Hoping one step back produces two steps forward

There comes a time when a man must sit and reflect on what is going on around him. A time when he begins to notice how his surroundings affect his actions, thoughts and even words. This period exists when the soul is troubled, sick and tired of being controlled by forces beyond its reach. It begins to cry out for help, but with a voice a little lower than silence, no one can ever hear its call. But despite this barrier, it still manages to get attention from the cage in which it hides itself. As I take you along these lanes of words, keep in mind, I am not a man of complaints but an identity who seeks answers.

The college I call mine is prestigious and has a long history of producing some of the world's renounced individuals. It boasts about its diversity and how it takes almost all of its students under its financial arms. These I love and adore and cannot disagree with. Its location, small-size campus and student-faculty relationship makes it difficult for one to feel left out of a sense of community. But with all that has an advantage, there are disadvantages attached. My mind, body and soul reflect on the series of events that have occurred around me for a couple of months, some of which I will share because the clouds can only hold for so long before it lets the rain pour. One experience that really bothers me is how well my college links its students with the real world. The journey on that path is not worthy of praise and adoration. For mostly people of foreign status, it does a very horrible job in making sure that at least most of its students get the work experience they need to become all-rounders in any area of discipline. It really does try its best with the regular semester fairs and all but it does not seem to be working as effectively as it should. Many go through the four years, sweating and toiling, trying to get at least one experience that can give them the edge over others in the hiring pool, but never get rewarded for the pain and suffering. At the end of four or five long years, they are forced to make drastic decisions that change the path of their long term goals. Sad but really true.

I remember the words carefully, as told to me by my father, 'For every complain posed, always bring a suggestion for change'. Recall, I am not a man of complaints and to that I pose my suggestion. The management in charge of building the careers for students has a network of companies that it has established its trust in. Using these network, create a structure by which it is a requirement for students to have at least one work experience in their field of study before they can graduate. With the help of a dedicated management, sets of deadlines and ambitious-driven students, such a structure can be established and will work. There will be issues and people who would stand against the ideas and concept but there are principles that make a student an all-rounded and in order to gain results, these principles must be followed.

I can not help but share. A friend of mine, a fine student with a dedicated heart for success, started a business which has grown from nothing to something worth talking about. He did a few jobs for the general public just to gain some experiences and have a start to say the least. With a few experiences in his area of concentration, he approaches some individuals, high in positions of authority of the college I will everly call mine, asking for patronage. To his surprise, he was 'posted' with the regular, calm and deceiving reply of which they would promise to get back to him and they never do. Take a look at what is wrong with this picture. A student decides to start his business, using all what he has learnt from the college I will always call mine. He goes out into the world, gains some experience and comes back to the place that gave him all he needed to know to make things work. Asking for help through patronage, he gets shunned and of course, he feels denied. Is that not a cause to speak?

Most institutions enjoy the benefits of their alumni, who graciously give back in the hope to build an institution that is better than the one they had. A few years from now, me, my friend and many others would be out there in the world, making the most of life and enjoying what it has to offer. This comes without pride or over-confidence but out of sheer truth. We would love to give back to places that nurtured our tender heart while they were soft and tender. We would love to make places that we once called home away from home, bigger and better than they presently are. But how does one do so when they recollect the series of events that occurred in their past years. Events that tend to stir up bitterness and disgust. It becomes difficult and to the receivers, we portray ourselves as ungrateful.

Recall, I am not a man of complaints and to that I say, concentrate and invest on what you have. Do not focus all your attention at individuals who have made it and call you 'alma matar'. Make the lives of people who are presently with you, lives of joyful memories and watch in years to come, the benefits of your investment grow.

*This is just my food for thought*