As an electrical engineering student, I never really got any practical experience until I got to my penultimate year. I was doing very well in school (theoretically) but my practical knowledge was at bottom. In order not to become an unemployable graduate, I decided to make a move and step up my game. Walk with me as I take you through my experience, shortcomings and lessons learnt during the course.
How it started...
Sometimes last year, my school went on strike which lasted for two months, while I was sitting at home doing nothing, my dad told an engineer friend about me and my lack of practical experience. The engineer friend then promised to call me when a contract comes in. Three days later, the call came in. I was very excited.
First day in site...
I got to the engineer's place (my boss), as early as 7am and we hit the road at exactly 7:15am. I carried the heavy toolbox with enthusiasm. I learnt we'd be working in Ajah, Lagos Island. Mehn, I was very happy that I'd be seeing new places and learning new things, which is definitely a win-win situation. On the way, the first question I was asked was "Have you been to the site before?", and I answered shyly but truthfully "No". After 3 hours of driving, we got to the site and I changed into my work uniform (one of my old clothes that I converted).
I was told we'd be doing conduit wiring installations of a storey building.
Conduit wiring is one where the wires won't be seen on the surface of the building. It requires breaking the wall and fixing pipes where the wires will pass through.
I was saddled with the responsibility of breaking the pipe path on the wall with an hammer (sounds easy, right?) and I was like "this looks like mining and I've been mining pi for 2 years, so this will be fun (lol)"
Mining with enthusiasm
20 minutes into work and I was feeling tired already. Still I pressed on, so I won't be seen as a weak guy (an engineer must be strong, lol). 2 hours later, I completed what I was to do.
After that, my boss, not even considering the fact that I was new to it, told me to mix sand with cement to cover the broken parts of the wall. I was like "how sir? is that supposed to be our work too?"
I was almost in tears. I didn't subscribe for this. I want to be an engineer, not a miner or bricklayer.
After mixing the cement, I was told I'd be the one to cover the wall with the cement.
Then I was very sure this man wanted to kill me or rather had some personal vendetta with my dad and wanted to punish me for it.
My face at the end of the breaking
By the time I was done, I was covered in dirt, had red and itchy eyes from the dust from the bricks. At the end of the day, tired was far away from what I was feeling. I felt used.
I planned to feign sickness the next day but my boss wasn't having any of it so I had to follow him. This continued for weeks but I got used to it. In the end, it's a win-win.
Before and after of a fence we were to work on
The lesson...
One thing that kept me going was the decision I made few years ago that no matter how difficult the situation might be, I'll make sure I see it to the end. If there's anything I want to be known for, it's that I wasn't known to give up. During the course of the training which looked like suffering then, I was able to learn skills and put into practice what I've been taught in school, which put me ahead 60% of my coursemates. So for any aspiring electrical engineer, there's a life outside electrical circuit theory, electrical power systems and the likes, taught in school.
A picture of me in school
No gain comes without pain. The same way you go through sleepless nights in order to make a good result or work your ass out in the gym in order to have a hot body, it's the same way you have to work hard to achieve all those things you dreamt having.
I'd be closing this with my favorite quote
"If you're going through hell, don't stop, walk through it"
Thanks for reading through my blog. Take your time to read my introductory post if you haven't done so.
Love and light,
Kikiola.