Are you anxious?
The moment you graduate from a tertiary institution, everything changes. For some, life comes at them so fast, the flash would seem like an old woman on three legs; for others, it would go so slowly, the realization would not really sink in until they convoke, or a few months after they have gotten a certificate. And if you are like me, you probably started thinking about life after school long before graduation.
If you want to be truthful to yourself, you are at your most vulnerable at this point. Every scheme becomes appealing. Bring the 5 people scheme to the 10k to 100k in 2 days. Every "opportunity" is a thread of hope. And for those who believe absolutely in their degrees, the job hunt begins, submitting CVs upon Resumes, looking for a job, sometimes any job. Many will get themselves into formal employment either with the government or in the private sector. Jobs are plenty, but job seekers are "plentier." What you will find out with ease is the level of uncertainty that comes with exiting the four walls of a university. Ooh, except you are from a wealthy family where your future is already planned out, or if you got a job before you left school.
Are you anxious?
I know I have outlined a problem that assails many school leavers. You probably can relate to the above problem. Are you anxious? While I cannot offer you a goose that lays golden eggs, I can at least try to provide you with the next best thing.
By now, you might be wondering, "what magical solution do I want to present before you? What mixture of sugar, spice, and everything nice would reduce your level of anxiety? And is there a chemical X that will change your fortune?" Well! Yes and No.
What do I mean? I intend to offer you the next best thing. There are ingredients, of course, maybe ingredients aren't the best word, but you'll find that there is a process, and No, it isn't magical. And yes, there is a chemical X, and I doubt you know it is.
The primary cause for anxiety amongst most fresh graduates is the search for sustainability and relevance, in essence, money and a feeling of responsibility.
To solve the money problem, you need a legal, sustainable means of income, and what we have seen many Nigerian youths gravitate to are the freelance space and remote work. This provides a certain level of flexibility and purchasing power. For those who have hacked this new goldmine, Twitter is a flex spot. Earning in dollars and spending in Naira, is there really a better deal in this country?
This new source of income also fills in the gap for the second issue. Freelance work is legal work; it often entails providing valuable services to clients willing to pay for them.
But the problem of money doesn't just end with a big fat check contrary to popular opinions. Those with well-paying gigs often end up having expenses hunt their paycheck down. There is usually a step further that needs to be taken in this road to staving anxiety. Financial intelligence! Yes, there needs to be a level of money management knowledge for you to breathe easy after you start earning. In subsequent posts, I'll be sharing knowledge regarding freelancing and money management as a budding working-class citizen of the grown-up world.
Ooh yes, before I forget. Chemical X is a thing, and it refers to "relationships;" there is only so much your skills and knowledge can take you. In truth, building relationships is an essential part of financial intelligence, but I believe it deserves a mention of its own. As much as possible, I'll also talk about various types of relationships, what you need to make them work, and how they invariably affect your finances in the long run.
I expect by now you are clicking on a button to take you to the next post if there is one; patience, my friend, while time is of the essence, haste only wastes. Anticipate my upcoming posts as I take you on a journey to being better as a freelancer, in your finances, and in your relationships too.
In the meantime, there are a few things you can do. Share this with your friends, leave a comment below telling me what you initially thought chemical X would be too. You can also share what one it two things you think would help me tell this story better in the comment section.
In the meantime, bye for now.
