THE GREENER GRASS

Graduation ceremonies are the most interesting period of one’s life and is often a culmination of a journey and the start of another. The pride that comes with it especially when one has achieved the desired goal is always fulfilling. All the graduations, be it kindergarten, high school or campus have an impact on the next step of life. The parents and guardians admire their children because of their achievements and they feel that their input was worthwhile. Despite the outstanding fulfillment, graduations often invoke an array of feelings and a mixture of emotions of the uncertain future.

I reckon my last project in campus and the way it was frustrating and quite overwhelming yet it was worth every effort since it was the final thing to be done. After defending my project that day in a panel of lecturers, I felt a bit scared and tensed but I had a great hope that I had given my best. As I went out of that room, I felt a sigh of relief for I had just completed my schooling.

The four years in campus had been a roller coaster full of highs and lows, and just seeing it come to an end was a great achievement. There were times I felt like giving up but when I remembered the ultimate goal, I would garner up energy and push myself to work harder and smarter.

When graduation day was announced my joy knew no bounds especially after affirming my name in the graduation list. I waited anxiously for the graduation day and could not keep calm at all. I imagined how I would walk across that stage with no doubt in my gut just to receive that accolade. I knew deep within that for sure I deserved to be happy after the four years of relentless dedication and effort. I felt the warmth and the pride in my heart moreover this just made me all ecstatic. I went for a shopping spree just in preparation for the candid day.

The long-awaited day arrived and as the early birds, we rose up to face what this day had in store for us. With my friends side by side, we walked elegantly to the graduation stage looking all stunning and epic. Turning our tassels from one side of the cap to the other was very symbolic and it signified the onset of another journey. The speeches made our hearts glow and melt and we all beamed with a congratulatory mood floating beneath. Finally, we were given the powers to read and write all that appertaining what we had been learning for the four years. Later on, we were able to take photos with friends bouncing our caps in the air and having a good intimate time with family and friends. It was indeed a fantastic day full of all emotions and embrace.

The transition from graduation to corporate world hits hard and differently.

As students, we often have the expectation of graduating and somehow in one way or another find our way into our careers and do life big from then onwards. However, no one ever tells us the realities of the outside world and even if they do, somehow we often spurn them off. This for me wasn’t any different and after the heebie-jeebies of the graduation, I set off back home with my parents. Life was quite enjoyable at first since I was off the normal routine of studying and having the stress of exams. After a while, reality dawned on me that I needed to find a job to keep me going because I was not going to just sit home the all-time.

After much deliberation and grappling I set out in search for a job. For days I knocked on different offices and companies dropping my resume with the hope that they would get back to me sooner. Days turned into months and months to a year and it turned out to be frustrating. With no source of income and everyone expecting you to give a helping hand in the family finances, life just became despairing. I even decided to keep away my certificate and hustle life like a non-graduate. I then realized that the future always has a grand way of enlightening the moment and that was exactly how it was on the graduation day, yet in the real sense it might never be the reality.

The transition in life often leaves a totally different mark because it involves an overall shift of the mindset and daily living. This was the time I got to try every business and sometimes I would go back home just frustrated and depressed. The most discouraging thing was going for interviews and all they could ask was an experience of three or even five years. How on earth would someone expect me to give such an experience when I am just fresh and ripe from campus? I was bitter about life and thought life in itself was never fair. People expected me to be experienced, yet they would not offer an internship for me to even prove myself.

I felt disappointed with myself and even the fact that I could not offer a helping hand at home made it worse. Some of my friends seemed to have it all together and even a few secured jobs long before we even graduated. Comparison crept in and slowly caught up with me leaving me devastated and dejected. I started questioning all that I had accomplished over the last four years of my campus life. I jumped into a conclusion that all my accolades meant nothing in the real world when it came down to finding a job. I felt lost and utterly confused and it felt like I was retrogressing in life instead of progressing.

Life after graduation was not that easy but even though the grass may never be greener on the other side, all that matters is the inner peace and the beauty that lies within. A little care and attention to your own grass helps you realize and unleash the beauty that lies beneath. Transition for me came with huge lessons and after several attempts of falling and getting up, I got a placement with one of the companies. I gladly accepted the offer and finally bade goodbye the life of unemployed youth.

Sadly, this is a reality that we are facing in our nation. A great percentage of unemployed graduates are out there in the streets, wondering where to get a job. With the rising cases of corruption securing a job becomes an impossibility. We are living in a world with many desperate people, hence the rise of vices in our society.

The transition life though difficult, left me with amazing life lessons that has molded me to be the person I am today, and am glad to share the same with you.

You are unique

We live in a world where we have been taught that other people’s opinions about us matter. This is never the case. You are unique and this reality should always stick with you. In case you went for an interview or applied for a job and got a negative response, always take it as a stepping stone and move forward, knowing something greater is unfolding. Believe in yourself and know that you have a great potential lying within you, hence stop comparing yourself with others because you are never going to be them.

We all have different timelines, so stop sympathizing with yourself because your friends or colleagues seem to have it all together. As a man thinketh so he is, thus, keep reminding yourself that you are special and unique.

Patience is a virtue worth adopting

Patience is a virtue that only a few people manage to sire. Jesus Christ exercised patience and despite his disciples failing a number of times, He never gave up on them. Nothing comes easy in life, but with patience, great goals are accomplished. Athletes exercise in order to get better at their sport and this also applies with us. Life brings along great trials our way, and this should sharpen us and be our stepping stone used to grow us. The process of learning patience is truly within the journey. Each situation we go through in life should be an avenue for us to grow.

Maintaining a heart of thanksgiving in those situations is an opportunity for God to perfect the art of patience in us. The more we endure in each situation, the more we grow stronger each day. Hang in there and trust the process never giving up even when the situations get tougher. There will be tough times when giving up would be the best option but don’t dare give up. Patience is a great virtue that many great people have used to cross the bridge to the other side. With time and patience, your doors are going to open too.

Wait expectantly without losing hope on the ultimate goal. An expectant mother will do what it takes to ensure she delivers a baby safely. She has to endure every pain knowing something greater awaits ahead. I kept doing odd jobs from time to time because I knew every experience that came my way was going to sharpen me to be a better person even when all odds seemed stacked against me. The old adage kept reminding me that with no pain there is no gain, and that the worthwhile endeavors don’t always come easy. Above all else remember hope empowers patience.

Network

Networking is all about building relationships and connecting with others; those you know, those you don’t really know, and new people that you’ve never met before.

Life has taught me the importance of making friends with everyone even those that seem unfriendly. Wherever you are, take an initiative of networking with the people you meet because you never know, some might be of help someday. Make connecting a habit part of your lifestyle. The old adage reminds us that a friend sticks closer than a brother might not be entirely true but shows the importance of cultivating true friendships in our lives with the people we interact with daily. Someone once stated that friendship is a bank that you should invest wisely and nurture it carefully. For students, create a good rapport with the lecturers and live in peace with those you encounter.

 I love volunteering, especially in charitable events. One day an opportunity to volunteer was organized in our church, I grabbed it without slight hesitation. On the first day, our supervisor asked for a volunteer to carry out some demonstration, there I was again. Later during one of the breaks, I went to meet our facilitator and a conversation sprang from there. I shared my life experience with him and later on exchanged contacts. We kept in touch and once in a while I would find out how he was doing. Two months later I got a call to go for a job interview that is after my supervisor recommended me. This then taught me not to take the people we meet for granted. Keep in touch with your network regularly and put in mind the person with you today can be your prospective employer tomorrow. It is said that if you want to walk fast, walk alone but if you want to walk far, walk together. Do life big with others because life is not all about you alone. Seek God for wisdom not to fall prey in company of wrong people.

Stay positive

Always be optimistic even amidst trials and daily challenges of life. Just as one is positive to finish school and graduate at the end, we ought to be optimistic in all phases of life. Pain and suffering may endure for a night but joy comes in the morning. Be hopeful that your tomorrow will get better than today and that what you are facing or going through won’t last forever. Keep in mind that you are not alone and some people were there too.

Develop yourself

Find time and identify your passions and talents. Develop a love and likeness for whatever your heart loves doing and grow in those areas. Get to know what builds you and what breaks you. Build on your strengths and work on your weaknesses ensuring you be the best you can. This is a daily work in progress.

Pray without ceasing

Prayer unlocks many different things in our lives. Ask God to grant you the grace to always trust in Him even amidst the trials and challenges of life. God has a plan for us all and it is prudent for us to surrender our future to him because He is the author and perfector of life.

James 5:16

The heartfelt and persistent prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much. The Bible reminds us to seek the kingdom of God first hence our first move is to cultivate a relationship with Him. God always answers prayer but it is not always in the way we expect. There are times when His answer is instant other days we have to wait and sometimes the answer is a no. God is our creator and I believe that He knows what is best for us even before we ask for