A DECADE IN THE MARKET PLACE

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In April 2006, I sat my last exam at Uganda Christian University for the award of a Bachelors degree in Mass Communication. This was not just an exam, but a fundamental milestone in my life marking the basic end of my studies. It had been an eventful three years at university. Memories of disappointment still lingered in my mind. I had joined university to do law, only to be told after one month of studying that the faculty was already full and they could not take on an extra student. I was at liberty to choose any other program of study. My dreams were shattered then. Every A student was doing law at the time. I had worked hard all my academic life to do the course every excellent student was doing. I did not have time to nurse the pain. I needed to make a decision of what course I would do lest I risked being de-registered as a student. One of the friends I had made at university during that one month coerced me to do Mass Communication. In pain, I chose to do a course I knew nothing about.

One semester led to another and before I knew it, I was due for graduation. On enrolling for the course, I thought Mass Communication was about being DJs, broadcasters and journalists. I had never been near a club! My introvert nature lacked the resilience needed for journalism. Why was I even doing this course? Well, I was doing it because my friend Lois Nangudi had talked me into doing it. Along the way I was introduced to the subject of Public Relations. The instructor was world class. God bless you, Ms. Jane Gitau. I fell in love with Public Relations. Finally I had a field I could specialize in. As graduation drew close, I was no longer the naive girl who saw no opportunity in the course she was doing, I looked forward to a bright future.

In May I left university back to my home. I needed to relax after three years of hard work. I needed to gain momentum and think of the next step forward.

‘Are you on holiday?’ our neighbour asked me one morning.

‘No, I actually finished university and am awaiting graduation in August.’ I answered.

‘Graduation? I pity children of peasants who struggle to get papers, yet jobs are given on technical know-who basis!’ she said to me with sarcasm.

This was not the first time I was hearing such rhetoric. I continued my way. I was not ready to allow an illiterate housewife to lecture me on education and my future. As I moved away, the reality of her words was piercing, and yes, I could hear the echo of her words replaying in my mind for days that followed.

In June, child ministry jobs were advised in Rukungiri district and I applied. The naysayers laughed at my confidence. If people with academic papers were languishing in joblessness, what would make a 22-year-old who had not yet graduated think that she could get a job. I was shortlisted and invited for interviews. That is all I needed. I did not need anyone to connect me, I just needed an opportunity to face the panel. I got the job!

After one year in service, I got a promotion. I thanked my stars. For me, the marketplace was my mission ground. I sought to leave a legacy. I did my best in child ministry. After three years of dedication in child ministry, I could no longer resist the urge to join my profession. I joined Uganda Christian University to practice Public Relations. August 2016 marked a decade for me in the marketplace. Looking back, it’s a journey that is worth celebrating. Ten years of work for my hands to do, laced with promotions based on merit is not a mean fit.

I celebrate a decade of God’s favor, passion for my work and a rich network of friends. This month I set to dream bigger and look forward to a better future in my second decade in the marketplace.

My prayer is that God will continue to make me relevant in the marketplace, using my profession for his glory and impacting lives, through my newfound love for teaching Public Relations.

 

I want to be the Jane Gitau of my generation......so help me God.

 

©Prim K. Tumuramye

7th September 2016

Prim is a Christian, wife, mother and Communications Specialist. She is passionate about reading, writing, youth mentorship and intentional parenting. 

 

 

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