Renowned broadcast journalist, Kwame Sefa Kayi has advised graduates of the University of Professional Studies, Accra (UPSA) to manage their expectations and do away with a sense of entitlement as they step into an uncertain and ever-changing world after school.
Mr Sefa Kayi observed that most graduates leave school with high expectations of securing lucrative jobs. These expectations when not managed are then translated into a false sense of entitlement which often lead them into taking wrong decisions in life.
Speaking to graduands at the Third Session of the 13th Congregation of UPSA on Tuesday, October 12, the Peace FM Morning Show host cautioned graduates against harbouring such beliefs.
“Most young people today have a sense of entitlement,” he said. “Especially for those of you who are going to start working. You leave school and you think the world owes you a job. It is not that easy but I wish you well in all of these.
“For those of you who will be lucky enough to find jobs, ask yourselves, what kind of jobs would you do?
“And for those of you who have a sense of entitlement, are you hoping to walk out of here straight into such a high-paying job and that if you were offered a start-up or if you were offered [a job which is] somewhere below middle management or junior management level, will you reject it?”
Taking advantage of small opportunities
Mr Sefa Kayi charged the fresh graduates to embrace what he described as ‘small job offers’ that would be thrown at them whilst hunting for bigger jobs, pointing out that it is through those minor opportunities that greater career breakthroughs will be realised.
He further urged them not to detest small beginnings but to challenge themselves to attain higher heights irrespective of the situation or circumstance they may find themselves in.
“Do not despise small beginnings. Challenge yourself [and] accept whatever situation you find yourself in. But don’t accept to remain there.
“When I set out [some twenty-five years ago], all I wanted was a job. I didn’t care how much it will pay me. I wanted to get out of home. I was almost 25 years old. All I wanted was a job [and] yes, I got it!
“I still remember what my salary was twenty five years ago. It was equivalent of twenty cedis today. At the time, it wasn’t much and still it is not much, but we began from somewhere. I worked hard and today my story is different.”
Self-development
The 2016 Ghana journalist of the year noted that it was important for young graduates to continue to develop their skills and hone their talents even after school as that was the only way to achieve success.
“Remember to acquire more knowledge [out of school] and as I said, life owes you nothing. What life owes you is what you invest in it. If you invest laziness you will reap laziness, if you invest hard work, I bet you will reap results.”
“The world will not welcome you with open arms. It will take you through the mill [but] I pray that the academic qualification that you have [and] the drill you have gone through as you were here has prepared you very adequately for the task ahead.”
Making good use of Social media
In admonishing against what he termed as the “wrongful use of the internet and social media,” Mr Sefa Kayi urged the graduands to use social media to improve themselves by acquiring new knowledge through research.
He emphasised that opportunities abound on the internet. However, he stressed, the internet can both be helpful and harmful at the same time and students must use it to their benefit.
“The internet is good but it also has its dangerous side,” he said. “I entreat all of you to begin to look or to rethink your relationship with social media or with the internet because if you did communication, it will always serve as a ready tool or ready source of information.
“Be careful what you put there, be careful what you look out for there [and] be careful what you find there.”
Charge against bad company
The media practitioner in his closing remarks advised graduands against getting into and keeping bad companies as they enter into the real world.
Stressing on the anecdote in Max Ehrman’s Desiderata poem, Mr Sefa Kayi said: “avoid loud and aggressive persons because they are a vexation to the spirit.
“Be careful of the friends you make; be careful of the company you keep. Not everybody means well.”
