Most times, a lot of people watch their dreams and brilliant ideas die a quiet death. Not because those dreams were not good enough, but because they were buried under the common excuses of "what ifs" and "I can'ts. I am sure about this, because I almost became a statistic among those whose dreams never happened because of excuses.
Being a graduate in Town planning taught me valuable lessons about the world and shaped me to be a better person. But life after school is a different ball game entirely. While in school, my dream was that I would land a good job as soon as I passed out, but the reality was different. That fancy certificate which I thought would guarantee me a great job turned out to be just a paper to keep in the file.
When I was about graduating, I did what everyone else was doing, sharing copies of my certificate and CV in every Town planning agency that I knew could give me a job, because of the level of my degree. I was very confident that when I leave school I can easily get a job. But the world works in a different way.
Nevertheless, I couldn't surrender to the notion that only certificate can open doors of opportunity for me. Unlike most of my school mates who hold onto the excuse that they cannot do something else apart from working with their certificates, because they believe they can not be able to do something else, I found myself drawn to the sales business.
I had so many reasons and excuses staring at me to not do it. Excuses like "I don't have enough capital," " I don't know anything about the sales business," "what if I fail?" Were all what I was seeing in the mirror. The fear was real, but so was my resolve.
I had a little over $25 with me which I wanted to invest in the sales business. Something that people would need not less than $200 as capital at the time. I was determined to defeat any form of excuses that were standing in my way. Before venturing into sales, I never knew that I had any talent for business. Instead of giving excuses on why it won't work, I immersed myself in learning. I asked questions from those who are already in the business, and understudied their activities. It was like another period of education, but I held onto my dream of becoming successful.
Within a year, that $25 capital grew to $3,500. What was thought will never work, worked out for me because I ignored the excuses, and did all I can to make something out of nothing. While the job market failed me, I didn't have to fail myself, after all being educated doesn't mean you must work with your certificate.
But the case is not the same with many people that I know. Rather than taking on alternative job solutions like I did, they were trapped in the excuses that they were graduates and cannot do anything else except being employed by others. Their dreams of success in life were tied entirely to paper certificates. I learned to accept the fact that having a university degree doesn't equal success in life, it is what someone does after school that determines a person's success.
Sometimes, we need to think outside the box and see beyond certificates and degrees. Having these things are good, but they shouldn't become a prison or excuses why you shouldn't do something when employment fails to come. Being educated is even an advantage since it makes someone more critical in thinking and solution oriented than those who are not educated as you.
I believe we are all educated to create something and not to depend on others. The system only favors those who take action, not those who wait to be served. Going about with the tag "I am a graduate," while being jobless is a dangerous excuse that can only lead to poverty. We need courage to break out of the prison of excuses. When the certificates fail to open the doors, make a door for yourself and create your own path.
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There's a lot of truth in your words. Sadly, the system doesn't favor the ones who are barely starting off. You're relegated to waiting for an opportunity, dedicating yourself to something else, or serving someone else.
The truth is that for many it works, and if they feel comfortable, that's fine. However, for those who aren't enough, they should be encouraged to try to grow on their own. Of course, not everyone has the means to do so, but those who can try should always pursue that goal until they achieve it.
You must keep your feet on the ground, sure, but it's not an impossible dream.
Thank you for the comment. Your submission is spot on. Yeah, the system doesn't favor beginners when it comes to job placement. They want you to have all the experiences before you can be considered, and if you don't have it, you have no right to choose what you want.
That's the reason why everyone must look beyond the certificate and think of what to do for themselves.