Although the book is about epic genocide which plagued Rwanda in 1994, and the inter-play of unyielding
love, social inequality and naked patriarchal brutality, the words remind me of
the discussions I regularly have with the graduates. You should see the
surprised look in their faces when I challenge them to confront their fear and
be radical about their employment and economic challenges.
Some of us are not
working yet because FEAR prevents us from taking bold actions. We hide behind
the “usual steps” of responding to job adverts through CVs. It is a fail-safe
route, we believe. I argue with the students that this method is not effective.
Some of us are not working yet because in our minds being "employed"
by a large organisation is our dream. This dream is ineffective.
If we value the
education that we have received, and we are embracing that knowledge, and we
are open to learning through trial and from others, therefore free-lancing,
consulting and entrepreneurship are not just alternatives but possibly a way to
a fulfilling life.
Yet there is fear of
rejection and embarrassment. This fear is paralyzing us when we think of
selling our abilities to others. Our fear is linked to being unsure if we know
what we ought to know, and sell, as graduates. There are several possible causes for
this: Cram work instead of studying; Lack of confidence in what we have
learned; Having been ill-informed when choosing a career, or having done so at
the whim of peer pressure; Obsessing about job title and regular pay instead of
doing the work which is necessary, the work which stretches our abilities and
zones of comfort, even outside employment. Yes, social challenges exert
pressure on us to be in a paying job.
Our tertiary
education, with its own challenges of relevance and quality, is not absolutely
bad to a point of total blame. We also make it what it is. Self-education, to
supplement formal education, is important; it builds our confidence to hold our
own during conversations and dealings. People and businesses do not just buy
our qualifications; they also buy who we are. We should invest in ourselves.
When we build our knowledge through
finding out more about what needs to be done; and we take on the risk of
rejection or criticism by offering to help and improve things using our
knowledge and skills, we have already overcome our FEAR. And we might get to a
point where we realise that FEAR is essentially false expectations appearing
real. We become liberated at finding out that indeed ‘every moment stolen from
fear is a paradise.’ Try it. Taste a paradise.
www.moroloconsultants.co.za
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