I saw a tweet that said, “If somebody offered to send you back to the University for a second degree, fully funded, in a Nigerian private university of your choosing, would you take it? And what course would you do this time?”
I think the whole emphasis on a private university is because of the needless strikes by the educational sector that draw students back by years. But then there’s the other part. I know that there are a lot of us who regret the course we studied in college and others who don’t regret it but would love to have studied something else in addition.
I’m currently in college studying the course of my dreams. Or I’d like to think it is. But what if I could switch to something else or be done with this course and come back to study something else, what would that be? While everyone else discovered their skills in the beginning like singing, dancing, drawing, etc. And while I write this, I realize that I’m not bad in any of these but I can’t, knowing what talent means, call them my talents.
But then I realized, that creative writing and speaking have always come naturally to me. I’m usually okay with people underestimating or looking down on me, because I know the moment they read what I write or listen to me speak, they’d look at me differently. Or they’d see me better. And while I, in no way, actively seek the validation of others, it’s nice to know that you have an ace up your sleeve.
So when it comes to college, if I had the chance to study public speaking and creative writing as a career, I would. Nothing much, just the best writers and most confident speakers in the world as my lecturers. I can assure you, I’ll never even though an illness has me in a chokehold, miss a single class. I’ll be punctual and sit at the front, right under their noses. Taking down every single word of expertise and listening from their fountain of knowledge like my world depended on it.which it does.*
Sadly, something like that can’t be available but yeah, that’s the only reason I would want to go back to college for a second degree. The truth is, I realize that automation and AI have come to stay. And we can only learn to live with it and hope it doesn’t reach heights our careers can withstand. I don’t know what careers AI has brought for humans apart from Prompt Engineering but what about the rest of us?
I heard that copywriters are nearly out of business cause AI has taken their jobs. But as a writer, I don’t know why I’m not worried. AI has genuinely been a blessing. But I’m a bibliophile and a writer so I know that AI would never replace it. When I say this, I think of my favourite books. I think of the soul that emanates from each line, each page. Words that make me laugh to the point of hysteria and cry till I practically empty my ducts.
In the galaxy of writers, the emotions we evoke with our words make us indispensable. Let me not talk about public speaking. I mean, if you’re some Diplomat or an Ambassador. Or a motivational speaker or even someone who has a story to share, what height do you think AI could reach to beat that of humans? Wouldn’t you say our career as writers, speakers and of course legal practitioners(I can’t leave out my dear field) is safe?
But then...
I saw this video on TikTok and apparently, a new Chat AI has been developed. And this one speaks. This one offers advice and gives compliments. Lol, the AI, which had a female voice was even giggling like a besotted teenager and flirting in return. I was astounded and skipped to another video. I blatantly refused to think about it. But then, what are the odds? That my skills and strengths in speaking, writing and counselling will soon become a skillset you can simply switch on in your AI and they deliver impeccably?
What are the odds?
However, I’ve refused to fear. Somehow, since I know that all of these are created by fallible, flawed humans, AI will always be flawed. Always never be this imitation of humans on a more perfect scale. It’s enough to make me relax.
A career to me, in conclusion, is more than the field you studied in the university. It is what puts food on your table just as it puts a smile on your face. The absence of the latter just makes it a job. A career is what helps you grow, not just financially but emotionally and personally as well. With a career, you continuously evolve. Continuously develop. Continuously grow.
So back to the question, would you return to the university for a second degree if all expenses were paid? If yes, what would you do?
Jhymi🖤
This post is courtesy of the May Inleo Prompts. Do check it out...
Image created with Meta AI ...ironic right?
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it's amazing to know that you'll choose public speaking and creative writing if given the opportunity. I have known you to be a fantastic writer and I'm certain you'll be equally good with spoken words as projected. The touch of emotions in our words would stand our scripts out. Thank you for sharing
Thank you so much for this glowing comment as well, James. I don't like to blow my own trumpet but I'm always honoured when my skills are noticed and appreciated by good people like yourself. You're an amazing writer as well.🌹
Thank you for your kind words. I'm privileged
I'm actually out of gas regarding school for now. My eyes were widened as the redundancy and outdated curriculum, for engineering in particular, could only help me understand fundamentals and build curiosity, but nothing more. And that's where I think many of us get it wrong.
Academics, not education in its entirety per se, is essentially for knowledge and not necessarily for practicality, to me. You have to own your craft, pour your heart and soul into it, and find ways to add value where you can, so it becomes something that can both put food on your table and a smile on your face.
So, even though I could go on to school to learn another degree or whatever, my sight is now on not missing the mark: value added is what people pay for, and passion developed is what keeps one going steadfastly.
As for AI, many of us miss what it means for us. It really would replace you if you let it do what you should do, which it can now do at an acceptable level. Rather than artificial intelligence, which pundits would say is inaccurately used these days, it is better seen as augmented intelligence - which could be called AI as well. Augmented intelligence would mean to say that you're simply having a new tool added to your arsenal to unlock more of your human potential. For example...
As the human brain is the most powerful computer there is, even now and perhaps for a very long time, its biggest flaw is its poor memory and the ability to recall exact details at will. We forget. And that's why AI "seems" more powerful - because it's damn good with memory. So training it and having it perform seemingly better than humans is only consequential. At the end of the day, however, they lack human inspiration - our imperfections that make us so different - that adds colour to our works. What could 10x our abilities is augmenting with AI, and that's the real future we should set our gaze on.
So, dearest Fangy, your perspective is bullseye! AI surely isn't replacing that special colour in your writing and public speaking because you're humane and, more importantly, you're Tessa.
*drops mic...
What a glowing statement! It's those imperfections that actually beautifies the entire work.
I'm glad that this thoughtful coughs essay of yours showcases how not just understanding you are of the present but also how ready you are for the future.
Truest statement I've heard all day!😄🥰
I agree with you for the most part, in that AI can't take over the world of creative writing, fiction, etc. For now. Alas, making a living by writing alone is a tough job. AI taking over adjacent fields like translation and copywriting is a blow to writers who used those trades to propel their actual writing careers. It's all connected, I think.
I never did university the first time around, but I'm with you on the creative writing course. While I don't really think you can teach writing in the traditional lectures and workshops way, I do think being able to talk with some of the best writers out there would be a phenomenal advantage. But hey, there's always YouTube, interviews and so on. Good luck to you, my friend :)
Thank you so much, friend. The copywriting bit is truly a blow but I'm glad the world still realizes our relevance in the world of writing.
I watch a lot of videos of incredible writers and it always spurs me to be better. Reading works from people like you is also a blessing. Thank you for stopping by.🥰
I like this a lot! I'd also go back to school for writing (if I got a free ride), but I think I would take on an anthropology degree. I think all of us with the passion for the craft would pick something to help us along there, writing is more satisfying than a prestigious career imo!
The TT thing made me laugh, that app is always making me think about new things! Hey, I just started posting over there, trying to get to 10k followers to monetize. Most are shitposts right now, won't lie. But eventually I will post poems and stuff in hopes of promoting my upcoming book 😄 I'm grindanwrites over there, drop me a comment if you'd like to connect there as well! 💚
Definitely more prestigious.
And I didn't even know you were on TikTok. Definitely going to give you a follow now. I tried being there but I've come to realize that I may as well be too lazy for content creating. I can't even use school as an excuse cause I'm seeing other student still thriving there.😂
So many types of AI are being invented on a daily. Imagine AI that talks and flirts instead of being serious with her duty, wahala dey oo. 🙆
Lol. I was also shocked when I saw it.
Are we safe?
Reading and thinking about the course I'd go for🤔
I'm sure it's going to be that imaginative world again..... physics😎
Nice one
Woah. Physics feels like such a big deal. Why that particular course?
The easiness I find in that study coupled with the far imaginations are just it👌
When you talked of writing,
Yeah, writing like AI
Lol😂
Wow. That's commendable. Somehow I took you as an art student.😄
Yeye! 😂😂😂
I would also return to the university for a second degree. I have always wanted to study marine biology and life under the sea, so yes I would.
Now, Marine biology is a subject I'm sure you'll never get bored with. Sea creatures are very unique and interesting. Nice one.🌺
Yes dear
Thank you.💚
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