Dear reader, life after posting the part one (https://www.nairaland.com/search?q=life+as+a+temp+in+kpmg) of this experience has been very remarkable. It drew lots of attention, curiosity and motivation from diverse individuals. It went so viral that I was left stunned (lol). I really felt humbled reaching out and contributing to the society in such a very funny and childlike manner.

a few days before I started putting words together to sum up my journey at kpmg, bearing in mind that I am now awake from the fascinating three months of an amazing “dream”, while surfing the internet in my usual manner, I came across a quote by Marc Chernoff, a personal development blogger. He said; “There’s scarcely any happiness, passion or success without struggle. life is a constant climb, but the journey is rewarding and the view is great. It’s just a matter of pushing forward when the going gets tough.” It would be on the premises of this motivating chant that I would conclude my beautiful adventure.

It was exactly 5:42pm on Friday, 30th of October 2015, I was at the Human Resource Unit trying to sign off the exit form. My phone rang and it was Etoro, one of the angelic personalities that I worked with in the firm. She told me to come up to our unit. When I got to the 8th floor, surprisingly, I saw a gathering of staff under Energy and Natural Resources (ENR). Behold, it was a send forth party organized in my honor. I was invited to seat at the center of the stage. Immediately, the ceremony began. There came a particular stage which is in the tradition of the firm. I call it “the doctrine of say it all”. in the usual manner of ENR, all my sins, behaviors, conducts both positive and negative were thrown bare. See, that moment is always intense. You get to hear so many opinions about you which are unescapably true. Even a partner if placed on that seat must be washed clean. It is interestingly unequivocal.

After all the overwhelming speeches and thriller refreshments, one of the partners was called to make a presentation to me. Wow! It was a very heavy package. The contents of that package force tears of joy to drop from my eyes each time I remember that evening. Thank you kpmg. When I received the beautiful gift they humbly called a token of appreciation for working with them but in essence treasurable to me, all the nightmares I went through both within and outside the firm vanished and turned into the view of Disney Island. The nightmares were horror. I quickly went down the memory lane and recalled how would have been “twin” brother and friend of mine Emenike and I went through hell in the streets of Lagos. This is the part which so many would never want to undertake during their quest for self fulfilment. At intervals before my first salary, I had to trek a half of my journey before boarding the vehicle that would take me to work and afterwards too. I remembered the days I and my friend went without food. We would drink water and biscuit most nights and weekends because we have no money to sustain ourselves. We were the true definition of the word “wretched”. But the beautiful part of this was that our large suits never failed us. Once we enter it, all our miserable states become covered. That the weather is hot was never for us, reason, we were thin to the bone and can’t expose such skinny stature. During those days, even if I had reasons to miss work which I never had tho, I would never dare. Not because I so much love work or to impress my employer but, chai! I can’t miss kpmg lunch (*wink*). See, substantial part of the money we had while going to Lagos was borrowed from friends. I knew I would have a difficult startup in Lagos but my passion for self-fulfillment blinded me from those impending danger. I was willing to and always willing to become the better man I were yesterday and for this to happen, I must leave my comfort zone.

My dear, this experience is not unique, neither is it peculiar to me alone. Some of those people you see on the media, those you see in those luxurious vehicles and the ones who climb those fascinating skyscrapers have more bizarre experiences than this child’s play experience which I called suffering. One of the partners in kpmg told me; “Edwin my son, I knew nobody anywhere when I started and today, I am a partner. I read your article and fell into tears”. She said she could relate to my story. She fought against all odds and today, I tell you, with the weight of her purse and personality, she can perform magic. One also told me; “we are not spirits”. Truly, they are not. They started like us, even worse than we have ever been.

During my official trips, while seated at the car owner’s corner, I always took pain to observe the hawkers along the road and main land bridges who frantically chase after vehicles to sell goods that the gain which if combined with the capital may not be enough to buy them good food let alone dress and shelter. But they still fight against odds to survive. I can’t even recall countless times I saw good looking men who in their nice suits are seen sleeping under the bridge. Some would even see me in my own suit, thinking I am one ‘big boy’, would meet me and say; “sir, the only thing I need now is food”. Chai! The scene is sometimes offensive. You just can’t bear the agony they exude. They are not alone, we are all in that journey of self-redemption.

The above mentioned challenges are common and well known in our society. That is why most people would choose to stay in their comfort zone rather than challenge themselves to dare the obstacles. They revolve within a small circle and succeed in convincing themselves to believe that attaining a certain height can never be their portion. They refuse to keep pushing and also forgot that even the airplane goes against the wind to fly in the sky. We equally fail to understand that no human being is immune to pain. We only become victorious when we embrace it believing that it is just for a while.

Dear reader, I write this to cause a revolution in your mind and challenge you to know that the place you are now is not the final destination. There are exceedingly more powers and things within and around us that are left unharnessed. Challenge the bad grades and also refuse to be comfortable with the first class. Don’t be afraid of the unknown for we are not cowards. It may take time but the end is always juicy.
After the presentation, I heartily appreciated all of them at the firm (I will always). I was grateful to them because it was an awesome moment with them. I was grateful for the apt and unprecedented intellectual revolution they caused in my brain. I was grateful for they leveled the parochial perception that I had about life after school. I was grateful because I am now a member of kpmg family. I was grateful because I have grown.

At exactly 7:06pm of same day, I walked out of the firm. I stood at the exact spot I was when I first came to the firm. in the same innocent manner I looked at the tall light green building on my first day, I look at it again but this time, something about me has changed. I am now a warrior. I would rather die in the battle than seat at home and wait for the enemies in the disguise of poverty and its relations to invade me.
as I draw close the curtain of this journey, just know that the struggle to achieve my dreams continues and I want you if possible to become a “Spartan” too. You may call me a lawyer, an infant tax analyst or even an unrepentant automobile freak. You won’t be wrong. You can also add this; “I am a story tell” in the university of genuine struggle for self-fulfillment.

Believe that we can make it, we can ride those dream cars. Stay motivated always and never give up. Impossibility is an illusion. I pray we meet at the top for over there is never crowded.

God bless kpmg family
God bless University of Nigeria
God bless Nigeria
Ugwuodo Edwin Chukwunonso
Faculty of Law, University of Nigeria.

Source: https://web.facebook.com/ugwuodo.edwin/posts/1062689597097603

Cc lalasticlala
Cc Obinoscopy
Cc Seun

life as a temp AT kpmg - Edwin Ugwuodo Chukwunonso

Less than ten days from today, I would round off my three months of temporary placement as a graduate tax analyst at kpmg. a Swiss entity, headquartered in the Netherlands, kpmg is listed in the Fortune 100 table of the best places to work on earth. Susan Adams on Forbes publication dated September 3, 2015 cited Vault.com “the most prestigious consulting firms in 2015”, ranking kpmg as 9th in the world. Passionately driven by it slogan “cutting through complexities”, kpmg attracts the brightest minds in the world across diverse academic backgrounds and inclinations.

I chose to start with this intimidating preamble not with the intention to express pride or assume the role of an unpaid advert agent, but to roughly lead your mind to catch a glimpse of the scenario I am painting and also to have better understanding of the story that will follow hereafter.

It all started on 31st October,2014 in University of Lagos. After days of sleepless nights in the preparation of the first ever National Tax debate which had in attendance most of the prestigious universities in the country. My school got an invitation to participate in the challenging contest. My school was represented by myself, Omeye Emenike (walking encyclopedia), Ogbuka Ukandu (lord of the advocates) and Agu Ozioma (glorious queen bee). On that fateful day, we made it to the finals after defeating other schools at the preceding stages. After the whole arguments and counter arguments, the panelists determined our fate within the space of 10 minutes. Like the voice in the wilderness, one of them announced, UNN is the winner of the 2014 National Tax Debate! Jesus! Yes, Yes!!! We shouted. We jumped, we danced and we sang. We received the victorious trophy, prizes and an offer of internships. From that day, life became more meaningful. Destiny was further chastised.
Excitedly, I and Emenike resumed our placements on the 3rd of August, 2015, immediately after our degree exams. It was one of the most memorable days of our life. I climbed for the first time in my life, a sky scraper with 13 floors. The light green building was so tall and conspicuous that you can see it from every angle of Victoria Island. That day, I thought I was walking into heaven (lol). The ebony receptionist welcomed us and after series of correspondence, we were dispatched to different Tax Units in the firm. Another experience and adventure of my life just stared.

Dear reader, my eyes saw a lot, I can’t exhaust the explanations.

STAFF: I saw myself in the midst of geniuses. People of every profession and field you can ever contemplate. Everybody there has a remarkable and outstanding quality that made kpmg hire him or her. They were all outstanding students with stellar leadership traits in one way or the other from various schools of the world. No wonder one of the partners jokingly asked me during introduction; “Edwin, I am sure you made a first class”. Imagine! But to tell the truth, that is the mindset at kpmg, an achievement mindset. That notwithstanding, the benchmark for hiring remains second class upper division i.e (2.1). The staff of kpmg are true definition of devotion. The degree of personal and impeccable commitment to duties leaves you wondering how on earth a firm could instill such level of religious devotion in an employee. They are intelligent I must confess. Very friendly and hospitable.

WORK ENVIRONMENT: My goodness! See, at intervals, I forget that I am in an office. The environment and facilities are so conducive that you lack nothing. My dear, every day was a party in the name of lunch. Chicken, catfish, beef, rice of all sort, name them. They all lost value in my sight. We take three course meals during lunch, at the expense of the firm. Chai! Should I talk about delicious cakes and surplus drinks that regularly go round the units or the informal outings (movies, dinners etc) the partners host us to most times. Hay! If you think you are a glutton, try kpmg. There are two standard cab companies that carry the staff in their luxurious cars. I flex owner’s corner so often on official trips you would mistake me for a partner. To cap it all, for the first time in my life, in the course official trips I was using the airports regularly without personal financial consequence. Flying from state to state as an intern, I almost forgot the poor family I come from, God forbid! I never did. I know you would be asking yourself if they can fly an intern in this manner, what about the staff. That is to tell you the stuff kpmg is made of. They spend a good portion of their revenue creating adequate working environment to enhance excellent productivity. Indeed the work environment in kpmg is” heavenly” but please take note; they would work your ass out. But is it worth it? O yes!

LEARNING: I learnt extensively. Now your boy is a little tax masquerade…lol. I was drilled and chastised intellectually, particularly in my unit area of taxation. But who wouldn’t learn in such a place, where one goes on trainings so often you would think it’s an extension undergraduate program. You go for technical sessions and every day in the office, you tackle all those global issues that you hear those technocrats discuss on the media that most often wouldn’t make any sense to a poor guy like me. I have prepared millions naira worth of documents and receipts and I must tell you, that is, if you belong in the same societal strata like me, all of the money we hear investors part with every now and then on the media are true. a lot of economic activities are happening in our country. There are millions of people out here who live that your disturbing dream. I tell you! Being an unrepentant car freak, I have seen all my imaginary vehicles and now, I am humbled, lol! I almost got knocked down by a car one day while I was admiring a luxurious SUV 2015 Cadillac that passed by. I don’t mean to wash my linens outside, just to make you appreciate the whole picture and enjoy the humor.

The major reason why I am eagerly putting these lines carefully is to wake up some of us in the Eastern part of Nigeria, especially those in University of Nigeria. There are lots of opportunities out here. One of the devastating lies I learnt in the school is that there is no job anywhere. Some of our lectures buried us in mediocrity (with due respect). I was pained one day when I shared with a colleague in the office how some of my school guys dream to work in a places like this and do you know what he asked me? “Do people in your school know about us?” It was an innocent and subtle question but he didn’t know I was boiling inside of me already. This write up is resultant from that response. They have the notion that we are not exposed. I would out of sentiment choose not to believe them but by statistic, the truth is, the average exposure is possibly 1/10. Sorry if this sound embarrassing but its unbelievably true. We have to wake up. Not that people here are more intelligent than people in the East (although I understand that we face some prejudicial factors), yes, there are geographical advantages but God forbid that we dwell in sin that grace may abound. Make good use of your time and go on temporary “chatting” break. Aspire your way out of mediocrity and shine. Tell yourself that the time is really now.

There are much yet untold. Take this as part one. The remaining portion of the experience would come after 30th October. Then, I would have bid farewell to kpmg. But before then, take a moment and ponder, ask yourself, where do you belong? It could be anywhere, in your chosen field of private law practice, in consulting, in NGOs or in international organizations. There are thousands of places like these. Let us leave our comfort zone and take a step further. I have shared with you the beautiful part of my journey here, but what you may not perceive here is that behind the story were lots of late nights and pains. Let us leave that for another day.

Don’t make the mistake of thinking that I have arrived. I am still struggling like you and praying that I would meet my destiny. See you again after 30th October. One love!

Source: Facebook wall of a good friend, Edwin Ugwuodo Chukwunonso.
https://www.facebook.com/ugwuodo.edwin/posts/1046789995354230