https://zubelu.com/blog/is-having-a-plan-b-important-2/

As a young student back in secondary school, things were different. I used to think getting admission into the university, studying your most preferred course and getting that degree guaranteed success in life. But reality dawned on me from my Waec result. I wanted to study law but unfortunately for me, I did not have literature in Waec. That was the beginning.
Well I passed my jamb. I was offered history and strategic studies which I had no interest in. Well I still went ahead with the registration. Lucky for me, I wasn’t qualified for the course due to my lack of literature. Thank God I had connections, I was able to pull some strings. My course was changed to social work; a course I knew not till that very day I got to my registration point.

I thought to myself, it wouldn’t be the worst idea ever. Perhaps because of the fear of staying at home for a whole year to retake o’levels, I went ahead with the admission I got into 100L. I was not totally happy about it because I was far away from what I wanted. I read about the course and it was not so bad. It was something I could see myself doing but for lack of interest, I was not taking the course so seriously. Not to talk about the course was not so recognized in Nigeria. I knew I had a long way to go and amongst my colleagues I was fond of, even called LAWMA WORKER.

This continued till I got to year 2 and my GP was dropping I knew I had to buckle up, face my reality and embrace it. I started working hard academically and pulling up my grades. Finally, I got interested in the course after 300l 1st semester field work practice, I loved it so much. I wanted to put in all my best but unlucky for me, it was too late but I still tried my best to get my grades up.



Before graduation, different thoughts were running through my mind. Especially the fact that most of the agencies we were posted for our fieldwork practice in 300 and 400l did not have professional social workers. That is their workers did not study social work as their 1st degree or 2nd degree. It was too sad and painful. With that, I had a lot of hope that things would get well once we are out of school.

it has not been rosy for me. Coupled with the fact that I did not acquire any skill through my university and service year. Also especially still wanting to practice social work in a country where it is not appreciated and recognized. Before NYSC, I volunteered at the Office of the Public Defender as a social worker for 6 months where I gained a lot of 1st hand experience. After my service year, I volunteered at the Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Response Team for few months.

A lot of my colleagues that we studied social work together in University of Lagos have changed their careers not because they do not want to practice but because there is not much of an opportunity for us out there. Furthermore, these days, a lot of people study on thing in the university and end up working in another line because they just want to earn a living and be able to pay their bills.

Personally one thing I regret is not acquiring a skill and I’m not even an entrepreneur oriented person. I’m the 9-5 kind of person and several times I have asked myself if there is any problem with me. It turns out there is nothing wrong with me.

I encourage student these days that from secondary school, they should start learning one skill or the other. The world is shifting from getting a university degree or having a master’s degree. It would go a long way to earning your financial independence and having a plan B.
As long as you keep pursing, there’s always a way for you.

https://zubelu.com