AN ADVICE FROM MY SERVICE EXPERIENCE

From A Past Service Personnel 

To The Current Service Personnels

It has been a month since you started serving the nation. Some of you are still familiarising yourselves with the company or the working man lifestyle. Others are used to it and enjoying it because of their internship experience or the presence of a relative. Either way, I would say, take it slow because life is unpredictable.

I remember my plan a little over a year ago. To have my service where I had my internship two consecutive times. Things did not go as planned and I decided to let the system post me. Thanks to my mother's prayers, I got a place in Accra but that was not all, it was the Police Service. I was made to believe I would be a traffic warden. WHAT!!!! No way. I was in a sorrowful state for an entire weekend but I spoke to someone who made me understand that that was not a certainty so I decided to give it a shot and not opt for reposting to where you may ask, I had no idea. In my mind it was anything but a traffic warden. From the clothes to the scorching sun to being on my feet for hours unend to the annoying drivers. Oh and of course, the danger I would have been exposed to. It was definitely a no-no.

I went to submit my form and I was directed to MTTD from the reception, I almost turned back but then I went ahead. The man I met there after looking at my form, redirected me to the registry (the administration office for the police hq), I was super relieved. I dropped my form and went home. We went for an orientation the Friday before the Monday we had to start and I was stationed at the protocol office. I was not sure what kind of work is done there but I was just satisfied that I get to be in an office.

It took me about three months to get really comfortable just because I am a very private person. I would say, do not take very long. Study the people and gradually let lose else you will miss the opportunity to make memories, build relationships and establish your importance.

After working there for a few months, I had been to places, met & spoke to people that I probably would not have anytime soon. I also had so much information about the protocol concerning high profile people and regimentals of the security services. It made me understand why some things are done and what is right and wrong. Actually right or wrong.

I never received extra pay, we did not even have a send off party and I was a bit saddened by that initially especially when I knew it was not the same elsewhere. Now I have a different mindset though, there is no assurance that I would have been able to save much if I had been given extra allowance and with the send off party, the only thing I would have now are memories,  pictures and videos.

But, I still have that good relationship with the people I worked with both at the service headquarters and outside. I have beautiful valuable memories and I know I would always be remembered with how excited I was when we had to help organize an event and how competent I was with administrative work.

And that is enough for me.

Now the bigger issue, LIFE AFTER SERVICE.

You will most likely spend more than you did in a month simply because you are being paid but not working and you are resting or chilling, which you properly could not do for 11 months. Fair enough.

You will probably start aggressively looking for a job but not get one. You might even still be working towards being retained at where you were. You might still be working due to an extension, a contract or a real job. There is absolutely NO CERTAINTY.

I am home. I will not say I am jobless because I do some things on the side. None produce revenue at the moment because it is a work in progress but at the same time, I am not so eager to get back to the office simply because I want a job I will enjoy and be content with plus on that PAYS WELL.

Maybe I have the advantage of not being pressured by family or friends but it really starts with you. Plan ahead and work on your plans. Do not live hand to mouth (incur expenses that are not worth it) else you will be feeling the adult life pressure even before  you finish service but then do not stress yourself too much. You may ask what exactly I am driving at, A BALANCE, that's all it takes to have a successful and memorable service.

I do not have a perfect and concrete solution to not being jobless or broke or stressed but I have to say that you should cultivate the habit of focusing on what is best for you and your future plans. Do not perform actions that will displace you and change your destiny.

Live is unpredictable and too short to do what you do not enjoy or stress yourself about things that are not going to be relevant in the long run. You will most likely work a 9-5 for years unend  so do not worry if you do not get a job right away or are not retained, do not yield to peer pressure but also do not take your work lightly because you may never know who is watching or what opportunity may be available in the future.

Plus, I also think that the service to the nation thing should be readdressed so that one is posted where one has knowledge or even interest but then some of these experiences allow us to learn more about ourselves like in my situation. This change we want will not take place anytime soon so if you cannot change the world then adopt to the new world.

Thank You for Reading & All The Best!!!