Most first years just joined universities and colleges. As a peripatetic speaker in secondary schools in over 40 counties, I have received oodles of messages from young adults I spoke to in Form Four through Penman Programmes. Most of them are glad and grateful for the boost we gave them, which helped them pass KCSE with flying colours. Now, they have matriculated into institutions to pursue degree and diploma courses of their choices. I also congratulate them for making it to that lofty level of learning: Transitioning from secondary to tertiary level of education is no mean feat. It is a great achievement.
Life at that level of learning is rife with freedom. Therefore, every ‘fresher’, as first years are described, must know that every freedom comes with responsibility. Absence of sense can plunge them into immorality, drug abuse, crime and gang membership. It is important to know, people go to university and college to increase their chances in life, and to be open to infinite spectra of opportunities. Likewise, there is acquisition of hard skills or technical skills. Then, at the end of study, they are conferred with certificates, which enable them to secure gainful employment or to create jobs through entrepreneurship.
- Yearn to learn
Meaning, as first years join institutions of higher learning, they must yearn to learn and be open to oodles of opportunities available here and there. Every first year must know, minds of men and women work like umbrellas, they work well when open. In order to survive and thrive in university and college, first years must yearn to learn. For universities and colleges, they have just joined are true fountains of knowledge. They will meet and interact with books and polymaths – people with plenty of knowledge.
It is instructive to note. Universities and colleges are not like high schools where bells blare to mark breaks in line with Pomodoro Principle. Every first year should develop a strong sense of self-drive and self-discipline. They will attend all lectures as stipulated on the timetable. Likewise, there will be Term Papers to be written that will contribute to the collective course work. In addition, in those Temples of Knowledge, there are libraries replete and complete with heroic books of all variety. Therefore, it will be important to create more sessions to visit the library to read, research and write right.
A Bible reader would be quick to contend. In 2 Timothy 2:15 Apostle Paul of Tarsus instructed his mentee Timothy: Study to show yourself approved. A good workman that needs not to be ashamed of himself, but rightly divides the Word of Truth. In that context, Apostle Paul was trying to save a young pastor from shame that follows a preacher who is not sedulous in searching and studying scriptures the way Bereans did it in Acts 17:11. Preachers who do not spare some time to study, can easily slide and sound heretical. Likewise, a comrade who will fail to study will suffer shame. How? By failing in exams at the end of the semester. In some instances, a comrade will repeat the unit. Maybe, comrades who have not read will attempt to cheat. At this level of learning, consequences of compromising exam integrity will be dire. It will be disgraceful to be suspended due to lack of exams integrity. It will be a sad state of affairs to have missing marks or leave the institution with weak papers that cannot give you a competitive edge or advantage.
- Focus on Upskilling
Proverbs 22:29 asks a quality question. Then, it offers an apt response: “Do you see a man skillful in his business? He will stand before kings. He will not stand before mean and obscure men. That portion of the scripture talks about the importance of Upskilling: Skills Enhancement-and-Development. Therefore, apart from discovery of in-born talents and God-given gifts, comrades should hone multiple skills, which will help them while in college and beyond. Again, universities and colleges will equip them with hard or technical skills. Moreover, they must strive to thrive by honing other skills such as soft skills, employability skills, transferable skills, 21st century skills, people skills, life skills, et cetera.
Still in the debate about Upskilling, while still a first year student, it is important to start thinking about how to make money through legit ways. Advisedly, they can thrive when they discover, nurture, develop and make wise use of innate talents. Likewise, they can thrive when they fan their God-given gifts. Proverbs 18:16 tells us: “A man’s gift opens doors for him, and brings him before great men.” Aptly put, while in university and college, you can learn a new skill that can help you make money. This will help you survive and thrive. Some simple skills that can enable you start making money include can be writing and public speaking.
- Gain from AIM Programmes
AIM is an abbreviation of Apprenticeship, Internship and Mentorship. University and college life can be challenging, but with submission to AIM Programmes, the comrade can survive and thrive. In internship, you submit to someone who is highly experienced involved in a trade you are passionate about. As you carry the tools of trade of experts, you learn the ropes. In an iconic book titled The 15 Invaluable Laws of Growth, John C. Maxwell says that in the distant past, an apprentice was a name given to someone who selected a specific trade, then find a master in his village to teach him useful skills needed in his chosen vocation. After learning all he could from the local master, the apprentice would then travel to broaden the scale and scope of knowledge. Why? Because life is a journey, not a destination. If you want to know the road, you ask those who are coming back. For every course, there is time set aside for internship. In the Careerpedia, a publication of Story Moja, Muthoni Muchemi posits that in a laboratory, people put into practice what they have learnt in class or books. Therefore, she equates internship or attachment to laboratory of world of work. It precedes job placement and employment that brings enjoyment. The practical work experiences and connections that are made, are useful than moolah earned.
The conversation about is suitable for continuing comrades who are ripe for that. You will cross the bridge when you get there. Therefore, let us discuss mentorship then conclude. A mentor leads by showing a true example. A mentor does not tell you what to do, but shows you how to do it. In life, you are either a mentor or tormentor. Just like you can be either a warning or an example, you have the latitude to choose who you want to be.
In a page-turner titled Unstoppable: Achieving Excellence and Beyond, Rosemary Kibui and Timothy Kipchumba contend that a mentor is a trusted person who is more experienced in life that can inspire you to achieve your dreams. A mentor determines your mentality. What you fail to learn through mentorship, you will learn through experimentation. There is an extraordinary book from the Centre of Creative Leadership titled The Lessons of Experience. While researching, they established: 50% of what we learn, we earn from experience. We learn 20% from mentors and coaches, 20% from failures and gain 10% from formal education.
© Victor Ochieng’
The writer rolls out Upskilling Programmes in universities and colleges. We mentor comrades interested in Writing and Public Speaking. vochieng.90@gmail.com. 0704420232.
You can also follow our social media pages on Twitter: Education News KE and Facebook: Education News Newspaper for timely updates.
>>> Click here to stay up-to-date with trending regional stories
>>> Click here to read more informed opinions on the country’s education landscape
