WHAT NEXT AFTER NYSC?

 

The journey of a thousand days they say begins with a step. A step was taken when I started the journey of NYSC on 18th May 2021 in Iseyin Camp, Oyo State. It was a capacity-building and learning platform for me all the way. Ranging from my role as the Corper Liason Officer (CLO) in my place of primary assignment at the Ministry of Agriculture, secretariat,  the responsibility confined to me as the General Secretary of my Community Development Service (CDS) group and the awesome relationships I built amongst corpers. The journey of a year has finally come to an end. 

The frequently asked question mostly inward  is “AFTER NYSC, WHAT NEXT?" I believe this question will start popping up in the head of an average Corp Member probably six months before the completion of NYSC.

 After analyzing some factors, I have come to realize that the two major things that tend to instill fear in one after completing NYSC are; Clear cut direction and finance.

Knowing what next to do and how to get one's daily bread are always the bone of contention. Remember, you will exhaust your savings, and putting in your resources to the appropriate channel is what will count. The economic situation of the country makes the fear to be obvious at times.

As some want to further their education, go into business, and change their career path and some will like to leave the country by all means to achieve one goal or the other. Everything is hinged on the money except you are born with a silver spoon.

Everything hinges on money is a popular phrase that makes a lot of people not achieve anything. The first question or concern should be “What do I want?" “Where am I going?" 

Having a clear-cut picture of what you want and where you are going business or career-wise is like a problem shared is a problem half solved. Document the goal because even if you forget, your goal won't forget you. In a way, it also shows you are intentional about growth, sharpens your preparedness mindset, and heightens your level of consciousness.

In your quest to achieve your goals, don't forget that life goes on and you have to run your day-to-day activities on the wings of money from food, and clothing, to transportation. Even if you have supportive parents, friends, and siblings, the feeling of taking responsibility for your life also dawns on you. I am not saying you shouldn't leverage on relationships, I am just emphasizing the fact that maximizing those relationships goes a long way toward being relevant and not disturbing.

So, What do you do? First, know what you have to do regularly that will make your goal a reality. Breaking down these steps will help you focus and avoid frustration. For example, You want to be a good writer, write every day, read quality materials, subscribe to newsletters, and block out time to focus on getting better at writing.  Also, sharing your goal with your close circle and telling them your limitations is a way forward. Presentation matters and they need to know how serious you are with your goals. They will surely support you in their capacity.

You want to apply for a Job, check what the requirements are and if you don't have the skill sets, aim at them. Do you want to pursue another career? Know the basics of what is needed in the field to start with. Get certifications that matter where you're heading. Invest in mental and intellectual growth. Have a good social media page or account where you offer value by putting up content around your field of interest i.e education, finance, etc. You are already selling yourself that way. As a young graduate, learn Microsoft and PowerPoint tools. Browse basic interview questions and learn. Start practicing amplitude tests to sharpen your numerical knowledge.  If you want to go into business, write out the business proposal. Develop your writing and speaking skills. See you at the top.  THRIVE

I am Omojowogbe Taiwo Margaret, a graduate of Crop Protection and environmental biology from the University of Ibadan where we envision to be excellent in plant health management and ecosystem and environmental sustainability.  I am a person passionate about one of the SDGs which is “Zero Poverty' and that makes me an enthusiast when it comes to financing. Wealth creation and Investments are my fields of interest. I am a good team player who is teachable, resourceful, and valuable. I have good communication and leadership skills. I can deliver information that the receiver will comprehend without struggle. I love speaking engagement especially in intellectual conversations with people by hearing their opinions and drawing out a conclusion from both ends. I help break down resistance between your customers and you through sales copies and content. Teaching, being one of my strengths will make me say I can teach Agriculture and Biology satisfactorily. I can host an audio program or reality show where we rub minds together on pressing issues and proferring solutions. I can manage the social media pages and the logistics aspect of a company. I am a result-oriented affiliate marketer and will deliver a business plan successfully.

Celebrating Failure

About a month ago, I participated in a letter-writing competition organized by Earthplus Africa to mark World Environment Day. The competition was to share my ideas on what the Nigerian Ministry of Environment should do to conserve the country's biodiversity. My submission was not part of the top three when the result came out.
I was angry with myself and thought I should have put in much more effort. I felt like crying but later on, I just chose not to be too hard on myself with the whole scenario.



 Failure can be painful with the feeling of the missed accolades and reward attached to success, coupled with the confidence and vibes it gives. Nevertheless, I chose to instead see positivity in the negative situation as it were. I chose to get better, and not be complacent or comfortable. It’s a learning process, an opportunity to getting better and that is part of living a healthy life. Note, I am not trying to be mediocre or appease myself with comforting words, but I realized that at times, when we don’t experience this in life, we don't know the actual value of success. Having the mindset that the little we call our best is what has granted us success whereas we can offer more. This shouldn't be because the ladder to betterment won't be seen.
Therefore, I use this moment  to also congratulate the winners in persons of
1st position_Oluwafemi maduka David
2nd_ Eze Oluebubechukwu praise
3rd_Iteoluwakiisi Akinwole O.
It has been said that before inventing the lightbulb, Thomas Edison tried unsuccessfully, as many as 999 times. Only the thousandth try turned out to be a success. When asked what kept him from getting frustrated after so many unsuccessful attempts, Edison answered, not one of them was a failure. The Lord was showing me 999 times how I should not have done it. That response caught my attention God is saying try again, explore more, don’t stop there, you will get it right.

I will make use of the quote of the Great General, Dr. Myles Munroe which says, "Everything that happens in my life produces me. The negative things; what I might have failed in were fantastic classrooms for me. The best thing to do with your mistake is not to regret or change it but to interpret it properly, maximize it and use it to serve other people and that’s what I want to do with my past."

My message is Change your orientation about failure and your past.

Thanks to Victoria for the information concerning the essay. She is a content and freelance writer. She's your go-to plug for your writings. You can contact her at latoriaav@gmail.com. Also, thanks to Editor, Banji, a nurse turned writer, for helping out with my write-up editing.
@Joelorolugbagbe on Twitter

 #Celebratingfailure #Gettingbetter #Notocomplacency
Follow on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram @EarthplusAfrica
Write up edited by Oladipo Kayode
https://twitter.com/oluwakayodeA_

WOMEN; THE CONTROVERSIAL GENDER

 Few weeks ago, I was in a meeting where a woman was addressing us. A guy at my back said why are women leading everywhere?

 I was reluctant to talk at first but later on, I was like, do you have a problem with that?

He said he doesn't just like it.

I think that will be the first time I heard someone that is not pleased with women taking the lead.

 I couldn't really engage him but those kind of men tends to see their wives success as a threat or won't even want to empower them or even the female folks.....

I know if it was a man leading, he won't talk. I believe for anyone to be in a position, it shows they have what it takes in terms of capacity, delivery, knowledge and value forgetting any biological configuration.

Women are more celebrated and appreciated when they are leading and doing great in their various fields because of the prior notion that they are weaker vessels, nothing much is expected from the gender, they ought to submit etc

Or they probably think women are weak because they are emotional.

Crying is not a sign of weakness and holding up (man up as it is popularly called) is not a sign of strength. Standing tall and coming out of the situation as a better person is what we call strength.

Wives are to submit to their husbands in the lord and not women submitting to men in any other settings. You have a problem with that? Then if your boss is a female, you can resign. I bet you don't want to try that.

The submission is in the confines of marriage.

Note the Lordship of Christ there. Your head must have a head. If not, it's dangerous. That's why Christ is rest assured about you when your head submits to him knowing fully well that he will surely direct and lead you aright.

But, why the controversy on our subject matter?

There is a spiritual track record to why women are vulnerable to a lot of negativity in our world.

The devil has been angry since God said the seed of the women shall bruise his head. The prophecy from the beginning (Genesis 3:15).

Mary; the channel through which the saviour came to the world believed in the impossible. She said be it into me according to thy word when she was told she will birth the Messiah even as a virgin. What an audacity!!!

He knows women have greater tendency to conceive and birth visions into reality.

Why belittle little?

There is nothing lower than little. Little is little.

It's a starting point that can not be underplayed as every great thing in life is a function of a beginning.

The small seed is what grows to become a big tree and more small seeds make up a forest ultimately.

What makes people stay with the little is because of the vision, passion, actions, and principles used to attain greatness.

Thou the beginning be small, yet the latter end should greatly increase depicts if you start from small things, it gets big when you focus keenly on them. 

Small beginnings help you to rehearse greatness over and over again. It helps to develop your built-to-last and often means hard work, unglamorous tasks, long hours, and little encouragement because no one is there to see what you are doing and praise your hard work.

It's an avenue to embrace process because everything built to last must undergo process.

Emphasis on never despise the days of little beginning remains valid. Those little steps leads to giant leaps!

ARE YOU AT THE VERGE OF NOT KNOWING WHAT NEXT?

 On the verge of not knowing what next, an inspiration pops up on what to scribe in the world of the web for this week, to make my intentionality of writing once a week on this platform for three months a valid one.

In my field of work, it was a quiet moment for me today which kind of baffles people around.

The attention of someone was called to my silent mood and he said, “Silence is powerful" meaning when people are quiet, that is when rapt attention should be given, as you never can tell their next line of action. I think therein also lies the power and the difference between babbling without any focus and effective moves.

I had a dialogue with my inward man in a bid to wrap my head around what he said, that's true, I said. We all have a lot on the field of our mind and moments like that are needed to be strategic on what is next to the end that productivity is achieved. Rock Bottom is the perfect place for rebuilding has been a ringer at the back of my mind for a while now.

A lot happens at rock bottom, from the silent rumbling that causes a ripple effect which also connotes that you can start from where you are and what you have. Have a guardian, be intentional, don't be afraid to make mistakes or repeat the same mistake, and don't give up on yourself because your dreams are valid. As you dream, don't forget to live, face reality, and forge ahead intentionally in the world of the loving and not fairytale world.

Would you like to connect the dots between Freedom and Wisdom?

I saw some scenarios recently that happen to center around freedom and my nation's fast-approaching independence day is the icing on the cake for this subject matter.

From the salient expressions and struggles of people communicating the need for financial freedom, to a prisoner who desires to break out and have a glimpse of what the outside world feels like, to the desires of most Nigerians of her special day not to sound ironic, down to the simple truth that sets humanity free forever.

I am not delving into the depth of these four scenarios but I would like to bring out a fact, to learn from.

 _And you shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free._ 

This is a reference from the holy book explaining Truth as a knowing that precedes freedom, but after freedom, what next?

My boss will say, that when you are given freedom, pay rapt attention and be extra careful.

Seek to know more if you desire freedom in one area of life, get better if you are not satisfied with your current state, and take responsibility as this will keep you busy and won't make you be carried away by the excitement that comes with it.

When freedom comes, wisdom is needed to navigate through.

Have you now connected the dots, especially with the previously listed case scenarios?

Selah!!!

Is time indeed a revealer?

 If not for someone's status I saw yesterday, I wouldn't know we only have a hundred days left in the year two thousand and twenty-three. How time flies!

A flashback happened in my memory of the goals, plans, and things I said I wanted to achieve for the year. I remember some years back as an undergraduate, I said if I finished my service year, a reasonable and well-paying job would be the surest thing for me.

Where does that even stem from? Is it because my dad is influential, a faith affirmation, or the value I carry?

Maybe the three but it looks like the reverse is the case as I started a job I never imagined I could do. Dealing with people at the bottom of the economic pyramid is humbling and it's a story for another time. I am learning and I believe it is part of the seasons in my life.

I learned time doesn't change anything, it only reveals. It reveals those days of intentional steps in bringing out the best version of yourself.

Did I waste time, get uninterested in things easily, or lack focus at a point? I don't know where I missed it but I move as my worst days are behind me and better days are ahead of me. 

I know I can do better and continue to channel my energy toward that which I want.