After the long academic year to university students, here comes a time to be away from school. Away from academic pressure for a whole four months. We famously call it the long holiday. If you like it, a long period of freedom. From May to September.
The big question slaps hard. What next? What should I do? How well should I plan for my time? Plenty of time, but if unwise, scanty of wisdom dominates. As the English men would put it, too much of everything is harmful.
How well have you planned for your time? To some, it is time to relax, to others it is time to hunt for jobs to earn a stipend. Be it in a month, weekly or on a daily basis. To others, it is time to get closer to God by engaging in full-time ministry. Whatever it may, choices will remain a constant factor. How should you dissect the matter?
First, embrace this moment as a unique opportunity to complement your academic qualification with a professional course. What is the difference between academic qualification and professional qualification? One attains academic qualification by acquiring their degree or diploma in the university or college.
On the other hand, one attains professional qualification by acquiring specific skills pertaining to their profession. For instance, for the accounting students, they can enroll for a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) course, or join the Association of Chattered Certified Accountants (ACCA). Benefits of professional qualifications include expanded skillset, expanded career opportunities, competitive advantage, increased earning potential and self-fulfillment among others.
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Secondly, indulging in work. Finding an ethical activity that serves as work. Be it paying you or not. Be it a white-collar or a blue-collar job. Many have different opinions about the same, but the choice remains yours. You can serve as an apprentice in your field of interest to update your skillset. The end goal is to remain engaged. An idle mind is forever the devils workshop.
On the other hand, this can be a precious moment to build capacity. Mental capacity to start with. Glowing in books. Reading. Reading strengthens your mental muscles. It sharpens not just the thinking ability, but also the quality of your thinking.
It is worth noting that, one can only give what they have internally. Be it in writing or speaking. In the literature world, we say reading is breathing in and writing is breathing out. What of physical capacity? Health is wealth. Schedule for moments of physical exercises to be fit. If possible, visit the gym. Build spiritual capacity by engaging in a ritual of reading the Holy Book – the Bible, daily, praying consistently and setting aside pregnant moments for meditation.
In addition, roll-up your sleeves for roles at home. This is the time to assist your parents with chores at home. A child never grows old to a parent or a guardian. You are never too big to be the boss at home. Dig the farm, herd the cattle, milk, clean the house, do the utensils alongside washing clothes among other chores. It is the pride of a parent to see effort and commitment in their children. Deep inside them, they celebrate, knowing that their grandchildren will be in safe hands. Act responsible, not otherwise.
Link up discipline to a strong value system. Discipline is what you do when no one is seeing you. To this accord, self-control should top the list. The heart of the matter lies in sexual relation. Must you inspect all ‘estates’? Must you pluck all leaves? You have all it takes to control your sexual desires.
Coming to a conclusion, let respect be the anthem of the time. Parents might not have seen the gates of the university as you have, but were it not for them, you would have not. They might be illiterate, but respect them. They might be brutal, but respect them. Show them love and appreciate them.
By Daniel Muinde
The writer is a BSc Banking and Finance student at The Co-operative University of Kenya.
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