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[quote author=VTJN post=101302956]interesting!

I studied Geography and Planning, came out top of my class and I'm about obeying the clarion call (NYSC)

Presently i have no skills and i look forward to better myself, family and humanity at large

I'm in my mid 20s..

How do i achieve the above aforementioned coming from a poor background?

How do i utilized my degree certificate judiciously and better skills options to achieve my dream or propel me to my Eldorado?

What's the best advice for me from you?

Thanks in anticipation!
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Hey VTJN:

For starters, you shouldn't sell yourself short by saying you have 'no skills'. It's about perspective and framing. For instance, you must have some comprehension, writing, and synthesizing skills to emerge at the top of your class. What's more, there are specific life experiences you have had outside of the classroom that you can draw from. You will find, upon closer self-examination, that you have more to offer than you realize, even though it is accurate to state that you have lots to learn. Succinctly put - your journey is, in a sense, just beginning, but you aren't starting from zero.

What will follow is a series of steps that will position to be what you are built to be. To properly follow them will require immense introspection and self-application. Note that no matter how good the advice, there are certain answers that only you have, and you will need to search deep within yourself to get a hold of them. However, know that you are capable.

Here goes:

1. Start from where you are. Do an assessment of what you do know, and all the assets you have at your disposal

2. Create a personal mission statement. This is a short write-up that outlines your values and aspirations without worrying too much about current constraints. It will be a living document that you continue to look into and update, as your experiences reveal more about your calling. Learn more about how to create that here: https://www.andyandrews.com/personal-mission-statement/

3. Take a good look your environment (or society at large) and try to understand where you fit in, and what is required. Do not be narrow-minded as you conduct this exercise; do not merely try to find a job or struggle to land a role based on your undergraduate choice of study, but seek out practical means to continue to earn a living while you pursue your transcendent goals. A person with a strong vision and value system always stands out, even when they’re not where they are supposed to be yet. For example, Joseph (in the Bible) stood out even when he was a slave/servant in Potiphar’s house and when he was in prison – and he ultimately landed where he envisioned

4. Connect with people who are forward-thinking and take note of the steps they are taking to improve themselves. Develop your network by relating positively with people you come across and engage in a manner that allows you to build genuine relationships with these inspired people. Nurture these productive connections

5. Commit to learning. There are several free online learning resources on which you can lean. Look up examples on Google, like Coursera, EDX, Alison, open.edu, etc. Make it a habit to learn, and thoughtfully select what you invest your time in learning: as much as possible, strategically align your learning with your personal mission statement

6. Seek mentorship from appropriate individuals: get guidance from people that operate in the spaces you find attractive, and those that are doing the things you would like to do in the future. It can be challenging sometimes finding people willing to provide guidance, but it is worth going after. When you have a hard time landing such meetings, do some good ol' research on such people

7. Understand that this is a process, and basically every aforementioned step outlined is continuous

By and large, you should start with clear overarching goals and systematically give chase to your dreams. It is an iterative process, but you should not be discouraged.

Specific follow-up questions are welcome.

aK

Complex questions such as this deserve a layered and nuanced answer. It is simplistic to say "yes, it is worth it" or "no, it isn't".
A more appropriate answer: it depends.

It depends on an individual's circumstances, available resources, talents, goals & aspirations, 'calling' (if already discerned), market needs, timing, etc.

It also depends on how education is defined. More on that later.

What's right's for one person at one point in time may not work for another, or in a different season. It would also be reductive to attempt to outline the number of possible situations people operate in - because there are just too many to count or imagine.

Nonetheless, here are a few things that can be taken to the bank:
- Education is not all about going to a University or Polytechnic; it comes in various forms and it is important to obtain it one way or another
- Education (refer to point above for scope) prepares people to handle life better and contribute more to society, and it should be continuous
- Education usually works better with intentionality; in other words, it is helpful to know why it is being acquired and apply oneself fully
- Education, when properly applied can significantly impact a person's quality of life
- The results of acquiring education vary from person to person for an array of reasons; too many to get into. It won't always appear to pay off, but that does not reflect poorly on the concept of education itself (for example, cars should not be denounced or reviled altogether because car accidents happen)
- Even when education does not appear to open doors financially or improve a person's 'quality of life', it is still useful. Enlightenment is a noble pursuit in itself
- If you have the opportunity to obtain advanced formal education (University/Polytechnic/College of Education etc), do so. Even if you are frightful of the ROI and even if you are not clear on what you want to study (maybe choose Philosophy or History). Allow yourself to learn how to learn and how to think, and open your mind to a world beyond the one you currently exist in
- If you cannot obtain formal education, concentrate on the alternatives. You do not have to be left out
- If you are not clear on what to study, struggle with resource constraints, or do not know how to approach this matter as a whole, seek advice from those qualified to offer it. I would be happy to provide counselling without charge. Contact me!

In summary:
To truly embrace education for what it offers is to embrace empowerment in various forms, and to denounce ignorance (which is actually vile). And while one is to be calculated about what form of education they should obtain, efforts should be made to somehow commit to learning - and to commit to doing so continuously.
TLDR: Get some type of education, and keep learning - it is worthwhile

It's pointless to argue over which is better - private or public. Life is what you make of it, and people face different limitations: financial barriers keep some people from private institutions, while others struggle to meet qualification requirements for public unis. For the record, I went to a public university, and can tell you that making things unnecessarily difficult does not add any inherent value. Furthermore, the JAMB exam is sometimes so poorly administered that it cannot be relied upon as an accurate assessment of ability. However, I am not backing any horse in this race.

It is so easy to miss the point of education - beyond equipping oneself to add value to society, it is about learning how to learn. University education sets you up for a lifetime of learning, and this is not referring to the acquisition of advanced degrees. So, instead of getting caught up in the composition and features of a tool, it would be better to simply use it and use it well. If you apply yourself, pursue a bold vision and maintain a solid work ethic, you are very likely to do interesting things. Isn't that what matters??