oh no, i have a 9-5 job now.
how did i get here?
For context, and to better understand this post, you might want to read this first:
Well…
It has happened.
My fear has eventually come to fruition.
My arch-nemesis has caught up with me.
To be honest, I always kind of knew it was inevitable.
Not because I’ve changed my personal stance about the traditional work system, but because of this one thorn that has been forced into my flesh.
NYSC.
For the uninitiated, the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) is a MANDATORY scheme for all Nigerian graduates.
Essentially, you are required to “serve your country” by working in an organisation and doing weekly community service for about 10-11 months.
After that period, you get a certificate, and you can now legally “work” in the country.
At least, in the public sector.
Even if you plan to work privately, you never know the future, so it’s just better to do it and be safe.
Apparently it’s also a thing of “pride” to “be called to serve your country”, according to everyone who is older than 45 that has spoken to me about it.
Anyways, I have so many things to say about NYSC and the way the whole thing is structured, but I’ll keep my thoughts off Tinubu’s internet for now.
When the time is right, I shall freely speak.
The brief summary is that: I have little to no interest in doing this service thing.
I’ve been dreading this period since like 2018, hoping and praying that it somehow skips my turn, but alas… Nothing for me.
So, NYSC is here, and I have no choice but to face it:
Under the sun.
In the rain.
Through the stress.
Alongside the crowd.
In spite of the long meetings.
All of that, all of that.
I’m not “worried” about the service year, I just couldn’t be less bothered about it.
It’s why I didn’t write anything about camp because there was just nothing to be said.
It was essentially 21 days of me counting down the clock while finding idle ways to pass the time, spending ridiculous amounts of money on food every day, and listening to the same songs over and over again.
Not to discourage anybody though, I mean, people do “have fun” in camp and service year in general.
Personally, it’s just not for me.
However, I always prefer to approach things with a “positive” outlook, so I guess we’ll see how it goes.
I honestly plan to make the most of it because there’s no way I’m just going to waste away a whole year of my life.
So yeah, keep me in your prayers.
And please, I don’t want to hear anything like, “But you’ll be getting 77k monthly, bla bla bla…”
Just, please.
One of my guys even said he’ll gladly forfeit all his allowance money if it means he doesn’t get to do all this.
My guy’s words o, definitely not mine.
Now, back to my new job.
It’s at a communications firm in the heart of Abuja, and today was my first day.
It’s a reputable organisation with a great client base, and the people here seem really friendly.
The other corper that’s serving here also attended CU, so we hit it off really well almost immediately.
Or maybe I’m just charming like that.
Anyway, the offices are cool, there’s AC and Wi-Fi, the pay is really good, and most importantly, they hired me to do the one thing I already do best: Write.
And to be fair, I will only be working three times a week, from 8am-4pm, so that’s very good news.
To be honest, I can’t even complain about anything.
I know I’m more fortunate than the people that NYSC posted to village schools and remote areas and companies that have zero relation to their desired areas of specialisation.
So, we thank God for favour.
So… Now What?
I mean, it’s just been ONE day; I really haven’t started any serious work yet, so I don’t know.
Will I love it here? Will I hate it here?
I guess we’ll find out.
I’m choosing to be positive.
BUT…
My whole perspective of the 9-to-5, traditional job system thing has still not changed.
I never said it was bad.
I never said the people who love it are crazy.
I never said it’s impossible to succeed at it.
All I said was that, looking at the way I view my life and my potential career path, I don’t think it’s going to be a right fit for me, especially in the long term.
I might endure for 1-2 years, but I don’t think anything is ever changing my mind.
Today, I was given a brief scope of the kind of work they do here and the responsibilities I have, and I almost laughed out loud.
It is… A LOT.
I mean, I was told by my cousin who worked at the company before to expect a lot of work, but still, chai….
Now, I’m already thinking:
What happens now that the bulk of my spare time is gone?
What happens to my novel that I’ve put on hold since the end of April?
How will I adjust my lopsided sleeping schedule?
What if I don’t enjoy working here after a few weeks?
If I can’t do my personal work any more, does that leave me totally dependent on company salary and government allowance?
Many, many passive thoughts just floating around my head, but I know everything will work out in the end.
Sh*t Is Getting REAL
Last night was my first night in my first apartment in a new neighbourhood in a new city in a new state in a new geographical region.
The past few weeks have felt like I’m now leaving family and friends behind to start a hole in life.
In some sort of way, I guess I am.
To me, there’s nothing overly “emotional” or even “scary” about it.
But it’s just strange in many ways I can put down in words yet.
I’ll be honest, my “transitioning” to adulthood in the past couple of years has been really smooth.
No extreme parental demands, no extended family expectations, no unreasonable peer pressure.
Everyone around me has sort of given me that breathing room and space to find my feet and figure out what I want to do with my life.
It’s another thing I’m grateful for because, like I said earlier, not many have or have had that same privilege.
Still though, it’s all a bit… strange.
I can’t say I hate the feeling though, because I don’t.
Maybe you feel like me.
Or maybe you’re scared, overwhelmed, or even anxious.
You probably don’t know what to do next or how to handle any of your conflicting emotions when they arise.
The truth is, I don’t either, and the good news is that not many people do.
Even the ones that are much older.
You need to remind yourself that everyone is doing this life thing for the first time.
There’s no specific manual on what exactly to do.
The best everyone is doing is figuring it out as they go, and the luckiest ones are the ones that have figured out their purpose and assignment in life.
So please, give yourself more leeway and freedom and chances to make mistakes, make bad decisions, have regrets, fall, and fall, and get back up.
Stop being so harsh on yourself for not knowing what to do all the time and not knowing what choices to make at every step of the way.
It’s not fair.
And please, stop living in a bubble too.
You’re not going to be this young forever, and you can only “I’m just a girl” your way for so long before you have to face the harsh truth that life doesn’t care for your fantasies.
Wake up, time is going.
As for me, well, my plan is simple.
Since my highly unanticipated service year has inevitably arrived, I’m going to make the best of it.
I plan to enjoy my work, meet new people, and explore this beautiful city of Abuja.
I see this whole thing as a sort of challenge, and I honestly like challenges (sometimes).
I just have to figure out new systems, patterns, and new behavioural habits.
I might also have to make some significant life adjustments.
All of which I already expected.
My promise to myself, though, is that this 9-5 (or 8-4) and this NYSC year in general WILL NOT make me put my life on hold.
I’m still going to be posting regularly on Substack (my drafts are starting to cry for help).
My debut novel (with physical copies?) is still coming this year, although probably much later.
And I’m still going to be building a brand and career that’s independent from the shackles of the traditional work system.
That’s my plan, and I’m stubborn enough to see it through.
Plus, God is with me, so how can I even fail?
READ NEXT-
Had to read the previous article because I just discovered your newsletter.
My internship year was horrible, I was on the road before 5am and if I was lucky I got home before 8pm. Transport fare sucked all the money the company was paying even though I was only going 3 times a week. I swore I would never work in Lagos again.
Yet I’m resuming camp this month and guess who’s about to enter the madness again. Luckily I won’t have to leave as early and the pay is better. Still, it’s a bit disheartening finding yourself in a situation you hate but still have to be grateful for. So I totally get you. We will be fine las las and I’ll figure this adulting thing out one day.
So stressed from classes, opened your newsletter and I've been smiling since. I Love your writing and pleas keep us updated 😂