Hello everyone! Welcome to today’s episode of the first class diary series. My scholar for the week is an amazing energetic young lady. Do you know that process will not always be rosy and fancy?
Please, meet Oyekunle Olayemi. I am sure by the time you’re through with the interview, you’ll keep thanking me.
In her words,
One way to boost performance level is the ability of students to explore more than the four walls curricula. This is because, at the end of the day, performance transcends the four walls of school. Therefore, students should pay more attention to building applicable skills. Especially in their respective fields of study.
Enjoy!
Abigael Ibikunle of Edugist: Please share with Edugist, a little about your background.
Oyekunle Olayemi
Oyekunle Olayemi: My name is Oyekunle Olayemi. I’m from Oyo state, the 3rd born in a family of 7, my parents inclusive. I am ardent about process which in turn births growth.
I started my early schooling at Santos schools, Alagbado Lagos. But I couldn’t finish my primary education because we relocated to Ogun state. It was in Ogun State that I completed my primary education at age 9. (I remembered being at the top of the list after the entrance exam).
Thereafter, I proceeded to secondary school, same school where I wrote my junior WAEC now BECE examination in JSS 2. So, I completed secondary school in 2014.
In few words, I wrote jamb twice and got admitted into Tai Solarin University of education in 2015.
I could remember having to do a lot of contemplation, going to TASUED. But amidst everything, I’m grateful to God.
The journey in Tai Solarin University of Education was a great experience for me. And of course, I took good advantage of it, which helped me to emerge as the best graduating student in my department for the year (2018/2019).
AI: Was there any motivating factor(s) that influenced your choice of discipline and institution?
OO: I’ve always had this flair for industrial sciences. So, I wanted to study medicine or anything related. I became obsessed with UI (I still am anyway, but maybe now in a different manner).
Every man is a product of influence in a way or the other.
One of the things that motivated me amidst other factors is the fact that, I get to have B. Sc in Education even with my area of study. That sounded pretty cool to me.
Basically, I switched to studying chemistry in school, definitely not because of what I heard. Because if it was that, I would have switched to a less demanding course. Still, I stood tall and went for chemistry.
Maybe parental influence also contributed a little to my choice. But Im so grateful for the choice I made.
AI: There are two major skills that every student must possess: COMPETENCE and PERFORMANCE. While competence revolves around skill acquisition, performance is much more concerned about skills application. It is believed that most graduates are competent because their academic performance testifies to this. But they are performance-challenged. This poor performance ipso facto hinders them from getting lucrative jobs in the labor market. What can you say about this assertion?
OO: There is a saying that goes “Examination is not the true test of knowledge.” What this saying will not mean is that “Examination is not a test of knowledge.” Hence, to some extent, it has an ability to test how competent a student is.
Performance, on the other hand, is not a skill that is born out of rigid speculations like competence is. For instance, before there can be a better performance, there is a need for more work.
Hence, to have an edge in the labor market, there is a need to stay valid and valued. So, now, it’s not going to be how competent you are but how much more you want to work on your competency.
AI: What do you think is responsible for competence without performance? Please suggest ways of improving the performance level of university students and graduates.
OO: I think that would be the myopic view of students about the subject matter. So, I think;
One way to boost performance level is the ability of students to explore more than the four walls curricula. This is because, at the end of the day, performance transcends the four walls of school. Therefore, students should pay more attention to building applicable skills even in their respective fields of study.
AI: Achievement in life transcends ones personal effort. There were people who, during your program, rendered some assistance that made your dreams a reality. Who are specific persons whose contribution you cant forget in your first-class feat?
Oyekunle Olayemi
OO: Of course, I’m thankful to God for the amazing people he brought my way during the course of my 1st degree.
Most importantly, I’m grateful to my parents. My supervisor, the person of Prof. N.A Babarinde. I remember when a friend of mine will tell me…“you can do it” amongst many other; My reading team, they were amazing. To mention few.
I can boldly say I am a product of influence.
AI: As a first-class graduate, are you currently gainfully employed?
OO: None for now
AI: Do you think your grades have or is giving you any major advantage over other graduates with lesser grades?
OO: I’m looking forward to better days. Besides, life transcends beyond grades. It’s important to keep being valuable and at the end, we find ourselves in places where grades can’t keep us.
AI: For students who aspire to graduate with outstanding grades like yours, what would you advise them?
OO: Oh, to that, I will say;
Set achievable(realistic) goals, and you are only setting those goals because you can do it! Stick to the process!
Remembering the words of my dad. Keep it REAL.
Not at any point in time, should your goals or determinations turn to shadows. Ensure you have a reason for what you do. Keep trusting and the outcome will be great!
AI: What would you advise the government to do to improve the standard of our education system?
OO: The advice would be for them to directly and indirectly fund educational system. Provide well equipped laboratories as per my field and amongst many other.
However, my sincere advice will be to work on the plans, set to improve the standards of educational system.
AI: Any other thing you would like to share?
OO: Yes! And That would be “sticking to process”.
I remember saying to myself after my final exams that there can’t be an outcome without a process.
Process is not always rosy and fancy, it is just what it is!
So, I will implore students to stick to process. And also, to continuously seek to be a person of value.
To every stage we are in life, there can’t be a biggest achievement, it will only be a stepping stone to another one. Hence you and I cannot afford to be without value. Even as graduates! smiles of course.
That’s it for this week’s episode. I hope you enjoyed the interview. Have a scholar you would love to be featured?
Or would like to sponsor any of our scholars you find their stories inspiring?
Or want to contact any of them for engagements? Please reach out to me directly: abigail@edugist.org or call me directly +2347035835612.
I am Abigael Ibikunle and celebrating excellence is a top priority for me. iTeach, iSpeak, iTrain, iFacilitate, iWrite, iInterview and iLoveYou all. Smile! See you next week!
