As a graduate waiting for your service year, please have a clear plane for what your service(Nysc) year should look like.
if your attention span is short, keep scrolling, this is not for you.
This is not an inspire to aspire post, even me self still the find who go inspire me.
As a graduate waiting for your service year, make sure you do everything within your power to pre-plan your service year. Have a clear picture of what you want to achieve during your Nysc year. For many, "NYSC is a scam," but for someone who just finished school with no leverage—no means to move to a new city, meet new people, or escape that your "small village" cycle—NYSC is an opportunity to leverage. its an opportunity for you to learn new skills, connect with people, try out those crazy ideas of yours, go to a new city, start life all over.
One of the most devastating things you can do to yourself is to go for nysc under the umbrella of "vibes and Insha Allah." if care is not taken you will cry after service, During my 400 level, I told one of my roommate that NYSC would be the chance to solidify and upscale my tech journey at the expense of the government. From that moment, everything I did was geared toward what my service year would look like.
I had a clear vision. I knew for sure that teaching wasn't for me, make I no go direct my life frustration on innocent students. It was either I served in a tech organization or find a place with a light workload so I’d have time for self-study.
Secondly, I had to pick a tech inclined city. According to the data, Jos, Abuja, Lagos, and Kaduna were the leading hubs. I knew I couldn’t afford Abuja’s cost of living, and for personal reasons, Lagos wasn't an option. That left Kaduna and Jos. I chose Jos because, if hunger ever strikes, I fit follow back of trailer go my papa house go look for food.
Thirdly, I knew I couldn't stay in a Corpers' Lodge. I can’t be debugging code at night only to wake up and settle disputes about "Corper A used Corper B’s soap without permission." I wasn't cut out for that. The best option was to get my own apartment. Luckily, I didn't go for NYSC immediately after graduation; that one-year gap was my opportunity to hustle for rent money. And I hustled hard.
Fourthly, my laptop at the time was not fit for the task ahead. Even President Tinubu was way faster than that laptop! I knew I needed an upgrade. Throughout that year, I saved for rent, a new laptop, and "deployment money." When the time finally came, I bought a fairly new laptop still one of my proudest moments—paid my rent, and sorted out my NYSC logistics.
In camp, while everyone else was having fun, enjoying there time and looking for life partners, I was busy trying to put my plans in motion. Even before arriving, I was DMing community managers of tech hubs in Jos. I emailed two popular hubs; one didn't respond, and the other was just passing me around. I was desperate to actualize my plan because I knew if NYSC sent me to a rural primary school in Mikang North, my life go just spoil.
I refused to let NYSC decide my fate. In the middle of this hunt for a PPA that aligned with my goals, God sent an angel. You might say I was lucky, but The Alchemist says: "When you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it."
I met someone in camp because we both volunteered for a tech-related activity. One conversation led to another, and I ended up literally begging her to "help my life." Luckily, she did. You should have seen the hug I gave her when she told me it worked out! I didn't just get any PPA; I got into one of the biggest tech hubs in Nigeria. They were working on emerging technologies most people hadn't even heard of yet. It wasn't just a place to serve; it was a place to learn.
Imagine if I did not planned for my service year. NYSC probably would have thrown me to a rural area in Bayelsa state. What would have become of me after service? Imagine having to start life from scratch after those eleven months. At least during NYSC, I didn't have to worry about my next meal because that 77k was sure at the end of the month.
The point is: plan for your service year. Things might not go exactly as expected, but having a solid plan helps you recognize an opportunity the moment it aligns with your goal. You think life after school is hard? Wait until you experience life after NYSC without a job. Ask around.
In my opinion, if you have no plan for your service year, it’s better to postpone it until you do. But again, that’s just my point of view. Just do what works for you.