A letter to Graduates: College Is Over, Now Welcome To The Real World

On 20^th December 2019, several universities held graduation ceremonies, University of Nairobi (UoN), Kenyatta University (KU), Daystar University (DU), Mt. Kenya University (MKU) and Technical University of Kenya, formerly Kenya Polytechnic (TUK).

The graduation ceremonies are filled with anticipation, excitement, and optimism, however, once that euphoric high wears off then dread and anguish kicks in.

The majority of the fresh graduates starting out in the real world encounter strange and harsh environments where people no longer treat you as if you were the center of the universe. Suddenly, it’s not about the graduates’ potential or individuality or whatever supposedly unique quality you had that made you special. Nor are people going to tiptoe around the Big Issues to cater to your sensibilities.

You’re in the real world now. And in the real world, you’re just another recent grad who doesn’t know anything until you prove otherwise. You now belong to a system designed to cater to the needs of People with Money. And from their perspective, it’s all about “what can you do for me right now?”

I once attended a graduation ceremony where the graduate was gifted shoes so as to tarmac looking for a job. The search is hard and long. While President Uhuru Kenyatta in 2017 promised 1.3 million the Jobs do not exist in fact companies are retrenching such as Stanbic, East Africa Portland Cement, and the Diageo.

Out of over 60 listed companies at the Nairobi Securities Exchange (NSE), 15 companies announced that they are not making enough money signaling tough times ahead.

Lucky are the few who have connections and they will be hooked up with a job. As our country stands today we have an extremely high rate of unemployment, those uncles who promised to employ you after you graduate will not be anywhere to be seen.

Prepare to send your resume to more than 300 companies, sit with your degree in the house for 5 years or tweet with the #IkoKaziKe as you search for a job.

Truth is the journey for a fresh Kenyan Graduate is not easy there is a lot of depression that is associated with this time period, figuring out what you want to do, realizing that you cannot live the life you dreamed.

But here at a Soko Directory wish you all the best in your new journey in life.

By Kathleen Francisca