Life in Kca University.
September 2008 saw me
join KCA University for a Bachelor of Commerce degree. For me, the dream
that I had always had, that of joining an institution of higher learning had finally
started seeing the light of the day. In here, shock awaited me. On the first
day, we were given a piece of paper where we were expected to write our names,
and e mail addresses. I and another colleague of mine had never heard of an E
mail address hence left the space blank. This was just an indication on how
much we were lagging behind as other students had already embraced technology
and used it even in the place of work. The closest I had come to any office
machine was to a type writer which was used by orderlies/Secretaries hence I
could also not operate it.
After this, it was time
to introduce ourselves in class. The other students proudly identified with
their work places where most were from the private sector and could proudly say
so. When it came to my turn, I could not tell the class that I was a police
man. Thanks to inferiority complex and considering that police officers were
known for not so good things, I decided to say this….My Names are Kabere
Martin, I work for the Ministry of Internal security, Office of the
president!”. There was no place that I said that I was a police constable and
more so a GSU officer. The refusal to disclose where I was actually working and
more specifically to state that I was a officer of the law was informed by the
fact that the public was not known to be
so kind to officers and the officers ourselves had and still do to date continued to taint our image hence making the
job of a police officer less desirable to many. However, with time, the very
closest of my friends totaling to five had the ‘secret’ revealed to them.
Life over here was full
of surprises as per my own way of viewing it. First was the freedom to either
attend or not attend classes as long as one attained the mandatory 70%
attendance as per university rules and regulations. The other was that Continuous
assessment Tests and Assignments either sit in or take away were to be factored
in when computing the final end of semester grade as 30% and the sit in end of
semester exam comprised 70%. This was un usual according to me since I was used
to the exams that we sat for during our end of term in primary and secondary
school which was 100%. The other major highlight was that of handling group
assignments which was a great way to work together despite having come from
diverse backgrounds. This was no walk in the park as there were serious group
members and other joy riders but managing this was a great way to learn on how
to work in groups both in school and at the work place. Mwakenya’s, which are
hand written class notes, on small pieces of papers which were used as a way to
cheat during exams were also widely used but once one was caught had to face
consequences as detailed by the university exam rules and regulations and this was
being sent away from the University forever.
A semester, which is an
equivalent of four months, soon came to the end and we sat for the end of
semester exams. This being my first semester, I had taken five units, two short
of the maximum that one could possibly take. This was informed by the fact that
I was attending evening classes and Saturday classes too but had no official
permission from my employer to attend the Lectures hence had to sneak to
classes. With my job being that which we are always on call, I could be called
for an immediate assignment when the class was half way hence could leave
immediately I saw my supervisor/Corporal calling. The worst of this experience
was one day when I had just sat down in the lecture hall for five minutes, attending
a business statistics class and was called for an urgent assignment and had to
leave. Everyone in class looked at me in dismay but they could do nothing much. Either way, the
semester ended amidst serious disruptions where to make the matters worse; I
failed in one unit, Principles of management and had to sit for a supplementary
exam. This was so sad for me and I felt like giving up and investing what I had
set for fees to other investments. What made me think this way was the fact
that I felt that I had done the paper well and hence deserved a better mark
having done well in the CATs and Assignments but when I tried to discuss this
with the lecturer, all he said was that he had set a very technical paper hence
I may have done badly. This was not welcome to me but thanks to a good friend
and a fellow police officer, I was convinced that all was not lost and decided
to continue to second semester.
The Second semester was
now on and I decided to take the maximum number of units which was seven. The semester
too was a struggle owing to the fact that balancing work and classes was not
easy but after the end of semester exams, I had passed the whole seven units
which was a turning point in my Campus life. Come the third semester I was able
to proudly identify myself as a police officer as myself worth had significantly
improved and I also realized that those who I thought were ‘superior’ owing to
their backgrounds and work places were going through similar experiences like I
was going through. Some had even three supplementary exams to sit for despite I
having taken them as extra ordinary. With all these struggles, those of
disruptions, Supplementary exams, problems of raising fees amongst others, I
was able to successfully sit for 56 Units and by April 2011, it was time to say
Goodbye to KCA University and wait for graduation that was to take place in
December the same year. Later in the year, I
graduated with a second class honors upper division which I always prayed for
and worked for. I must admit that it was not a walk in the park but all I can
say is that the favor of the Lord was always with me throughout the
course. Mum and her friends, my extended
family, my friends too and other guests came to witness this colorful day and
their presence was simply electrifying. Partying together, Singing, dancing and
reading the scripture plus words of encouragement and thanks giving was what
this day was characterized by as seen in the photo below:
After
KCA University I joined Institute Of Human Resource Management for a Higher Diploma
In Human Resources Management.
By the time I was done
with my undergraduate course, it was time to pursue post graduate studies hence
I applied for a higher diploma in Human Resources Management at the Institute
of Human resources Management that was
to start in June the same year. As I was waiting for this, I enrolled for a driving
course for the month of May hence by July I was done and ready to start the new
course. IHRM was to be my new home of studies for the next one year. This was
one of the most organized institutions of higher learning that I have ever
attended. The classes were manageable, well organized, small in number,
effective in communicating to students on matters affecting them and any other
matter that required our attention, had student friendly lecturers, pocesses a
well equipped Library just to name a few. Life here was amazing as the students
were always actively participating during lessons, engaged the lecturers on
issues related to Human resources management hence learning was not only taking
place but one was also growing in other areas.
This course was to take
one year and was divided into two semesters of six months each and after the
end we were to sit for exams that were examined by the Kenya National Examination
Council. The year ended so fast and soon, it was time for exams. This was one
of the most exciting yet daring times of life in adult learning. This was
because of another course that I had started at the University of Nairobi in
June 2012 where I had enrolled for an MBA hence after I was done with the KNEC examinations;
I was to break for one week and then sit for another Six exams for the MBA course.
However, I passed all the Units in both courses thanks to prayers and walking
that extra mile just to ensure that I would not get frustrated like in the first
semester of my Undergraduate studies. Later in the year, it was time to
graduate for the Higher Diploma. At PCEA St Andrews hall, we were allowed to
invite a few guests hence my ever loving mum, her twin sister who is my aunt,
Mike a cousin of mine and John a high school buddy were all I had invited. The
day was a colorful one and having emerged the best student in Fundamentals of
Human resources management in KNEC 2012 Series was a moment to reckon as my
name was called out and had to walk to the front so as to receive a Non cash
prize of Ksh 10,000 which was sponsored by Jubilee Insurance.
To God be all glory and Honor!
To God be all glory and Honor!
