13/03/2022
HOW TO THRIVE DURING SCHOOL STRIKE!
The abrupt suspension of academic activities in public universities across Nigeria due to the indefinite strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities was highly unexpected. Yet, success-driven and determined Nigerian university students can make the best out of this period. Contained in this article are beneficial activities that students can engage in, in order to thrive during this period of strike.
It is a general saying, that the idle man is the devil’s workshop. The ongoing strike is not a license to idleness as it can impede the mental and intellectual ability of students. Nevertheless, the hustle and bustle of academics can be very strenuous; therefore, one of the most important activities to engage in at this period is sound rest and exercise. The rigors and demands of school work ranging from attending long classes, laboratory experiments, group discussions, overnight readings, and meeting deadlines of submission of assignments can be physically, emotionally and mentally draining; therefore it is advisable to take ample time to rest and relax your mind. Engage in social meetings, take walks, go on early morning jogging, visit friends and family, meet new friends and build new meaningful relationships with like-minded people. Resting is different from idleness, in that, it is timely and purposeful.
As good and necessary as academic proficiency is, nothing beats a student that is a blend of books and skills. The necessity of soft, vocational and non-academic skills cannot be overemphasized in this 21st century. Companies no longer hire based on certificates and grades, but on skills and abilities. This season of strike is a good time to develop such skills. It could be soft skills developed through volunteering, attending workshops and seminars or other vocational skills which require learning as an apprentice under a boss. These skills when put to use can serve as alternative source of income asides stipends from home or salaries from main jobs. In Nigeria today, the richest men are those who didn’t put all theirs eggs in one basket by putting all attention on academics or research, but those who diverted some of their attention into other adventures like legit businesses, buying and selling of goods and rendering of a service in exchange for money. What are those skills you really admire people do when you see them? This is a very good period to learn and develop one, and if you have learnt a skill previously, this is the time to develop it and start a brand with it. This may most likely not be taught within the four walls of school, but believe me, you really need this knowledge and the experience. Don’t be a jack-of-all-trades but specialize in one or at most two skills at a time; it could be computer services, UI/UX designs, coding, Forex trading, crypto currency, a new foreign language, painting, photography, etc. Pick a niche and fix yourself in the production chain of any line of business, as long as it is legal and legit.
Sometimes, certain ideas drop on your mind as a student, but you never really have time in school to meet a mentor, plan and execute the idea. This is the period to develop that business plan. Apart from learning a skill you can use this period to start a new idea from scratch. This is the time to write out the idea into a business plan, solicit for sponsors and get it executed. This could be in form of a community service, a product transforming business, imports and exports, affiliate marketing or social media marketing. Those business ideas can be discussed with uncles, aunts and parents, get the advice and seek startup funds from them. Even if your parents won’t allow you go out to start a business, take this time to develop the idea and get yourself ready. The pressure from school work may not allow students free time to do all these, but this period can be invested into gaining this extracurricular skill. How wonderful will it be when after the strike is called off, you have gathered not only extra cash but also gained some business experience which can be added to your CV to get you a good job after school!
The general success of a young person does not depend only on his or her academic performance but also his or her understanding about life in all areas. Some level of informal education is needed outside the four walls of the school. A vast level of knowledge in several aspects of life is needed in this 21st century in order to standout as a student. The strike period is a time to invest on reading non-academic books. Books about marriage, love and dating, and even spiritual books will be of great help. The competence of a young person of this age is dependent on the amount of knowledge and information that they have at their finger tips and these knowledge and information are available in books. Young people will escape so many mishaps that happen due to either being misinformed or not being informed at all. Hence, don’t let this period go without reading at least a book, and if you’re a creative writer, put your pen into writing and bless the world with your creativity this period.
More importantly, this is a better time to draw closer to God. You will agree with me that the demands of school activities usually don’t allow students time for concerted spiritual development activities. Nevertheless, this is the time to seek God deeply and get an encounter with the divine. Are there questions on your mind which you seek answers from God? Here’s the time to tarry in His presence until those issues are settled. You can plan days of personal retreats, listen to messages, go for spiritual counseling or just be alone with God. Young Christian students can use this period to attain heights in the Spirit which they’ve always coveted and gain deeper understanding into the things of God. Investing this period into potent prayers, fasting and Bible study will yield massive results that you will never recover from. This is not the time to feed addictions such as ma********on, po*******hy and social media over-engagement, rather, it's time to deal with them and seek potent cure.
Lastly, as surprising as this may sound, you need to use this time to prepare for school resumption. It is better to be prepared than to be caught unawares with the news of school resumption. Take this time to read ahead, get more knowledge on the course contents and a better understanding of what you were taught in class before the sudden suspension of activities. If after the long break you still end up having only C’s in all your courses, then you didn’t make wise use of this period. Aim for A's or distinctions not just credits or passes. You can use this period to meet more intelligent friends than you are, learn from them, gather materials and plan to boost your CGPA whenever school finally resumes and exams begin.
An adage says, a stitch in time saves nine. Do not waste this period of indefinite closure of school. Plan well, prioritize your activities and make this period worth it. When after this strike is over and school resumes again, what would you remember this long break for? You decide and make it work.
