AFTER GRADUATION; Depressed or Delighted,Challenges and Opportunities ahead for graduates
Abdiwahab M. Ali
Waberi444@gmail.com
OPINION
Abdiwahab M. Ali
From the load educational crisis to inevitable self-stress, from stagnating incomes to high unemployment, numerous challenges have faced our graduated students’ population. In scouring my experiences and to the others opinion for insights, it became clear that little attention has been focused upon the graduate student. To address the paucity of information about this vital segment, I had courage and motivation to write an article and express my intuition.
To recall my graduation ceremony, there was speech that reminds me a lot and was addressed by our university vice president as it goes like “I am pleased to witness your successful academic accomplishment towards different academic degrees. As the figure demonstrated you are 1,700 in number, and I will like to utilize this opportunities to congratulate to your parents for being able to see the fruits of their sons and daughters’ endeavor became a reality. Graduation ceremony constitutes both happiness and sorrow. You are happy since you glance new career and it is gloomy since you are leaving your beloved friends and tutors. Remember whenever you think the route ends another one begins and that is the life. Here is your educational home. We hope you don’t let us fail. Keep in touch with your home”.
As I stepped out of the graduation hall, I encountered with someone calling my Name… ‘Abdiwahab’…….Abdiwahab ….., without a word muscular man slightly slapped my little cheek then said “CONGRA Abdi wahab , I could guess how jubilant you are, glad to see you now, pass the challenges of your life to reach your destination”. He was lecturer Getu, middle aged man, inquisitive; his eloquent explanation about the subject matter awed me much. Listening to his presentation enamored me.
He was among the top ranking professors in our department and then awarded as Man of the Year in the compass. I was delighted to receive Congratulation message from such prolific man.
Prior to this, almost all graduates pass such anticipation moments, many students feel a sense of emptiness, and more responsibility emerging as an adult can be extremely challenging the modern day graduates.
Life after the university can be turbulent and panic, the individual might think to get everything on the truck, These problems are worthy of note, as early transitions tend to shape long-term trajectories, giving initial outcomes lifelong consequences.
Although as a whole, graduates in today’s Deteriorating socio-economic environment may be expected to struggle, some are having smoother transitions than others, and others convert their woes into wisdoms.
In Somali context, lack of strong central government and weak institutions fueled the issue, being called as one of the world’s least developed, turmoil, failed state, and worst place to be a human… what a joke! Has also worsened the chances for the graduates, but as the impression shows grad students avoid any show of weakness before those whose respect they try so desperately win. Transparency is not thought to wear well in the academic community; signs of strength and fortitude characterize champions.
The most amazing things on this phenomenon, I had encountered, laid days before now when I saw a pair of middle aged friends in café, they were chattering, exchanging views and having busy social schedule. Among them is Mohamed, mid twenties man, being open minded, philanthropic and intelligence. He is pleasant, closest friend, education oriented and eager to learn everything even as junior was talking by his cell perhaps dating his little chicken… wow! What a lovely time he is having. I frowned to him. He then greeted me in hip-hop model and joked “we missed bro, come ooon , what is up , have tea and some snack”.
As soon as we were having fun, I suddenly looked his face and said “hey bro, looks like you are above the moon…have u got a job?, I am aware you are talented job seeker, wouldn’t you lend me some credits that I could use” the little man starred to me as stranger, His normally calm and pleasant demeanor slowly changed and his face contorted like a volcano releasing its magma emotions into the darkness. From the expression of his face, even though he tried not to let it show, I knew that something was wrong.
I looked at him with hundred possibilities flipping through my mind. He acted to present a simple laugh with no chain in inner feeling before he said “the criteria is not what you know, it is who you know”. He gave me a potentially load work as an assignment that I fathom less. Within friction of seconds, it rounded to my mind, and I could simply understand his feeling. It is all about the common virus for Somalis……its clan and discrimination….it is an old stereotype.
According to the social darwinsm theory of “survival for fitness” , the implication applies for the contemporary Somali scenario that the strongest identities will get better, but none is above the other, then It is tit for tat game.
Another optimistic view is from Hamdi, humanitarian worker, self efficiency and motivator kept saying “the chance is in probability; believe the Qadr (Fate; predestination)”.
Moreover, from the understanding of the intellectuals, some consider lack of short term experience, less patience, weak educational background; recent vague certificate burned the chance for undergraduates.
Finally the sun is shining over Somalia, the breeze of progress; peace and prosperity are back on the truck. Thus, Somali student must fulfill the promise of our heroes characterized with courage, decisive and dedicate their bests to the rest.
By: Abdiwahab M. Ali
Columnist, academician and freelance writer
Abdiwahab enjoys writing about social issues and he can be reached via Waberi444@gmail.com or www.facebook.com /Abdi Wahab Ali
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