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Life is full of surprises and uncertainties, it is hard to predict the outcomes of every decision made. As humans, we make wrong choices and decisions most times without even knowing, due to our attempt to make the right choices. they say life is what happens when we are busy making other choices, which simply translate to the fact that majority of things we find ourselves doing were unplanned. in one way or the order we find ourselves in circumstances we never thought was possible but as humans instead of dwelling in regrets and self pity or feeling like a victim for what has happened, it is better to find a way to take advantage of the new found opportunity to the best of our capabilities.
As I have mentioned in most of my post, planning ahead has always been an habit of mine, it makes me feel control over my life and actions. despite the fact that not everything I plan for eventually falls through but that has never stopped me from planning. if a plan fails then I will make another and continuously like that till I get what I have set to achieve. I wouldn't really say I'm strong willed because even for a deep thinker like me, I still have times I'm incapable of taking actions due to procrastination. As humans we all have our vulnerabilities but despite all my shortcomings, I never relent or give up on any dream or goals of mine, I might withdraw from the pursuit for awhile but will surely get back on track.
One of the most fascinating thing about life is anything is possible, as long as you can dream it, you can become it. it is full of countless possibilities beyond what a human mind can comprehend. That is why most times I'm usually against the whole idea of being a perfectionist because nothing in life is constant apart from death๐ , anything in life is subjected to change which means what you plan for today might change tomorrow and based on that you have to continuously compromise your plans just to fit the new situation you have found yourself, you can't have a rigid mindset of this is how I have been doing it and I will continue to do it that way. life doest work like that, you can't keep doing something the same way and expect different results.
During my teenage days, I had everything planned out in my head in details, from the school I'm going to attend, my dream job, my dream career, time of marriage e.t.c it was an extraordinary laid out plan and strategy but life happened ๐. everything started going a different way from what I planned the moment I could not get admission into my dream school, most especially a university. I had a lot of hopes and dreams about the course I would love to study in the university, first it was Law, then it changed to political science, eventually mass communication.
After waiting for about two years without getting admission into the university of my choice and finally a polytechnic named gateway Polytechnic Saapade Ogun State sent me admission request based on my jamb score, at that moment I didn't even care if it was not a university all I care about is leaving home. In Nigeria, Political science or Law can only be studied in universities which narrowed my option down to mass communication, which is available in Polytechnics. In my family, we are not really a fan of polytechnics because my cousins and elder brother all attended a university.
Picture taken during my National diploma
Despite being glad that I have finally gotten admission, it was not really worth celebrating, it was not as if my parents were against it but I just felt a little bit inferior to others in my family that attended Universities. the funny thing is, you can't really blame people for looking down on polytechnic students, those days companies and employers always value B.Sc (A degree for University graduate) more than N.D or HND (A diploma certificate for Polytechnic students) so people feel there are better chances of getting a job if you attended a university but recently some jobs still require a B.Sc holder but most jobs and employers these days are more interested in the skill and capabilities of an individual more than their certificate, now it is about what can you offer?
My parents, most especially my maternal grandmother keeps cheering up, thanks to that the thought of being inferior reduced significantly. After my first year in gateway Polytechnic, the next thing on the academic calendar was S.I.W.E.S (Student industrial work experience scheme) A compulsory 6 months program for all polytechnic students after the first year, followed by I.T (industrial training) after the second year. I was privileged to undergo my siwes program at Lagos traffic radio, which seems like a dream come true for most broadcast student.
Picture taken during ciwes Lagos traffic radio
I was assigned to the news room, along with so many other students from different Polytechnics and also University student who are there for either I.T (industrial training) which is compulsory program for University and polytechnic students or PPA (Place for primary assignment) A compulsory program for both polytechnic and universities students during NYSC. Being among so many students, especially those from universities, I couldn't help it but feel a little inferior not just because of the type institution but because as at then I knew that I only have a one year experience in the field mass communication and I'm among students with two years of experience (I.T student) and those that have graduated (PPA student) I was pressured ๐๐ .
Picture taken in the news room during siwes in Lagos traffic radio
As a usual custom in the news room, we are all expected to source for news story, either from newspaper, internet and other credible sources. that is when I realise that the type of school/institution you attend or the level you are does not determine how knowledgeable you are I experienced the shock of my life when I found out that most student in the news room who are from various prestigious universities could not write a news story or structure a News bulletin. I was so disappointed because I have high regards for these people.
A rough sketch of news story written during siwes in Lagos traffic radio, pardon my handwriting ๐๐
Writing a news story or structuring a news bulletin was never a problem for me because there is something about polytechnic students we undergo more practical assignment than most Universities. I was still in my first year but I already knew how to write news stories. It was just a 6 month program, after 2 months I was selected as the sub-editor to the senior editor in the news room, Amidst about 23 students. though I was not selected only because I could write a news stories, there are others who could write good news stories but due to computer literacy I was singled out to become the sub-editor.
I felt so honoured not because of the promotion only but because I could finally feel good about myself and I could form a team of University student, PPA student included. send them out to gather news story on my behalf, I felt like a boss๐ . That moment I was glad I attended a polytechnic, my source of shame finally became my pride.
Picture taken during my Industrial training in Lagos traffic radio
After my ciwes program was over, I went back to school to resume the second year of my National diploma, immediately after my second year was over I went back to Lagos traffic radio for my Industrial training, I continued as a sub-editor not a a regular editor because they are already aware of my capabilities.
1) YOUR BACKGROUND DOESN'T DETERMINE WHO YOU ARE: The fact that you don't have a prestigious background like everyone else does not mean you can't be great like everyone else, it all depends on your skills and ability to aim for greatness.
2) KNOWLEDGE IS POWER: In the mist of large number of individuals, knowledge gives you value and promotes you to a level that seems impossible or unattainable to people in your Caliber.
This write-up was inspired by weekly featured content titled "Blessing in disguise" in hive learners community.
All pictures are mine or else indicated otherwise