpose helps you to plan your time and your life.
It is a common saying that he or she that fails to plan, is planning to fail. It was Jim Rohn that said, "You don't have to be rich to have a plan to be rich, anyone can have a plan but not all do". How true!
Your Irrevocable determination to pay life's levy
There is a price tag attached to anything of worth. To be healthy, wealthy and happy, there is a price to pay. Find out what it takes to accomplish your plan, and pay it. To be sure, it takes more than bagging a certificate from the higher institution.
Finally I addressed my students topic:
Industries and diversities of places of labor
I urged them that if they can, they should go to work for themselves. I encouraged them to be their own boss, set up their own businesses. I assured them that if they would, they could.
But then, should they still choose to take up a job which some people believe is the acronym for Just Over Broke (JOB), they could choose to;
Work in secondary schools or higher institutions of learning as a teacher and lecturer respectively.
Work in research institute and laboratories
Work in any manufacturing company
If you are still in school, you may want to give my suggestions a thought.