₦airaland Forum

Good evening, everyone.

I will be 24 years old by July, and I will finish my NYSC by August. I am a graduate of Biochemistry with a 2:1. I served as an administrative assistant at CRUTECH. I have worked as a freelance blog post writer and scriptwriter. I also play around with WordPress and write research papers.

Currently, the phone I'm using is on credit, and I have no savings. I can do data analysis, and I hope to apply for a graduate trainee program in a bank. My plan is to work for a year while I process my scholarship for a master’s degree abroad.

However, right now, I am feeling overwhelmed and confused. I need advice—am I on the right path?

TechToyin:
➜ Good evening, everyone. I will be 24 years old by July, and I will finish my NYSC by August. I am a graduate of Biochemistry with a 2:1. I served as an administrative assistant at CRUTECH. I have worked as a freelance blog post writer and scriptwriter. I also play around with WordPress and write research papers.
Currently, the phone I'm using is on credit, and I have no savings. I can do data analysis, and I hope to apply for a graduate trainee program in a bank. My plan is to work for a year while I process my scholarship for a master’s degree abroad. However, right now, I am feeling overwhelmed and confused. I need advice—am I on the right path?

The simple answer is yes. You are headed in the right direction towards your current goal.

You have a plan, and in the absence of any other, stick to it.

Kobojunkie:
The simple answer is yes. You are headed in the right direction towards your current goal.

You have a plan, and in the absence of any other, stick to it.

But it looks like I won’t be able to get the job that easily. I hear there’s a lot of competition in the graduate trainee programs. I don’t want to be hit by a hard reality. No more alawee. I don’t want to go back to my parents.

TechToyin:
➜But it looks like I won’t be able to get the job that easily. I hear there’s a lot of competition in the graduate trainee programs.
➜ I don’t want to be hit by a hard reality.
➜ No more alawee. I don’t want to go back to my parents.

I heard that too back in 1998 when I was in college and looking for my first job. And here I am today telling you that it is not your fault, and so you should not let it deter you from applying for jobs anyway or pushing forward with your goals.

2. I am sorry, what?

3. You'd better swallow your pride and move back home with your parents if you need to. Even here in the United States, we all do the same when things get too hard and we need a chance to start over or something. I never understand it when people in Nigeria pretend they are too big to do what even those in advanced nations do.

Kobojunkie:
I heard that too back in 1998 when I was in college and looking for my first job. And here I am today telling you that it is not your fault, and so you should not let it deter you from applying for jobs anyway or pushing forward with your goals.

2. I am sorry, what?

3. You'd better swallow your pride and move back home with your parents if you need to. Even here in the United States, we all do the same when things get too hard and we need a chance to start over or something. I never understand it when people in Nigeria pretend they are too big to do what even those in advanced nations do.

It’s not pride, Sir/Ma. Everyone makes it seem like, at my age and with the fact that I’m a graduate, I’ll be a failure for going back. All my fellow corps members have big plans, and I’m just there.

TechToyin:
➜It’s not pride, Sir/Ma. Everyone makes it seem like, at my age and with the fact that I’m a graduate, I’ll be a failure for going back.
➜ All my fellow corps members have big plans, and I’m just there.

But everyone who does that is wrong! No one is a failure because they moved back home at 25, or 30, or 45, or even 50. No, failures are those who refuse to realize that to move forward, they need to take a step or more backwards to realign themselves, or even begin again or change directions.

2. If big plans are all that is needed to succeed in life, then over 170 million Nigerians today wouldn't be mired in abject poverty. You need more than big plans to succeed in Nigeria and in life.

Kobojunkie:
But everyone who does that is wrong! No one is a failure because they moved back home at 25, or 30, or 45, or even 50. No, failures are those who refuse to realize that to move forward, they need to take a step or more backwards to realign themselves, or even begin again or change directions.

2. If big plans are all that is needed to succeed in life, then over 170 million Nigerians today wouldn't be mired in abject poverty. You need more than big plans to succeed in Nigeria and in life.

The fact that plans are not enough is what is a scaring me. What if my plans don't materialize.

TechToyin:
➜The fact that plans are not enough is what is a scaring me. What if my plans don't materialize.

It is quite OK if your plans don't work out since you have the freedom to make new ones or tweak the ones you once had. There is no need to get anxious about that since pretty much all of us end up having to do that like uncountable number of times throughout our lives.

Kobojunkie:
It is quite OK if your plans don't work out since you have the freedom to make new ones or tweak the ones you once had. There is no need to get anxious about that since pretty much all of us end up having to do that like uncountable number of times throughout our lives.

So what do you advice is the way forward?

TechToyin:
➜So what do you advice is the way forward?

Continue with your current plan until you are no longer able to or have to adjust it here or there. Take a break if you need to and get back on the path when you can.

Kobojunkie:
Continue with your current plan until you are no longer able to or have to adjust it here or there. Take a break if you need to and get back on the path when you can.

Thank you so much. Sir/Ma. I feel encouraged.

TechToyin:
➜Thank you so much. Sir/Ma. I feel encouraged.

Everything I told you here is exactly what I would have told my 24-year-old self.

Avoid anxiety and worry at all costs. Those stresses are counterintuitive. Focus on your goals while bearing in mind that they do not make you who you are. Rather, they can help improve upon your general quality of life, were attainable, or help push you towards the direction that would better serve you were not. No need to panic over them.