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IF WISDOM HAD A SMELL (A POEM)

If wisdom had a smell It would smell of old books Passed down from generation to generation Revealing the truths about the enigma called time. The truths which cannot be purchased Even by the highest bidder. That smell that unveils the arduous work of writers Known and unknown. That smell that reveals family trees of readers Seen and unseen. That smell that conquers ignorance Once knowledge is sought. If wisdom had a smell It would smell like an old, well-read copy of Uncle Tom's Cabin Revealing the evil behind the thoughts and actions of slavery. That smell that encompasses sacrifice. That smell that brings words and characters to life. That smell that raises positive movements that will In time, save humankind. If wisdom had a smell It would smell of old wrappers Worn by mothers and even fathers, Instinctively used to wipe the tears Of their children away, Used with love to cover them from the rain or sun. Oh, the smell of that long piece of fabric With drawings of horses, stars,...
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HOW I COULD NOT LAND A PART-TIME JOB





How I couldn’t land a part-time job, what I learnt after and how it may help you secure a job
For anyone seeking employment, it is essential to know how to impress an employer. It could be through preparation; knowledge of the employer’s pain points and showing that you are suited to take on the job and much more.
You could consider the humble lessons I learnt about securing a job through my loss. 
It was my HND One first semester. I had zero expectations of funds from anywhere but I needed to fend for myself and my sisters. This was one of the most difficult periods of my life. And I wanted to rescue myself with my skills and passion by getting a part-time job.
With my average writing and designing skills, I was production manager and designer of YABATECH Mass Communication students’ newspaper and magazine. I had experience in designing, using designing computer applications. So I naturally gravitated towards securing creative jobs. 
Soon after, I reconnected with a benefactor and friend, Smith who introduced me to his former boss; Mr. Bayo Ayinde, who needed a graphic designer that could perform as well as Smith did.

Develop yourself now that you can
Unfortunately for me, my portfolio was shallow at that time. School work, laziness and lack of focus got in the way of consciously developing my skill set so that days before my meeting with Mr. Ayinde, I was jittery, lacked self-confidence and doubted if I could get this job. 
One, I felt I couldn’t design as well as Smith who had consistently improved overtime. Two, I felt I lacked the experience since, unlike Smith, I hadn’t taken serious creative projects since I started schooling some three years ago. And yet, I was determined to go ahead because I needed to survive.
Looking back, I would never have employed myself too if I needed someone who could handle design projects on his own. Should I get a chance to revisit my past, I would take out time to improve myself first, before going out to seek employment.

Know what your employer needs and how you can deliver
I remember that Mr. Ayinde was interested in how much time I had to put into his work. He was soon going to study abroad for a while and wanted someone who could function as the lead designer and take the time to attend to his job while he was away.
To be honest, I wasn’t the best person for the job with this profile. HND is one of the busy moments of polytechnic education. I wouldn’t have been able to pull off working long hours and schooling full time all at once. But I could have tried with serious efforts.
Nonetheless, instead of looking out for ways to help meet the company’s demands, I asked when they closed for the day. I was too worried about my timing during the day and how I could return back home at night.

Do not communicate your problems or appear desperate
When he responded with a chuckle, a positive remark for my communication skills and a revelation of how much he does to meet client’s demands, I knew I was selling myself short. 
But instead of stopping, I compounded my problems when I started talking about my money problems and how it motivated me to get the job.

Conclusion
As you would have guessed, I didn’t get the job. I had hitches, my portfolio was weak and I was already busy with school work. Had I not landed a freelance writing gig soon after, I would have dropped out of school and denied my loved ones the little I did for them at the time.
For the privacy and my utmost respect for the persons I encountered at the period of my life that I narrated in this piece, their names have been changed.

A Shared experience!

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