First Class Diary: Planning is Putting the Future to the Present so You Can do Something about It NOW – EE

First Class Diary: Planning is Putting the Future to the Present so You Can do Something about It NOW – EE

Hi everyone! It’s July. I have got an interesting interview for you. I am certain you will enjoy it. See the previous one here

Meet my scholar for the week, Elizabeth Eludinni, from Osun state University. Interestingly, Elizabeth has co-authored a book with 8 other first class graduates.

Let me save the rest of the story!

In her words,

no matter the level of success that you have achieved do not for once think that you have arrived and stop yearning to learn. You need to unlearn, learn and relearn.

Enjoy!

Abigael Ibikunle of Edugist: Please share with Edugist, a little about your background.

Elizabeth Eludinni: My name is Elizabeth Eludinni, an Associate member of the Chartered Institute of Personnel Management Nigeria (CIPMN). I am also a graduate of Human Resources Management from Osun State University.

Interestingly, I wasn’t and still isn’t a book worm. I preferred learning via discussions with friends to sitting with a book for hours on end to get the same information.

I’m a very inquisitive person. So, when I see educative and informative books, I go through them, sometimes I just scan through.

In my first year, I did quite a great deal of studying. This was because of new concepts I needed to understand.

However, after that, Google became my best friend. I found out that, today more information can be accessed via the internet than through books.

My reading was never restricted to my core subjects. I read books that were HR related, spiritual, financial, relationship, physical health and fitness books, and several others.

This is because of the belief that, there is more to life than just the academia. You will sure need a lot of other skills to compliment your academic success.

I started being active in sport in my Secondary school, I was the football keeper for my team and did a good job.

Also, I threw discuss and shot-put and got some medals. I continued those activities in the university. I was in the female football team, and was very active as the defensive midfielder.

Interestingly, I also loved watching movies, I give rapt attention to them and score every scene trusting I gain some sort of knowledge.

My bestie can testify that I watch movies night preceding an exam. I cannot come and kill myself (we are not the same o!! if you copy me, you are OYO).

Cooking funny meals was another thing I loved, creating my own cuisine. I was also active in God’s Kingdom.

AI: Was there any motivating factor(s) that influenced your choice of discipline and institution?

EE: Well, I applied for accounting because I was in commercial class and had been saying I wanted to be a chartered accountant. I was admitted to study Human Resources Management.

However, because it’s a new course and accounting was a prestigious course, dad advised I wrote jamb again and apply for accounting. Hian!!! But after starting with a CGPA of 4.91, “abi I have written JAMB ni”

AI: There are two major skills that every student must possess: COMPETENCE and PERFORMANCE. While competence revolves around skill acquisition, performance is much more concerned about skills application. It is believed that most graduates are competent because their academic performance testifies to this, but they are performance-challenged. This poor performance ipso facto hinders them from getting lucrative jobs in the labour market. What can you say about this assertion?

EE: I do not totally agree with this assertation. Yes, there are Book-Smart people who have been unable to apply knowledge learnt into practical scenario.

The simple ability to transfer what is in the book (Theory) to a live event or case studies (practical) and make positive progress is what differentiates competency in the knowledge of a subject matter (which is what most Nigerian university rates us on) from intelligence on the subject matter (which is the application of that knowledge).

It is disheartening to hear that someone who graduated with a first class degree cannot perform even when employed. He cannot practically apply his heart to understanding.

This means that, all he did while in school was to read and pour down for the lecturer without properly understanding what he has read. And when the time for the application of the knowledge comes, he obviously has nothing to show for it.

AI: What do you think is responsible for competence without performance? Please suggest ways of improving the performance level of university students and graduates.

EE: Inability to Learn, Unlearn & Relearn. Lack of self-development and motivation. Also, our educational system is highly theoretical, hence, no avenue to learn through case studies and practical.

AI: Achievement in life transcends one’s personal efforts. There were people who, during your programme, rendered some assistance that made your dreams a reality. Who are specific persons whose contribution you can’t forget in your first-class feat?

EE: My parents are very smart people; they are both in the medical field. My dad is a scholar and he was never really particular about our position in class but the overall average score.

The first time I heard the word mediocrity was from my dad. He had warned us never to settle for anything less than the best in life.

My mum was my gossip partner after my big sister. She was the spiritual backbone for us all. As dad was pushing us academically, mum was pushing us spiritually.

I will particularly mention Mr. Oreva Ovuomaye, who joined our secondary school back then to teach Geography.

I was an average student in secondary school. It was pretty terrible that my father had once almost demoted me to JSS3. This was because I had a 48.9% in my SS1 First Term Examination. Mr. Oreva, however, saw something hopeful and took interest in me.

He pushed me real hard and soon I began to excel. When other teachers saw my drastic improvement, they also began to tutor me. This is one of the reasons I passed my WAEC and JAMB Examinations at one sitting.

My Big sister, Abigail Eludinni was my push, she was ready to flaunt me to whoever cared and gave a lot of encouraging words. She was a great source of encouragement and I love her.

In my final year, I got really fed up with school. I thought I had it all planned; finish school May 2014, begin my service year July 2014, get a job and all.

In 2013, universities‟ strike action happened and changed everything. First semester exam was moved to May. After the month of May, I was automatically tired of schooling. Hence, I couldn’t wait to move onto the next level.

My friends also kept me going, especially my bestie, Olawale Bisi and Adebesin David. They helped me through that phase.

AI: As a first-class graduate, are you currently gainfully employed?

EE: Yes, I got an employment immediately after National Youth Service Corps.

I have over 4 years experience. This cuts across Learning and Development, Knowledge Management, Learning Execution and Internal Program Development & Management.

Also, I have expansive experience in Customer Experience (CX) Management, Business Analytics and Design. This ensures the satisfaction of both internal and external customers of the business.

AI: Do you think your grades have or is giving you any major advantage over other graduates with lesser grades?

EE:

Success in the academics has opened other doors to me in so many ways; because of my academic success, I have met people of influence that have shaped my life positively.

When you excel academically, you get a lot of recommendations. People want to associate with you, especially when you are able to balance your academic, spiritual and social life.

You almost inadvertently become a mentor, counsellor and coach. This is because, sometimes parents plead with you to talk to their children to be like you (which is wrong, no two person are same, even twins).

AI: For students who aspire to graduate with outstanding grade like yours, what would you advise them?

EE:

Planning is putting the future to the present, so you can do something about it NOW.

So, don’t fear the future, plan for it. As a first-class graduate, so much is expected of you. You constantly need to be at the top of your game.

After my first semester result came out as 4.91, I remember vividly how the then administrative head for my Faculty, Mr. Adebayo called me to his office. He said, it is easy to get to the top, but it isn’t easy to maintain it. This goes to say that,

no matter the level of success that you have achieved do not for once think that you have arrived and stop yearning to learn. You need to unlearn, learn and relearn.

There is need to be intentional about success. To plan every phase, daily, weekly, monthly, yearly just plan.

However, let there be flexibility in your planning. I got fed up with school because my plans were rigid and didn’t allow for change of any sort.

So,

as much as you want to have SMART goals, make flexible plans.

AI: What would you advise the government to do to improve the standard of our education system?

EE: Improvement of the salaries and welfare of teachers. Which in turn would attract the most intelligent and qualified personnel. It will improve the teaching process, and the quality of students.

Upgrading of the infrastructure, equipping the labs, workshop, hostels, classrooms, libraries.

Also, a revamp of the curriculum and implementation of it to the later.

More emphasis should be placed on science and technology. Today, world operate on knowledge-based economics rather than depending on natural resources.

Governments and other corporate organisations should invest in science and technology by equipping schools with relevant tools to carry out intensive learning.

AI: Any other thing you would like to share?

When you were a kid, you imagined a world without limits. Nothing could stand in your way. You didn’t just state your dream, you declared it.

Your eyes lit up with life every time someone asked you and you had the chance to answer. Nothing could stop you. You dreamed big.

Then you grow up and the society plants the seed of uncertainty and fear. And you gave up on your dreams, you became content and stopped hoping for more. I don’t want you to be content with the way things are right now.

You just have to face your fears. To dream again and be intentional about it this time. You have to choose to live a better story.

Imagine so much more than what is. If we don’t, then how will anything ever change?

And so more that the Booming GenZ will look to as many of us and say Because they did not give up, I wont give up too.

That’s it for this week’s episode. I hope you enjoyed the interview. Got a scholar you would love to be featured?

Would you like to sponsor any of our scholars you find their stories inspiring?
Or want to contact any of them for engagements?

Please reach out to me directly: abigail@edugist.smebusinessgrowth.website

I am Abigael Ibikunle and celebrating excellence is a top priority for me.

iTeach, iSpeak, iTrain, iFacilitate, iWrite, iInterview and iLoveYou all. Smile! See you next week!