I was part of the group that honored the Orientation Program that was organized for the 2010/2011 academic year of diploma students at NTA-Television College Jos, Nigeria. The Rector and academic staff were all present as interlocking conferences with most of the speakers trying to outdo each other in oratorical prowess.

Topics ranged from issues affecting the school and the lifestyle of students. It was found that many students at other institutions of learning have left school unprepared for the demands that life will place on them, but it was noted that at NTA-TV College, those things are adequately catered for. Speakers took time to educate students on the advantages of choosing the school in their academic career development. As we were made to know, it was hardly a place to be ignorant of the world of work or a complete unawareness of real potential, and the inability to adapt to the world outside of school.

The words of the speakers reminded me of some schools that do not have time to address the issue of professional education. The College’s four outstanding Departments – TV Journalism, TV Production, TV Design and TV Engineering – helped explain the unique nature of the school. When some schools have not yet begun to think seriously about methods that can help their students prepare for the decisions that will affect their lives as working adults, the university has adopted a mandate to develop in its students the skills not necessarily to “fix” them. . to get a job”, but to educate them properly and develop them as personal skills. Apart from all the good things that were said, the most important thing in choosing a career was not missing out on action.

As people think about occupation and location, it is necessary to point out the most important issue, which is that of character: the ‘being’ that protects the ‘doing’. This is the reason why the students were given guidance in many areas such as dress, extracurricular activities, behavior at school and hostels, class attendance, behavior during exams, etc. In the book of Ephesians 4: 1-16, the apostle Paul gave his support to this important theme by exhorting his listeners to walk worthy of his call. When we are the right people for a job, we can be sure of better results. The truth then remains that the most important thing is not what we do, but who we are. Choosing a career is something that exposes us to so many things in life.

By way of definition, a career is a sequence of occupations, jobs, and positions that are performed or occupied throughout a person’s life. Psychologically, a career is a series of roles played by a person. Teaching can be taken as a career. Within the teaching profession, one can be a school principal, a school treasurer, a guidance officer, an administrator or registrar, or even a technician who produces teaching materials. Each of these is a job within the teaching profession. A career is quite different from an occupation because an occupation deals with a type of work or activity that people engage in. It is also an activity that has a market value in which people are paid to participate. Examples include the work of politicians, doctors, philosophers, journalists, publishers, presidents, etc. A person can change occupation more than once during his working life. I have met many politicians who were teachers, doctors, lawyers, etc., before assuming their current status in politics. There are also journalists, publishers or pharmacists, among the many politicians we see today.

On the other hand, a job is just a way to make a living, but in a career, you can feel that your skills are being put to good use. When you know who you are and the many jobs available, you are well equipped to choose a job.