There’s Nothing More Incredible in Life Than Reinventing Yourself
I’m in my final days at the Tony Elumelu Foundation’s Marketing and Corporate Communications department, and I have to say, the journey here so far has been both tasking and exciting. Tasking in the sense that creating social media content isn’t easy stuff, especially for someone like me who isn’t social media savvy; it has also been exciting because I have found that content creation is fun to do, especially if you have a vivid imagination and this has brought out a side of me that I didn’t think I had.
Seeing my reach and engagements grow Facebook post by Facebook post gets me excited and gives me a sense of accomplishment. I learnt that working hard isn’t only about putting in long hours; it’s also about being dedicated to one’s craft, achieving greatness, and continually striving to improve with each passing minute.
To tell you the truth, I had no idea what to expect from a foundation like TEF. As a fresh graduate, I was concerned that my viewpoint would be ignored in such a large Foundation because others would assume I lacked expertise. When my fellow graduate trainees and I proposed suggestions, the TEF team always listens carefully. I have never been made to feel inexperienced, and I am frequently encouraged to work on my suggestions. The TEF family has been extremely warm and accommodating. (I’m not sure I’ll get tired of saying it.) It’s also crucial to them that you know exactly what you want out of your job experience; after all, you’ve come to them.
My line manager’s words of encouragement boosted my confidence and confirmed that I could fulfil the role’s criteria. I believe that creating my weekly plan, which informs me and my team about what I would be doing each day, has been extremely beneficial.
I was assigned some rather difficult assignments on a couple of instances over the week, which were extremely beneficial because I felt stretched and accomplished far more than I had anticipated. The crew was also eager for my comments and was genuinely interested in my plans, such as my next career moves. Several times during my first few days here, I was asked what I hoped to gain from this programme. I didn’t know what to say; all I wanted to do was learn a little bit here and there, but if you asked me today, I’d have a better answer: I’d like to learn more about the working environment in places like this and gain a better understanding of it and of what professional life is like, and I’m also hoping to pick up some tips that may help me advance in my future career.
Additionally, the benefits of my experience at TEF’s MCC division have not been restricted to the opportunities to work with amazing people. I’ve also been taking the time to network and grow my circle and it’s been a great experience so far. A big part of what I wanted out of this program was to try new things, and my time here has met that criterion in the first two weeks. I’m enjoying not only the work I’m doing, but also the individuals I’m working with, whether it’s coming up with fresh ideas for my Facebook posts on my own or brainstorming with my teammates.
Though it was wonderful to work with my coworkers, I also loved the idea that we didn’t have to do everything together and that I was allowed to work alone and remind myself of my abilities and contributions to the Foundation. Another thing that makes me happy is the support I’m getting from my colleagues. Not only have they been eager to answer my questions, but my line manager has expressed a willingness to assist me with whatever I require to feel at ease, as they believe that the happier you are at work, the more likely you are to stay and contribute your knowledge and experience to help the organisation achieve its goals. Asking for help is difficult for me, but I know that when I do, help will be provided, and I am grateful for that.
Even though I am aware that my team is available to assist me with my work, it takes a lot of self-motivation for me to summon the guts to ask for assistance. I understand that I am still in the early phases of my work and that things will change and evolve over my time here. But, for the most part, things have gone well so far, and I’m pleased with where I’m at. I feel like a weight has been lifted off my shoulders after a long and tough job hunt, and I am looking forward to seeing what occurs in the following weeks.
~ Author: Chiemezie Nwosu
