Nigerian Graduates are usually given the privilege of serving their country for one year under the National Youth Service Corps Scheme. This scheme comes with a lot of opportunities both for the Corp member and the community they are posted to.
However, we have seen youths allow these opportunities to pass them ignorantly, so as you prepare to go for service, it’s necessary to be equipped with the right information on how to maximally make the best of your service year.
BE INTENTIONAL ABOUT BEING A BLESSING
Service year comes with a lot of freedom. It takes you to a new environment, far away from the guidance of parents, mentors, or spiritual leaders, and you are just like a free bird who’s ready to fly anywhere. So, the chance of you wasting your time is very high.
You will have to choose to influence your students at your Primary Place of Assignment positively, promote the welfare and well-being of the locals in your community by helping them or committing yourself to a community project, organize tutorials, and start up a fellowship or a reading club. Avoid aimless visitations and unprofitable discussions, remember one year is not as long as you think, it is indeed a short time.
PAY ATTENTION TO PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT
Throughout your University education, you probably did not have time to invest in self-development, because of lectures, tests, and examinations but now your service year gives you a great opportunity to do that. You can and should learn a skill that will give you an edge over others.
Take advantage of opportunities made available by Skill Acquisition And Entrepreneurship Development (SAED). It could be shoemaking, fashion designing, catering and decoration, baking, makeup artistry, web designing, digital marketing, etc.
Enroll in professional courses that could boost your chances of securing a good job because they are cheaper for Corp members. Do well to pass out from service year with more certificates. Also, build your library, buy books, and read them. You could get good books on careers, business, financial management, relationships, marriage, and religion. Reading gives you a lot of exposure, so please read up and stay relevant.
BUILD GOOD RELATIONSHIPS
During your service year, you will meet people from different geographical locations whose mindsets and ideologies differ from yours. Please don’t shut yourself out by avoiding them, relate with them, learn their culture, delicacies, and language. Who knows? You could meet your life partner!! Like the old saying states “nobody knows tomorrow”, but what you do today affects your tomorrow. So be nice, friendly, and wise.
SOW INTO SERVICE
It is called service year because you are going to be doing a lot of service to humanity during this period. Also, invest in your relationship with God. Be committed to a fellowship for your development and the development of those around you. Don’t forget that you will only reap, where you have sown.
MAKE FINANCIAL PREPARATIONS
As a Corp member, your allowance is not for frivolous spending so save at least 10% of your monthly allowance. Save, save and invest in your financial future. You can also start up a business in your community, identify a need and meet it. You need to know that on graduation, your guardian or parent expects you to have a level of financial independence immediately after graduation. So, plan properly and be wise.
Do well to take the vaccinations offered to you during service because they will be at a discounted rate. An idle mind is the devil’s workshop, so please get involved, be busy with teams and groups that provide you with an opportunity for advancement. Finally, your days as a Corp member are not as long as you think, please make every moment count!!
