being young and enjoying it:making the best out of your teen years

A while back I was asked to write for school children.
Speak to them.
Inspire them.
This is what I managed to put together.
Share it with a youngster you know ,if you think it communicates.

I write this with an honest heart, because I was once a teen, they tell me. Don't laugh. It is at this time in one's life when life should be at its best. When you enjoy what you need to enjoy and more. Responsibilities tend to come much later. We are in school, yes, but who said school cannot be fun! At this point, we have all the support we have, (I assume) from parents and teachers.

No one though wants to think like we do. It's annoying to be struggling to find belonging. I mean, at this stage, you are neither young nor old. When you act childish, you are rebuked as such. 'Grow up'. They shout. If you act old, they beat you back into line. 'Don't get ahead of yourself boy! Let the elders talk'. I know you can relate.
And yet I am telling you this. This is the best time to be free and to start enjoying your life. At this stage you are at your best in creativity. Don’t let on. People begin to nurture talent at this level. They decide who to be now. Don’t waste this time. Because of this, since your parents won’t tell you, let me, this is their most worried time too. Sadly, those who lose the way and decide to be losers, they start right here.

But let’s face a few facts too. I assume you have a dream at this point, take time to ask and research and think seriously just how much you can grow it. Leave the fear go. Great minds and talents have been built at this level. Ever heard of Michael Jackson? He started singing as a young boy. He is a legend. Or may be let's talk today. You heard of Justin Bieber (I suspect you have). Take the inspiration. It is not just music you can do. Write, play all you can, create, dream, imagine being who you want to be and start now.
In all this, study well. You have something going there. Use the opportunity.

Of course the reality is that sometimes we don’t get all the support we need (from family and school) people are struggling to understand us. Don’t lose hope. Learn to study them first. That way you have opportunity to relate relevantly.
At this point we also get challenged. We get kicked out of schools. Whether performance or discipline, don’t let it kill you. Start again and determine to be the best. Sometimes we lose family and friends. Fees payments fail. We may not be as smart either in class or famous on court.

Be yourself. People respect people who know who they are not trying to copy anyone. The most humbling experience for me was when a not-so popular girl gave her best in class for her reading and writing teacher. But the teacher had a bias and she never believed said girl could ever achieve anything. Determined to prove her teacher wrong, even though it took her years after she had left school, she wrote an article for the Daily Newspaper and she was published in several magazines and her only dedication was, ‘to my English teacher. Who never believed in me. This is me saying, I can write well.'

Don’t give up either, no matter the discouragement. Wherever it is coming from. 'Whatever you can conceive and believe, you can achieve’, Andrew Carnegie said. And if that does not light you up. Come closer home.
“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, and fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. You’re playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”
Marianne Williamson (author A Return to Love: Reflections on the Principles of "A Course in Miracles")
also attributed to Nelson Mandela at his inauguration as the first black President of South Africa, 9th May 1994.
Think about it and act about it.

Taking advantage of new East African job opportunities

With the East African Common market taking shape, more job opportunities shall emerge. There are fewer restrictions to goods and services, meaning the growing regional block presents more jobs to choose from for people seeking employment.
The East African Common Market Protocol came into effect on July 1, creating a market for 130 million people and a combined gross domestic product of $75b. The market, allows free movement of services, capital, labour and goods.
The opportunities could present some getting prepared for, given that Ugandans are not exactly known for their hard work as a far as jobs go. A recent job study indicated that six Ugandans are required to do a job one Kenyan would do. But surely we must have superior advantages too.
As we prepare, if we haven’t already, you may need to put a polish to that Swahili, given that it is a language widely used in all other East African countries, except Uganda. It is never too late to try; go to language school.
There is even more good news; Sudan has applied to join the East African Community, and the newly independent South Sudan is expected to make its application soon. Some of these countries present rare opportunities as they require people with skills, which we have possessed here for a while.
So we stand some advantages. Take South Sudan, for example, whose economy is just taking shape, meaning that a more experienced Ugandan employee will most likely score better at the job interview than the indigenous Sudanese.
Already, teachers have been on high demand in Tanzania, due to our supposedly better command of the English language, the medium of instruction, just like Rwanda and Burundi who are switching from the colonial French, which has been their national language.
These opportunities, however, are not unique to Ugandans. They are open to the whole region and as recent trends indicate, there are more Kenyan employees here than Ugandans in Nairobi.
They tend to take work more seriously, something we are slowly getting used to, but they have also had a better economy, which presents growth opportunities in the job market as well as skills growth.
With the opening up of the union, this means that any one must prepare to compete, even at home, because your employer is likely to have a variety of prospects knocking at her door, even from across the border.
Therefore you had better be good, actually better than the whole lot, if you are to keep your job or enjoy the advantages of a bigger pool of employers.
A further polish on attitude could be another tool you need. When competition comes in, it is not just who is better and more qualified but who views work better and is likely to work easier with others. Employers are looking out for those who can give the best contribution to their companies, and attitude is key here.
That said, we are all differently gifted. So do a thorough self assessment of your skills and competences, get a passport ready, get knowledge about the region, and start preparing your resume on how to compete in a wider market place. Go back to school, if you need to.
What is sure for now is that these opportunities, as usual will only favor the prepared.
Do what you have to do to get ready to compete.

This article first appeared in The Daily Monitor newspaper Friday, October 21 2011 at http://www.monitor.co.ug/Magazines/Jobs+++Career/-/689848/1258850/-/11es6g7/-/index.html

Excelling at work without the 'right' qualifications

When employers advertise for job vacancies, they will normally have a long list of qualifications to go with the ad. A lot of these will list what you need to have studied, and several years of experience. It is the norm around the employment terrain.It may also include which characteristics and attitude they want their new employee to have.
For the employers and their recruiting agents, this makes perfect sense. After all you get to root out the undesirables even before the process starts. However, even after such a weeding mechanism some times employers end up with the chaff they wanted to avoid, in the form of unsuitable workers both in skill, motivation, attitude and education.
How so?
Stories have been told of degree certificates 'Made at Nasser Road’, so an employer is surprised to have someone with impeccable results but still not right for the job. Other things like attitude towards work, creativity (which is yet to be got a good measure for in the interview room) may also affect the selection criteria.

But how can one still manage to land their dream job, and excel without the known 'right' qualifications?

Create your own interview environment
Many people have excelled at jobs which one would hardly say they are rightly qualified for. If you believe you are a great broadcaster, for example, but the usual list of qualifications denies you entry, create your own demo. This may involve spending a little more of your own money and time to put together something which will excite your prospective employer without really going through the usual recruitment route.
By doing this, you would have demonstrated that you know what your employer needs and you can deliver it. Every one likes the guy who delivers results. This is likely to get you hired.

Study informally on your own
There is a good number of excelling employees who did not necessarily study what they are doing...that is in school. The internet, for example presents numerous opportunities for self-learning .Use it.

Talk to people who are doing what you want to get into. Unlike what most people think; people who are successful are always glad to share what they know and to mentor someone do better that which they are doing themselves. So, talk to them. Go out of your way to associate with them and learn as much as possible.

Don't respond to job adverts directly
This may seem diversionary, right? But it makes sense. If a person who does not match up to the usual requirements shows up when others with the ’ listed ‘ requirements are being interviewed, chances are they will be showed the door. Because the employer’s mindset is locked on her 'fool-proof' way of attracting talent and therefore those who don't make the mark will be unwelcome.
However, when you show up for a job posting even without it being advertised or after the formal recruitment process, someone is likely to pay attention to you, if you have what they need. There are a lot of administrators who have never been to management school, just like star journalists who have never attended journalism school.
Timing here is key. A lot of research maybe needed to identify the existing need or gap which you can fill.
Intern and volunteer

A mechanical engineer friend of mine tells me just how well our education system prepares us for the real work world! According to him, the often well performing employee with hardly a year in formal engineering or mechanical school, but who has interned for some time or volunteered in industries they want to get employed in are far better at their jobs than fresh graduates with all the book knowledge.
Success at this may also get you a lowly starting position, but it presents an opportunity for you to work your way up the ladder as you gain more exposure, skills and experience.

"Even us we fought", Trees tell government

For a government that came into power through the bush(read forest),you would think they would be sensitive to the needs of their colleagues who helped them fight,the trees.But wapi.
In a rare show of anger the forest veteran's association expressed their disappointment in their former rebel colleagues who they thought were buddies,connected at the hip since the struggle.

" I tell you,during that bush war,we bent over backwards,literary, to protect the backs of those soldiers fighting to liberate Uganda.We did not go into exile to eat sausages like others.And this is how we get paid! By being cut down. Now wonder even one of us,was sent out of government",mother tree,spokesperson of the association said in apparent reference to Mahogany.

"But we have learned our lesson.We shall not just give up like that.We shall borrow a leaf from the opposition,and organize a demonstration."

Frustration allover his face bark,the visibly teary tree said they had instead been expectant of their own district only to be bombarded by the news of the impeding cut down so as to create space for sugar growing.
The government of Uganda has suggested giving away 7,100 hectares of Mabira forest to a Sugar company to grow sugar cane.

"At least,it would have been something else,but sugar cane!" Mother tree wonders. Now we shall not be as welcoming.Some people just want to use us when they get to power."
And with that,the interview was over.

Gold Jazz in this city

It’s Thursday and it been a chilly day. After the government warning us on our phones of an impending drought, it starts to rain like this!I swear I still have the text. I don't want to be that minister or even the intern who sent us the texts! Drought planning committee indeed!

Its one of those days where you are looking for something to make your day, but with rain like this I decide I will make it myself. Off to bodaboda for the Nile Gold jazz night. Code9 is playing. You know how a beer goes down after a hard day. Sheer awesomeness.
I get to Garden City. I climb the steps, up, up. One by one. I am at Bodaboda. Now when you get to bodaboda, the first expectation is one of those beefy security guards at the gate. You want to be careful with them. Their chest says it all. So I empty my pockets, keys, ka-torchi phone,coinage and I proceed almost automatically, arms raised.

Mother of all surprises, I don't find them this time! Instead I find two drummers. Serious. A chick and a guy,enjoying the drums with this smile. Am I at the right place? I rub my eyes. I look again. Ah,so jazz evening starts here! They smile me through.
That's creativity.
That is ushering with a difference !
The mood caught on. I go straight to where the band is. Singing along to the entry drums.

Now,I am sure you are mostly used to watching performances below the stage while the band drums and sing at the plat form. Here,there are ringside seats if you like.Close to the action. You are like those 3D movies where you are inside the match oba?. Tip:next time go for those seats.

So,the band plays and the beer flows. I tell you,this music here is good. Not the usual jazz of tululululu...This is jazz you don't have to pretend to enjoy. It sips right into you..you can't complain. The evening wears on. Now, I may not be able to express myself fully about the crowd right now. I was concentrating on the music (ears and eyes) and the drink(other senses). I hope the same crown attends next time, so I will tell you.

I only hear the next day that there was a movie too. No! Why didn’t some one tell me?