Reimagining What we teach and the world of work

 In response to my morning's post skill development, Rockson Kwame Agyeman wrote something that's so profound. Read it here: 

I will tell you a story. When I was an undergraduate at the University of Ghana, I had a very brilliant female colleague. For confidentiality, let's call her Hillary. Hillary was so smart, she went on to become the valedictorian. 

One day, while in class, I was using my very old laptop computer to design a website. She walked up to me and asked, "what are you doing Rockson?". I said, "I am designing a website for the Artificial Intelligence course project". And, she said something that has stuck with me all these years. She said "you know, I really envy you Rockson. You are able to design websites, make all these fancy stuff and fix broken computers, but I can't do any of these". I looked her up from my sitting position, and I said "but Hillary, your GPA is much much better than mine. You get all the As. Last semester, I even got a D. Why do you envy me?". And she replied "will I use the grades when I graduate?". It was then I realized, I was indeed doing something right for myself.

How did I build myself while I was still in school? During my free times, looked up employment opportunities. Specifically, I looked up the requirements of the jobs that I fancied. Most companies were organized enough to list in detail what skill set they required.

So, I would take the list, and one by one, I'd try to aquire them. I learned computer programming as a course, but I will confidently say I am a self taught programmer. I learned computer hardware in school, but, I am a self taught hardware/ electronic person. School gave me the introductory skills and it's something I appreciate very much. But, I, had to master many of the skills that were the basic requirements for the jobs I wanted. During my short vacations, I self taught. During long vacations, I did (mostly) unpaid internships. At every interview, I always got this commendation; "Young man, you have a beautifully written CV and you seem to have the skill set we are looking for. You articulated your knowledge on ABCD very well". Was it by a coincidence? Maybe! But deep down, I know my investment was paying off.

It is fair to say that the structure of most programs in our schools can use some improvement. But, while we wait for the improvement,  which may never come, can we take our destiny into our own hands? Can students be intentional about their studies? Can students be intentional about the future jobs they want and prepare themselves on that path? 

I know chance plays a major part in the lives of students after they graduate. But sometimes, you meet someone who wants a job badly, you use your influence to secure an interview, and the person comes into the room with no sense of responsibility nor understanding of what is required. 

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