My School Aid: Interview
Showing posts with label Interview. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Interview. Show all posts

30/04/2018

[EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW]: "I WANTED TO GRADUATE WITH A FIRST CLASS, BUT I DID NOT BECAUSE I WAS WORKING" -MARVY

10:13 am 0




One question that virtually every student asks while still in school is the question of what will happen after their program ends. Many people already have the answers, but a vast majority of students are vaguely unaware of what they will do, and this makes them venture into different things while they are still in school. Here, Marvellous Bassey, a fresh graduate of the University of Uyo talks about how she nurtured a teaching career while she schooled. Excerpts:

 May we meet you?

 I am Marvellous Bassey, a graduate of Linguistics from the University of Uyo, a Linguist and French teacher. I am also into modelling and TV presenting.

 How recently did you graduate from the University of Uyo?

 I graduated in October 2016, that was when I finished with my research project and all other school-related matter. Though the official date as I have it on my certificate is February 2017.

 So, you're a fresh graduate and you already have a job! That is something that does not happen very frequently in this country, seeing the way the economy is going...

 Yes, that is true. One truth I have come to learn is that people that believe there are no jobs are those who do not have value to offer. I'm not being harsh, but that is the plain truth, take it or leave it!

 So, what you're saying in essence is that there are jobs in Nigeria.

 Absolutely!

 You seem to be currently employed in your basic field of study. Is there any specific way it happened?

 Actually, I did not just start teaching French now; I have been teaching French right from my first year in school. I already have the idea that people who speak French in Nigeria are treated as gold everywhere they go. So as an edge, I ensure I tell people around me that I speak French. The first opportunity I had to teach French was through a roommate who was teaching in a school that needed a French teacher. Since she knew I speak French, she recommended me and since then, the recommendations have been rolling in till date.

 You said you had been teaching French since your first year in school. How were you able to make out time to work and learn at the same time？

 Well, it was not easy, really. I was working during my spare time in school; There were days I did not have classes so I fixed my teaching on those days and I taught once in a week. At a point where I needed to teach everyday, it was for two hours, daily so any two hours of the day that I was free, I would rush to the school(s) teach and rush back to catch up with lectures.

 Did it, by any means, affect your academics?

 Yes it did! At a point, specifically in my 3rd year, my G.P dropped. My schedule was so tight that I started missing classes; I missed a few tests and my reading suffered. It really affected me, you know, it's the principle of "you can not eat your cake and have it".

 While all these were happening, why did you not just stop altogether?

 I could not stop working；that was where I was able to sustain myself throughout my university days.

 Well, seeing as you were able to combine schooling and work, would you encourage other students to work while they study?

 Well, I would say yes and I would say no

 Why is that?

 Yes, because schooling while working was a plus to my life. Schooling has high financial demands and if you come from a family that can not meet those demands in totality, or you are self-sponsored, it is a wise thing to work. It is as a result of the fact that students want to meet up with the financial demands of school that they indulge in so many dubious and dirty activities, but working earns you legitimate money. Secondly, teaching was one of the ways through which my knowledge in French language expanded. My proficiency in French did not only come as a result of what I was taught in school, but what I also taught in schools. Also, working while schooling adds this prestige to your profile. While I was in school, people that knew I was working held me in high esteem and even after I graduated, those that knew I worked while schooling tend to make certain comments that accord respect; It has a way of telling people that you are responsible. I would also say "no" because working while schooling is a big distraction. I wanted to graduate with a first-class degree but 80% of why I did not was the fact that I was working.

 That is pathetic, but does it not also provide an avenue for the student to add value to their certificate as you said earlier?

 Yes, it does. As it stands now, I have a 5-year working experience in teaching. And that alone is a plus to my CV

 Wow! That is really interesting

 Yes, it is. In addition, If a student squarely needs academic excellence or badly needs a first-class, working should not be on such student's list.
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11/04/2018

[EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW]: "I GOT TIRED OF SCHOOL... THE INPUTS WERE THERE, BUT THE GRADES WERE NOT COMING AS BEFORE" -WILFRED EMMANUEL

3:54 pm 0
It is a well-known fact that attaining academic excellence is not an easy task. However, after attaining it, some students still find it difficult to maintain it. Here, Wilfred Emmanuel, one of the best graduating students from the Department of Accounting in the University of Uyo, speaks of the challenges he faced, maintaining an excellent result till he graduated. Excerpts:


May we meet you?

My name is Emmanuel, Wilfred Kufre. I'm a Social  Media Marketer/Manager, Publicity Strategist, Online Reputation Manager, and a Growth Hacker for small businesses. I recently graduated from the department of Accounting, University of Uyo -not too recently though, I finished in July 2017, precisely.
I love surfing the net, reading -I read a lot- and pressing my phone (that is where I make my money from). I am not a fan of proud and dishonest people.


That is a stunning profile! I did not, however, fail to catch the phrase "I read a lot". Can you say that love for reading is one of the driving forces of academic excellence?

Thank you.

Yes, I love reading. And I will submit any day that an excellent student is one who reads.

For you to ace your courses, you just need to read. There are no two ways about this; I can remember when I was an undergraduate, I spent my evenings reading; I read everyday, even if it was for an hour or two. Consequently, reading was one of the driving forces of my academic excellence.


But, is it just about reading? You know, the process of reading is not always exciting to everyone. Does that mean that those wtho do not really love reading are bound to encounter academic failure?

Let me highlight a sentence from your question: "The process of reading is not always exciting to everyone".

Honestly, for an excellent student, reading is a daily habit. And it is very exciting to them. Very. If you came to the four walls of the University with a goal in sight, you won't have an option, but just to cultivate the reading habit.

You know why I call reading a habit? It is because it can be groomed; you can grow yourself to love reading.
Now to the question: my answer is an emphatic Yes, with a 'but' accompanying it, though.

The 'but' is, any student who cannot settle down to read or does not love reading will definitely encounter academic failure, and for them not to fail, they opt for other crooked methods to pass their courses, ranging from sorting of lecturers to cheating to impersonation, etc.

So my candid advice to any student is, "My friend, just sit and read. Graduate with good grades because the labour market no be play...Your grades might not distinct you, but the fact that you spent your time to read and study judiciously, will".


Okay. There is still a pending question, however: Is it just all about reading?

You want to hear God?

Okay, God!

- Believe in God and commit your endeavours to his hands.
- Attend classes and listen with utmost concentration.
- Take and make lecture notes.
- Don't be a truant: attend lectures
- And then again, Read! Read!! Read!!!


You were on the Honours' Roll of the University of Uyo in your third year in the University. How were you able to cope with the University system up till then?

Well, I really do not like answering this question because it just reminds me of how much of a failure I left school. But then again, for the sake of the readers of this platform, I will.

It all started with a MINDSET. While coming to school, I wanted to graduate with a First class; that was the goal. So, having such mindset, all I did was to find the fuel to help drive me closer to my goal and the fuel needed were those factors I highlighted earlier.


So, what can you really say doused the flame?

Honestly, I got tired of school. I wouldn't want to tell a lie. I did. But the flames were never doused. The inputs were still there, but the outputs (grades) were not coming forth like they used to. 

Also, in my third year, I became more career -and money -conscious, I looked into the structures and systems of education in Nigeria and I concluded that it would be better if I concentrated on  adding  more skills to my inventory, and that was what I did. While I did that anyway, I just really did not see the need for the first class again.


I think a lot of students can relate to your story, especially the ones who came in with the blazing desire to finish with a first class and their current results do not reflect their initial desire. However, despite your venture into politics in the later part of your second year, you still managed to graduate with a stunning result! Does politics affect academic performance?

It does not, at all. It never did. My grades even started dropping when I left politics. As a matter of fact, one of the past SUG Presidents, Engr. Kufre Samuel graduated with a First Class from the Department of Petroleum Engineering.

Politics never does.


That is incredible!
In the same vein, would you say that being a successful student entails more than just reading and passing exams?

For a successful student, yes. For a graduate, a 'BIG, FAT' No!


Could you give us a brief summary of the idea behind the negation?

As a graduate, you need more than reading and passing of exams. It is pertinent that one acquires core skills and professional career skills.

For example, a graduate of Accounting should have knowledge of Accounting software packages like SAGE50; a graduate of Architecture should have knowledge of architectural software like AutoCAD, etc.

In 2015, World Economic Forum identified  top 10 skills that graduates should grasp and they included complex problem solving, negotiation, people management, creativity, amongst others.

Also, recently, a report including 10 top skills 2020 graduates should acquire was released, and it included creativity, emotional intelligence, cognitive flexibility, service orientation, amongst others. So you see, It speaks for itself!


That was really insightful.Thank you for sharing with us. It is really an honour to have you.
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29/01/2018

[EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW]: “MY RELATIONSHIP WITH THE OPPOSITE SEX GIVES ME A STABLE AND RELAXED STATE OF MIND” –KANT

2:24 pm




There is a big difference between hoping to graduate from the University with a First Class and actually doing so. It is not everybody that starts the University with a First Class that actually ends up graduating with one; this is because it is not easy to keep up with the pressures and challenges of maintaining a First Class. Today, one of the current First Class Students of the Department of Accounting, University of Uyo speaks about the challenges he faced, maintaining a First Class from Year One to Final Year. Excerpts:

Please, may we meet you?

Yes. You are welcome. I am Emmanuel Billy popularly known as Immanuel Kant, an undergraduate student of the department of accounting of this great University and I am currently in my finals.

You are popularly known as Immanuel Kant, but Kant was one of the founding fathers of philosophy and you're studying accounting. What is the relationship?

I adopted the name before I gained admission into this university but only a few would believe this. I love reading and talking philosophy and most importantly, I subscribe to the ideas and philosophies of Immanuel Kant because of his ethical works such as his popular theory of categorical imperative.

Kant is one of the founding fathers of philosophy but I'm studying accounting because it has been my early childhood dream to work in a bank –a mentality I had till I got to know some things about life. If I were to come back for an undergraduate study, I could move into the line of philosophy. This is because, philosophy teaches me everything about life and makes me think critically and make rational arguments about phenomenon.

So you already had an interest in Philosophy before you gained admission to study Accounting; why did you pick Accounting, then?

Like I earlier said, it was a mere childhood mentality that grew up with me and it is affecting me now in Accounting major courses. I'm not “exceedingly tight” though I’m doing my best

Would you rather say you prefer Philosophy to Accounting?

I like philosophy but I prefer accounting because of its lucrative nature. In Nigeria, Accounting is a very professional field of study that has much relevance and prestige and can fetch me a lot of lucre but we can't say the same for philosophy. I could either build others or build myself with philosophy and nothing more

You made a statement earlier about not being "exceedingly tight" in Accounting major courses. How is that, considering the fact that you are currently one of the best students in your class?

I said I'm not "exceedingly tight" In Accounting major courses. And that's because I had a very weak foundation in Accounting in my secondary school days due to some constraints. However, I've been doing my best and it's been paying off but not to a very professional level.

But you're in final year and you're currently a first class student. Is that right?

By God's grace I am.

How then, do you hope to make up for your lapses?

Well, with God all things are possible. I'm a very ordinary student, though I’m diligent. I'm so fortunate that I'm only offering just two Accounting major courses this year which accounts for only 15% of my results. Be it as it may, I would still follow up as I've always been doing and thrive as others would do. In addition to my resolve to be acquainted with these courses, I’d also employ the free online aids of my senior colleagues to explain some befuddling concepts and principles relating to these courses.

How do you cope being a first class student?

To be honest with you, it is not easy at all to be at the top. The exacting requests from my parents to maintain it, the inherent pressures of being there, the hates from friends, the gossips and backbiting, and above all, the love and reverence from friends and families are not easy to deal with. They could make me fall if I heed to either side of the encomiums or hates, but I've been trying to neglect them and stay focus until I achieve it. Hopefully, I would.

Apart from the obvious things of reading and attending lectures regularly, what else can you say contributed to your current academic success?

Firstly, it is God. So many of my friends think I'm not a church person. They could be correct in that I don't go to church often as most of them do but I can say I pray a lot. And that is what I feel is the most important ingredient of my success. Secondly, I could say it's the satisfaction of my physiological needs such as food, comfort, etc., and making relationships especially with the opposite sex. These relationships give me a stable and relaxed state of mind of being relevant and as well, help sharpen my reasoning process: Having a relaxed state of mind is the best emotion that leads to success in life. Like I said earlier, making relationships with the opposite sex enhance a stable emotion and as such, I could easily do anything to help myself with that. Also, there is something I call “street wisdom” which also makes me aware of my purpose in school and awakens me whenever I am going astray in terms of academics or issues relating to Christianity relevance.

Lastly, I would mention the normal reading and attending lectures like you've said.

So you do not belong to any social group that helps students study and all that?

I don't belong to any group that relates to academics coaching. All the ones I tried initiating or joining ended up crumbling at the nascent stage due to negligent people there. So, I'm currently on my own.

How about peer pressure; does it affect you in any way?

Well, I could say it does, to some extent. However, to a larger extent, it does not because I understand myself and know what is best for me. Hence, I cannot allow myself to be under unnecessary tension and pressures of other students who do their things according to how it suits them. It was in my first year that I allowed those things others did to bother me, but I have patterned myself towards focusing on what I do and I do it well.

Also, it is believed that being social is not compatible with being a successful student, but the same is not the case with you. How do you combine being social with being a very serious student?

Firstly, what do you mean by being social? If being social means talking to everyone that crosses your path, then such things would not affect my academics. If it also means always attending social events, then the inherent nature of the “street wisdom” in me would make me overcome the temptation of being too involved in these things.

You were on the University Honours’ Roll in your first year in school. What advice would you give the current freshers so that they can tow the same line?

I was on the University Honours’ Roll in my first year and I am currently there and hopefully I would finish this school with my name on it. When I started this school, I was operating on a triangular basis, i.e., Lecture room, Hostel and Nightclass. I was very committed to making the formula results in fruition; I only made few relationships and this formula paid off. Hence, I advise all freshers to adopt this formula though it may be difficult for a student to limit his movement to these three locations and shun every other thing. But it is a good strategy that should work with resolve. Above all, they should put God first before applying this formula.
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22/01/2018

[EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW]: “MY INVOLVEMENT IN SCHOOL POLITICS CONTRIBUTED TO MY SUCCESS IN SCHOOL” -CHIBYKE

10:48 am



Most people believe that venturing into the political aspect of schooling in the University tends to, more likely, cause a drift in the academic stance of most students and to this end, a lot of eligible students distance themselves from school politics (an avenue that could have effected a whole lot of change in their career in the long run). Many students who have actually taken the bold step to partake in school politics have given a very different view of it. Today, one of the most popular graduates from the Department of Accounting, Faculty of Business Administration, University of Uyo, Uyo has lent some credence to school politics, adding that it also helped to contribute to his academics; this and many more were discussed. Excerpts:

Please, may we meet you?

I am Nlebem, Chibuike Joshua, a graduate of the Department of Accounting, Faculty of Business Administration, University of Uyo. I am of Rivers descent.

Are you currently doing anything, that is, apart from being a graduate?
Yes. Currently, while waiting to be posted for the National Youth Service Corp (NYSC) later this year, I am into Research Writing and Analysis for Undergraduate, Post Graduate Diploma (PGD) Students and Masters Students.

Okay. So you are basically going to remain around the school environment even after graduating?

Yes. Like I said earlier, for the time being; I love research writing a lot.

You love research writing or you just love schooling? You know a lot of people don’t love schooling.

I actually love schooling. I’ve drawn up various targets for myself that I hope to achieve during and after my NYSC; I want to be a full-blown professional for about 10 to 15 years, and then go back to the University environment to take up a lecturing position to fulfil one of my career objectives of becoming a Professor. I love education immensely.

Wow! Well, your resolution was actually evidenced in your result as you were on the Honours’ Roll of the University of Uyo in your second year and you ended up graduating as one of the best students in your set. Apart from your love for education, what other thing can you say contributed to your success?

Yes, I was in the Honours’ Roll of the University of Uyo during my second year in the University; I had a CGPA of 4.61 then.  Although it is rather unfortunate that I didn’t finish with a first class, I still finished as one of the best students in my set, with a CGPA of 4.28. Apart from my love for education, many other things contributed to my academic success:
1. Love for God: I have an undying love for God; I don’t take the things of God for granted.
2. Discipline: I was a disciplined student; most times, I spent the night reading my books.  I hardly went for functions outside the University premises until my final year. I was not anti-social, but I set limits for myself.
3. Determination: I was determined right from day one in the University to graduate as one of the best, if not the best in my set.
4. School Politics: I was the Secretary General of my Faculty. It contributed to my success in school because it gave me a closer look at the outer world, and how to lead and manage resources.
One principle in life is to “put interest in what you do because if you don’t, you will fail trying to”. This goes out to those students who don’t like schooling; it is one of the basic problems of poor academic performance in Nigerian universities.

How were you able to cope with the demands of being the Secretary General of the Faculty of Business Administration, University of Uyo, and the demands of being a student? Did it affect you?

Well, I wouldn’t say it did not affect me; it did, but minimally. I was still able to combine the demands of being a student and a student leader because I was good in time management. Time management was the key to my being able to cope. At times, I’ll draw up a list of things I have to achieve in a day (they’ll contain both academic and administrative issues). Nonetheless, I enjoyed the demands. It was an experience that taught me a lot about life.

Interesting! So you actually lived by a timetable?

Not really, I wasn’t the timetable kind of student; it didn’t work out for me most times. I was just a good planner. When I say I’m not really a timetable student, I mean that I didn’t apportion time to my list of achievable things in a day or week, but I achieved almost everything on my list before the day or week runs out. I didn’t like the idea of apportioning time because it would build intense pressure in me.

Okay. During your stay in the University, what were your worst challenges?

My worst challenges were mostly financial. Also, poor teaching and learning in the University of Uyo contributed to the challenges I faced because some of our lecturers didn’t teach us as well as we expected. Another contributory factor was lack of interest; at some point, I lost interest in studying accounting because of the way we were being taught. However, I was able to regain interest later by adequate personal study.

Speaking of poor teaching and learning; did you ever have a carryover?

Yes, once. I had a carryover in my third year. It was a life-changing experience to me because it happened mysteriously and I never believed I could fail a course in the University, although I braced up to the challenge because it wasn’t going to define my entire achievements in life.
So, to those students who have failed once or more, I advice that you should brace up to the challenge; I believe you can do better.

How about a word of advice for the incoming freshmen?

My advice to all freshmen is that the university community they are in is not like the Secondary School; it is a different world on its own. Hence, they should outline their goals and set out strategies to fulfil them. They shouldn’t allow the excitement of getting admission to a higher institution of learning lead to distractions that will, in turn, lead to poor performance. Rather, they should read and study hard, pray and put interests in their various disciplines. If they abide by all these precepts, the sky would be their starting point.
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16/01/2018

[EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW]: I SACRIFICED MY SOCIAL LIFE FOR A FIRST CLASS -CHUKS

6:54 am




Being a first class graduate is one of the numerous dreams of majority of Nigerian students, both before and immediately after gaining admission into the tertiary institution. However, after gaining admission, a lot of students tend to veer off the path, owing to the many distractions that are ever present in the university environment. Myschoolaid was granted an exclusive interview with Mr. Ekwueze Chukuwdi, one of the few first class graduates that have been produced in the Department of Accounting, University of Uyo and he said a lot of very interesting things pertaining graduating with a first class, he also gave some words of advice to the freshmen, amidst other things. Here are some of the things discussed:

Please, may we meet you?

Thank you for the privilege, I am Chukwudi Ekwueze. I am a graduate of Accounting, from the prestigious University of Uyo, currently serving my country in Rivers State.


Okay, what is your current academic status?

Aside from being a graduate, I am also a registered professional student with the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN), and I am currently writing my professional exams.


Wow, that is really good. Didn’t you think it was relevant to wait a little after graduating before venturing into professionalism?

Personally, I don’t see any need to give such space for that if I could afford the means or have a sponsor. You can only give space if you don’t have the means. The truth is that when you graduate, it is more advisable to start your professional career, specifically for a course like Accounting; procrastination will only cause more harm than good, unless you don’t want to practice your field of study.


That’s interesting. When you were in school, it was believed that you finished with a CGPA of 4.8, how true is that?

Actually, my cumulative CGPA was 4.67; however I had 4.8 as my final GPA for my final semester in school.


That’s really awesome! It is what can be referred to as a “strong” first class. How were you able to achieve that, despite your venture into politics in the later part of your third year?

Actually, it was a matter of dedication and discipline. I sacrificed my social life to achieve that; I wasn’t visiting friends and attending parties as well as other social gathering because the political involvement was more than the social life. I am one person that is time conscious and I also weigh the benefits of doing something before I do it; I don’t do things for sentiments. One thing I always did was dedicate my weekend for studies; on Saturday and Sunday, you can't find me any were else than in the class because I know during the week I would be so occupied with lectures and other administrative involvements.


Which means you were very meticulous both in your studies and in politics?

Yes, I can take that I was meticulous.


What course did you enjoy the most and why?

I loved all my courses, however I always enjoyed the calculative ones; I am not a man of stories.


Apart from the main things you studied in the University, what else can you say the university environment has actually taught you?

Public speaking, management of human beings, co-ordination and leadership


Okay, but apart from “Diligence and Determination”, what other “off-the-books” advice can you give the incoming freshmen?

They should have the self-will to do things; they shouldn’t be carried away by the euphoria of being in the university, be prayerful –I didn’t mention that, but it is one of my personal principles; I had a covenant with my God as regards my academics.


So from experience, can you say that finishing school is more than just about reading books and passing exams?

Yes, very much more than that.
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