LIFE AFTER GRADUATION

By Gavin E. Aleogho

There is this lie we do tell ourselves while in school; although we call it faith. We believed that the certificate is the only key to succeed in life. An average undergraduate believes that if he is able to come out with good grade, that is all, his future is secured.

Seeing elderly friends and relatives who came out of school with a supposedly good grade still roaming the street, the reality is dawning on many graduates and undergraduates that certificate alone is not the key.

Certificate on its own has a lot to play in achieving success and dreams. But in itself, it’s not enough. Education is only a preparatory ground for the reality. Education is basically mind development for success in life but it’s not a guarantee for a successful life.

I see certificate as a key to open doors. But what are you going to do after the door is opened to you? That is where other factors come in. Success is actually a combination of various factors with the knowledge you’ve gotten from school.

Get me right, I am not by any way playing down on education. I’m educated and I still aspire to have more degrees and qualification that will help me actualize my dreams and aspirations.

But life has taught me that success has no respect for paper or certificate. I’ve seen BSc, HND, Masters’ Degree holders who have not found a place to display what they’ve been taught or trained to do.

You see people who have spent a lot of years and money to acquire a certificate, only to finish and keep floating in the labour market. That should not have been the case if only some individuals have really understood that success is beyond the paper called certificate.

When a young graduate thinks that because he has gotten the certificate, then he is guaranteed to have the best of life, he is only deceiving himself. He should be told that many have come ahead of him, with better and higher certificates, yet, still trying to find their place in life.

He should be told that the certificate doesn’t guarantee success in marriage either does it guarantee success in other ramification of life. He might get a well-paid job with his certificate but other factors are required for him to sustain the job. His certificate does not guarantee that he will be prudent in spending the cash he gets from his job.

How To Succeed After Graduation

1.            Right Mind Set

To become successful with that certificate, you must have the right mind-set. I’m talking of a mind-set that thinks beyond the certificate. Come to think of it; are people who didn’t go to school not succeeding? If they are, how does your paper comes in? How are you then different from those who are not privileged to be in the four walls of an institution?

What will cause you to succeed after graduation is not your certificate but your mind-set. I’m talking of productive thinking and corresponding action. That is what guarantees success. If you leave your certificate to ‘think’ for you, you will be among those waiting for job to come to them. It may come, but you will or may only have ended up in the circle of rat-race without making much impact or living a purposeful life.

2.            Develop Your Potentials

Your potentials are hidden and untapped talents and gifts which require room for development. Irrespective of your level of education, you have this untapped talents inside you of which if you can reach out to develop and maximized it, you can earn a living from them.

What you have inside of you is bigger than that paper called certificate. Build and leverage on that your hidden potential and gifts. Even while in school and after you’ve graduated, make it a personal goal to always develop yourself.

Your interest and passion are signpost to the hidden gift God has put inside of you; build on them. If you live like this, you will have a productive life irrespective of what you find yourself doing.

         3.                 Acquire New Skills

In life, there is room to scale new height. There is room to explore new territory. Never let your course of study restrain or condition you to a particular way of life.You never can tell what you are very good at except when you give it a shot. Also, you never can tell what will eventually be your major source of sustenance or income. Get new skills that appeal to your interest and passion.

Skill acquisition should not be limited to skill related to your course of study alone. Take for example; there are several computer applications software which can be of much benefits to you either directly or indirectly. Go get yourself familiarize with them.

4.            Take Responsibility For Your Life

I have seen a lot of graduates who waste most years of their life waiting for the fulfillment of a mere man’s promise of a job to them. Never live your life that way. I’m not saying that you shouldn’t wait for the fulfillment of a promise to you. What I’m saying is that you should not keep your life on hold while you are waiting. Get something doing. Have a plan in life which is not human dependent. Don’t leave your life at the mercies of one Uncle or ‘big man’ somewhere, whom you hope will help you one day. Don’t live your life based on the promises of anybody.

Live life in such a way that whether you fail or succeed, you won’t have to blame it on anybody; but rather on yourself. You should know that the progress of your life is largely dependent on you. If you have actually gone through the four walls of high institution, then, you are no longer a kid; neither are you ‘Mummy’s Pet. You are a mature man or woman now. Start taking responsibility for your life.

5.       Start Doing Something

Start doing something no matter how small it is. It’s is said that little drops of water with time can make an ocean. Never despise the days of little beginning. Start from somewhere. It is good to have faith for the ‘big job’. But it’s also wisdom for you to start from somewhere while you are still having faith. If the so called ‘big job’ materializes immediately; thank God. But if not, you can’t just be waiting, doing nothing while you are wasting your time and life.

People who are victim of this are people who desire instant wealth. When you are looking for instant wealth, you will fall into diverse temptations. You have to know that there is nothing like “over-night wealth”. Every true success comes bit-by-bit.

6.       Get Information, Get Knowledge

I’ve meet graduates who think the culture of reading stopped in school. A young graduate, who happened to be my next door neighbour sometimes ago, notices that I always read at night. He inquired to know if I was preparing for an exam, of which I told him I was not. He has a mind-set that reading is for people in school or people who are preparing for exam.

The culture of reading doesn’t stop in school, either is it meant for only people preparing for a test or exam. Reading for anyone who wants to have a successful and productive life should be a habit.

Great men that are making impact in our world are readers. “Readers are leaders” according to the general saying. Reading is mind development. You shouldn’t stop developing your mind because you have a certificate.

Where you are going to in life is still very far. The information you are able to gather now will be of much benefit to you when you get there. Don’t just acquire knowledge that is related to your field of study, read wide. Get general knowledge; get information that will increase your productivity.

All through this process of moving to success, keep on learning. While you are still waiting on your dream job or business to be a reality, learn from your daily experiences. Learn how to manage your time, finance, people etc.

7.       Develop A Good Interpersonal Skill

One skill you must start developing now is your interpersonal skill. Building a good interpersonal skill is a must if you must make it in life. Irrespective of your course of study or whatever you wish to do in life, you will constantly have to deal with people. Your inability to relate well with people will be a major factor that will cause setback to you.

You should learn simple manners and courtesy. You should learn to get along with people regardless of the kind of environment you find yourself. You should learn how to effectively communicate whether verbally or non-verbal without being misunderstood. Also learn to manage and tolerate people.

No man is an island. God will bless you through people. Never underrate anybody; treat everyone with respect and honour. Build on your social and interpersonal skills. It’s one sure way for people to notice you and be a blessing to you.

8.       The God-Factor

Nothing in life just happens by itself. There is a power that makes things happen. It is that same power that governs the universe. I’m talking of the God factor. You can’t ignore God if you must achieve your dreams. He is the one who makes things to be. You can’t do without God. Always pray and commit your desire to Him, for Him to bring them to pass.

Life is a journey. Every state you find yourself today is just temporary. The worst thing you can do to yourself is to restrict your life to your certificate. Have an open mind to different opportunities in life.  With God, you will get there.