You Got Your First Job...Now What?

After 4 months of debating whether or not to write this blog post, here I am. I finally decided to write something about my first office job. A few days ago, I was having a catch up session with my friend, Katongo. During our chat I asked her how school is going and she responded by saying, ‘It is so frustrating. I want to work like you”. 

Lets backup a little bit. I was in school not too long ago and I remember looking at people who work while thinking to myself; Ah! Now that’s the life! I was so envious of them because all I imagined was a perfect life as long as I get any job. I never imagined frustrations commuting every day, not having friends, a difficult boss, not finding fulfillment in your job description, being discontent with your pay or the lack thereof etc. In my mind all I pictured was; no assignments and tests, fancy work clothes, loads of friends to hang out with, loving what you do at work, having enough money to even send some extra cash to feed hungry children in Somalia.  

Well, I finally got an office job. The gap between expectation and reality when it comes to a first job is unbelievable. That was something I struggled with coming to terms with. I understand that some have had wonderful experiences, nothing but amazing stories about work, bless your heart. I found myself thinking maybe it is just me and everyone is having a grand time because you know, the Facebook posts, tweets and Instagram selfies with their captions say so. After chatting with a few of my friends who are working too, I realized I am not the only one and sharing my experience would not be such a bad idea. 

Firstly, day 1 might not go as you expect. I expected to get back home knackered after my first day of work because of how much work I imagined I would have to do. Well, I spent all of it sitting and trying not to doze off. But do not let that demoralize you because you might do nothing or petty work for the first couple of days. Be faithful with the small tasks, go the extra mile. I sought a lot of advice before I reported for work from people with experience, I was advised to be proactive i.e not sitting around, instead asking if there is anything I can do. I did that and this brings me to my next point.

Not everyone will be as nice as you expect. So, I went to my boss and asked if there was anything I could help with and he was just so mean. There will be those people who will never greet you, never smile at you, ignore you or look at you like you’ve just drunk their last drop of water during a drought. Your colleagues might give you a hard time and you might have a supervisor who does not make work any easy for you. Be sure to not be a pagan and have the ‘an eye for an eye” mentality. Do your part; be nice and kind to your coworkers and supervisors. Pray for grace, trust me you’ll need it. 

Your job might not go as you expect. I expected everything to be laid out for me. A little like an organized structure of my duties, guidance on how to execute my tasks and performance indicators. I lacked that orientation. I did not know what mattered and what did not. No prize for guessing, my ignorance cost me when it was time for my appraisal. Let me be the one to give you a heads up on a few things that might be important; meeting deadlines and achieving tasks, ability to work under pressure and minimum supervision, adaptability, positive attitude, energy, self-confidence, creativity/ innovation, how you relate to colleagues, ethics, dressing etc. 

Fourthly, do not live your life waiting for Friday. We are so obsessed with thanking God its Friday, especially when we dislike what we have to do between Monday and Thursday. When I struggled with enjoying work I lived for Fridays. Every morning I would wake up, I would stick my fingers out and count how many days I had left till the end of the week. I was basically wishing my life away. You have to be the kind of person who can make the best out of a Tuesday. ‘Zombie-ing’ through the week might seem fine today but you will wake up one morning and realize you wasted so many days that could have been meaningful. Make the most of your time, enjoy each and every day the good Lord blesses you with, no matter how crazy what you do may seem.

Last but not least, work life has lots of good days. Treasure them. Thank God for the days you spend bouncing off walls and if it is in your power to have more of them, make sure you do. Do not be too hard on yourself when you make mistakes, you are only human. If you are experiencing a bad day, never forget that a bad day only lasts 24 hours. 

After my experience during my first few months at work, I would like to urge you to enjoy your current season in life. There is a saying; “The reason people find it so hard to be happy is that they always see the past better than it was, the present worse than it is and the future less resolved than it will be.” Looking back I realize that I constantly rob myself of happiness. I should have enjoyed university when I was in university and not spent most of my time day dreaming about how perfect life will be once I am graduated and working. Embrace your current season of life and maximize your time in it. Pray for grace to live with a spirit of contentment. If you are still doing your studies, embrace that phase and make the most of it. If you are done with school and seeking employment do not spend that time of your life envying those who are working because it seems like the answer to your misery. Look to Jesus for that. The lack of a job does not make you less blessed, it is not the end of the world. You have been blessed with free time, in between the job hunting there is so much that can be achieved and so much to invest in, be a good steward of your time. 

If like me, you feel like you have spent so much time messing up in your current phase of life, every day is a new page. It is never too late to enjoy your current season in life. Rest, wake up, commit the new day into the Lords hands and go and be the best you can be!

Sincerely yours, A University Graduate

After my 4 year experience in University I decided to share some tips that I thought would be helpful to those starting university or college soon as well as those who are already in it.

There are some things 6th February, 2016 Mwape wishes 21st August, 2011 Mwape knew that would have definitely been helpful to me back then when i was starting my university journey.

Firstly, the only constant in University is God. This might seem cliché, I know most people always start with the first point about God but in all honesty from my experience, Paul, in Hebrews 13:8, did know what he meant when he said that the Lord is the same yesterday, today and forevermore. He is the only constant in not only university but life. I have changed in so many ways from the time I came, friends have changed. If only I knew then that I must invest more time and love in the one being that does not change. I wish I knew then that I should hold on to the unchangeable constant; God in such a constantly changing environment. So put him first; read your Bible and pray EVERY DAY.

Secondly, it is okay to not have your life plan set out straight to the smallest detail but it is certainly important to have general direction. I began university when I was only 17 years old. I had no idea what my future plans were and all I knew is I was going to Mulungushi to study Economics. I had hardly researched on what it was about. I just knew saying I wanted to be an Economist sounded nice. After my feel of Micro-economics during my first semester I just didn’t have a connection with it. Thank goodness I found my real love, marketing. I was blessed to have found a career I have a passion for despite not knowing it from the start. Sometimes as you go on you realize things begin to unfold just the way they ought to be despite them not being how you planned it to be.

Thirdly, no, Solomon was not kidding when he said bad habits corrupt good morals. There are rarely, if any exceptions at all. Before I came to university it was just one of those Bible verses and I know so many people did mention it to me, it has only hit home now. I wish I knew that no one is ever really immune to getting influenced to leave the straight path and take what may seem like a joy ride, right into a thorn bush. Sometimes we tend to comfort ourselves by having a very relaxed definition of bad company. A friend was sharing with me what a certain Pastor said about bad company. She said the Bible encourages us to run towards holiness and perseverance, so based on that bad company is the kind of company that does not encourage you to run towards holiness. How I wish I knew that!

Fourthly, Failure is not the end of the world. What matters most is your attitude towards it. Be it academic failure, spiritual failure, failing your parents or even friends. Sometimes a certain experience is the wakeup call one needs. I remember failing one course in 2nd year and it felt like it was going to be the beginning of a failing spree. To my utter surprise it was all the push I needed. I realized I had to work extra harder if that wasn’t gonna happen again. I realized I am human and sometimes I'll fail but I can't just lay there. I need to get up and push harder.

Fifthly, Aim high. Just that; do your best and never ever aim for the lower standard. I am sorry to disappoint you readers but when I got to university I hardly cared about my grades. All I wanted to do was clear. It only hit me in 3rd year when there was some really great offer made by an organization whereby they pay for your fees till the end of your programme and then offer you a job with them in South Africa when you graduate. No prize for guessing what the criteria were for one to be eligible? Good grades! Such an amazing offer but I couldn’t attempt because my transcript was painted with C+’s! If only I knew then what I know now, good grades are important and I did not have to wait for 3rd year when I had to make points for me to realize that. Hard work always pays.

The sixth thing is that it is okay to not be in love when it feels the rest of the world is. When I was younger I always wanted to marry my high school sweetheart, high school came to an end and there I was still alone. And I was like yes! Maybe university? And there I was, going into 4th year not in love. There are times in life when it feels like cupid was feeling generous and he shot his arrows at everyone but you. When you step out of your room on campus you find couples strolling, when you log onto facebook, twitter, whatsapp it is flooded with couple love. Kind of leaves you wondering if something is wrong with you or cupid has something against you or maybe, just maybe, God has something different planned for you. The truth is, we rarely take the latter. God blesses at different times and with different blessing packages. Being alone is not a curse, it is okay to not be in love when everyone else is. As my daddy once told me, “Gods plans for our lives are different for each person. He does not make us like products of a Chinese factory.” I should have known that I needed to remember that he has a plan for me and I had to learn to be content with it.

Guard your heart! If only and if only I knew that not every guy who takes personal interest in you and your wellbeing actually means well for your being. This world is not a playground. The pain that comes with heart break sucks, it’s the kind of pain you don’t know what to do with! Mwape then should have known not to do or say things that will make her expectant and emotionally connected to guys, if I knew this concept it would have saved me a lot of nights that I spent listening to Adele and Taylor Swift. I should have known to save myself for someone who would love me enough to commit.  

Save and live within your means. During a lecture, I remember one of my favourite lecturers said “for as long as you have to borrow to buy, youre living out of your means”. Don’t spend money you don’t have on anything that you do not need. I only realized I should really start saving in my final year, but I certainly wish I did way before.

Have fun! Make sure you do have fun. You don't get to be in University all your life. You will have to graduate. So enjoy your experience. I am not the best person who can give you tips for fun but just remember that... you will have to give an account of your life to God.

Lastly, I wish I knew that Its okay to fail at doing all these things. Every day gives you a new slate; a clean slate. I remember a number of days my friends and I would sulk cause we were behind in school work. Or I sulked because of the days I lived without putting God first. You will certainly fail at some, if not most, if not all of them but dust yourself up, talk to God about it and start a new day refreshed and feeling motivated to try again.

Where do you want to be buried come next year?

I bet youre wondering whats with the question right? Well, you might not but im still going to have to tell you:-)

The other day, the 22nd of January, I was at Leopards Hill Cemetry for the 3rd time since the year began. Its been quite the start to a year. The first time was a memorial for a dear uncle who has been gone for just over a year. It was a beautiful event. You would have said the same if you were there. It was just nice to see his family evidently still celebrating his life and testifying how faithful God has been to them over this one year. The other two were for the burial of a cousin and a friends Aunt.

In the space of 27 days, 4 people that I know have died. 2 died in their sleep, 1 died after she underwent an operation and the last was unwell for sometime then eventually passed on at home.
Why am I saying all this? When the news of funerals kept coming pretty much every week, I was really going through a period of much thinking. I felt God was trying to speak to me. In my conversation with a friend after the three sudden deaths, I said:
" I feel shaken, they were all unexpected. Hmmm whats God trying to say. Its all too close to home. Im just scared for what else will unfold this year"

I have this thing that I do. Whenever something happens, I like to stop and think of what God is trying to say to me. Its actually very helpful. Here's some free advice: When you don't understand what's happening and why it's happening, take some to stop and think of why God allowed it and what he could be trying to say to you through the situation before you. You'll be amazed how circumstances will shape you for the better.

So, yes, I was thinking about what God was trying to say to me. Then it became more clear on the 22nd and I thought I'd share it with you and shake the dust off my blog.

While I was at the burial of my friends aunt, I went to the place where my own aunt, Aunt Mukalo, who passed on almost 4 years ago was buried. A tombstone was recently put there, so I wanted to see it and just have a moment. While there I took a picture and I sent it to the family for them to see. When I got home I was talking about it with Mwindula, my oldest brother.

Mwindula: So come next year where do you want to be buried?
Me: Errrrmmm *quite shocked and moved by his question but trying to pretend its cool*
Mwindula: Ha ha ha ha! You should have seen the look on your face! Priceless! Thats the problem, you love this life too much!
Me thinking: Well atleast one of us found this funny

Anyway, the thing is, It left me wondering if he was right. And he was. I have held on so tight to this world because i feel like I'll be here forever more than I'd like to admit. The deaths shook me, they hit me like a train, the scales fell off my eyes and I realized that I am NOT superhuman and I could die any day. This doesnt mean that I should live constantly thinking about death and living in constant fear of losing those dear to me. Mwindula was basically trying to me tell that I love the world. A new friend of mine and I made an agreement to memorize two verses a week together, and weird enough the memory verse at that time was:
1 John 2:15-17
Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world then the love of the father is not in him...... for the world and its desires pass away but the man who does the will of God lives forever.

I went into a moment of reflection. The truth is that the world and all its desires WILL pass away. Whether I like it or not, whether I am comfortable with it or not and whether i accept it or not. The main reason why I tend to find this world so nice is because of the desires I look forward to fulfilling in this life, and I must say that they are so exciting and pretty awesome. But truth is it isnt promised that I will live to fulfill these desires because the world as well as the very desires will pass away. So... what matters? The only thing that ultimately matters is doing the will of God. In that, eternal life is found as we are told in this passage; the man who does the will of God will live forever.

Back to my message to my friend. I see two problems with my message now that I've had time to digest it. No, its not the fact that I was shaken. Its okay to be shaken every once in a while. I'd like to think it is pretty healthy actually because it reminds us that this world is not our home. We are really just passing through.
1. I was scared.
The Bible says in John 14:27
Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.

As a child of God in such moments one needs to remember that God left his peace with us. Because of this amazing gift of peace, in the face lifes circumstances, our hearts must neither be troubled nor afraid.

2. I feared for the future.
The Bible says in Psalm 62: 8
Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your heart before him; God is a refuge for us.

Psalm 18: 30
This God–his way is perfect;the word of the LORD proves true; he is a shield for all those who take refuge in him.

So what ought we to do when we think of the future? TRUST. Who? GOD.  When? at ALL times. No, no exceptions, no matter how crazy and insane the situation looks, no matter how the future seems uncertain, still no exceptions. Why? His way is perfect. You may be wondering, what if you still have fears? Pour out your heart before him. What can he do anyway? He will be your refuge.

The two passages both bring out God's ability to be a refuge.
A refuge is a place of safety, relief or escape.
I now see that God can be all that to me if I trust him. My place of safety, my place of relief and my place of escape. And the awesome news is he can be all that and more to you too.


"There is a place of full relief,  near to the heart of God.
A place where all is joy and peace, near to the heart of God"


So in the face of uncertainity and even as i learn to love God and let go of my grip on this world that is like vapor (hope you too see the silliness in trying to hold on tightly to vapor), I am made to remember that God is all I need to hold on to. He is all I need to love. He is all I need to obey. He is my shield. He is my refuge. God is all I need in this life.
I hope you now realize it too, he should be all in all to you whether or not you have to be buried come next year.

I, Mwape Mbewe, am starting a university!

 

'I am starting a university', have been the words of at least one church leader every Sunday. At some point it began to sound like a statement i could get used to which had no deep meaning for me. It wasn't till my dad called me in the afternoon on Tuesday, 10th June asking if I was willing to volunteer at African Christian University.(ACU)Let me tell you the story. I promise to keep it short.

My dad knows of my ability to sleep till I can sleep no more as well as my ability to not get tired of sitting around and doing nothing. I guess he feared that i would be putting my abilities to great use during my 3month vacation and so he figured he had better get my teeth into something real quick. So being the lovely child i am ;) i was totally up for it and so psyched about it. After speaking to Uncle Ken Turnbull, the Vice Chancellor of the university, i was informed that my help was needed like 'yesterday'. During dinner my excited dad kept cracking jokes as his face was glowing with excitement about his daughters first day of work. My sister; Mwila and I had a good laugh about it. You have got to love his spirit:) A week later and i am still wondering whether it was excitement about me finally using my time for ACU, where he is chancellor, or excitement about getting me out of his house for a few hours, Id like to believe it is the former.

So the next day came, after like 17 minutes of convincing myself to get out of the comfort of my bed I finally got up and prepared for my day one at ACU. Dad dropped me off and I was well received by Uncle Ken who explained to me the work I would be doing for the next 3months. It then slowly started to dawn on me that ACU is real and I am really part of the large body of believers who are starting a University. That is how it all changed, They I am starting a UNIVERSITY!! I have been spending quite sometime here at ACU helping with the prayer updates that go out once every month. So if you notice any good changes in the prayer letters for the next 3 months know that there is a 96% chance I am the brains behind the amazing adjustments:)

Okay, story over. I have been volunteering for just over a week. I have many thoughts about ACU of which I would like to share a few. The work God is doing here is beyond amazing. It has been such a blessing being surrounded by people who have dedicated their entire lives to Gods service. If the Bible used to put pictures of people whose lives apply to verses, their pictures would be right by Matthew 16:24-25 'Then Jesus said to His disciples, "If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it; but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.…'. Come to the ACU offices on any day and you will see the fulfilment these ladies and gentlemen have found in sacrificing their lives for this cause, with reference to the just mentioned verse, denying themselves. They have denied themselves the comforts of their homes and being so close to their families who they are probably so attached to. They literally uprooted their lives, some from USA and Canada. I am doing my degree, Bachelor of Commerce, in Kabwe which is a 2 hours drive from Lusaka, my home town. I am constantly coming back home to visit. I am home at least once every month because i miss my family, especially my 5month old niece Katongo, who I am madly in love with. Okay, my point is that I am in the same country as my family, I can easily pick up my phone and call them any second and feel a little better, but of course not better enough to keep me away for over a month. These lovely people who have come all the way from other continents have left their children, parents, siblings, nieces, nephews, and grand kids to start a life here. They cant randomly pick up their phones and call their families due to challenges like cost as well as time difference. Neither can they randomly head to the airport and fly back home for a weeks visit. In addition to that they are here having to adjust to new cultures. They fall ill here and there due to change in environment in addition to other possible reasons. I don't mean to rub it in their faces as to how much they have sacrificed. Or to brag about how my family is more accessible or how i do not suffer any culture shock from being in Kabwe(although there is a chance that i do lol). Well, my point is that its a 180degrees change. But they choose to stay, for the love of God and ministering through this University.
In addition to the sacrifice they are making, believe it or not this isn't a financial profit making venture for them, it is a soul winning venture as well as discipleship venture. They are not here to expand  their bank accounts but to extend Gods kingdom. They are not getting paid for doing what they are doing here at ACU. I, personally, stand amazed after reflecting upon these facts about these people who have left the comforts of their homes.
When i sit and really think about this i am left asking myself what I am doing as a youth for Christ whom I claim to love. Especially as a youth who is starting a university. How am I contributing to ACU? I am absolutely grateful for this opportunity to interact with these people and see how much loving God can lead one to sacrifice for his Christ's sake. So much is happening here at ACU, seeing how joyful these ladies and gentlemen are as they labour is simply amazing. I can only pray that God answers our prayers as we pray for different aspects pertaining to this University and that his will may be done  at the end of the day.

If you would like to know more about this University, do subscribe to receive our monthly updates and please visit our site for an even better understanding of what is happening. It is only with deeper understanding of what is happening as well as how much God's people all over the world are putting into this that your eyes will be opened, just as mine were not too long ago. Pray pray pray, as we know prayer may just be the most powerful tool mankind has.

*The grammar is as raw and unpolished as I am. But i do hope I drove my points straight home:)