7 Reasons Graduating With A Second Class Is Better Than A First Class
While
you should always aim for the very best, the following reasons are why
some people feel it is better to graduate with a second class.
See reasons below;
1. Employment
A job is
not always guaranteed for anyone. So instead of spending five years
totally focused on getting a first class why don’t you include building a
CV in your plans and getting a stable source of income. Do not wait
until you graduate before you look into building your streams of income.
While most
universities promise automatic employment, sometimes this promise is not
fulfilled, so a first class graduate without a job is more common than
you would think. Get a source of income and graduate with a second
class, instead of focusing on just getting a first class.
2. Paycheck
Many feel
that a first class degree is the ticket to a huge paycheck running into
millions, every month. In an ideal society, this would be true.
However,
the reality is quite different, because while there are some
organizations which allow for varying salary structures, most
organizations, pay everyone equally as long as they are in the same
position. So a first class graduate should not be surprised that they
are earning the same as a second class graduate.
3. Streetwise
Many have
found that due to the amount of time, first class graduates dedicated to
their books and libraries, their knowledge in other things is affected.
This is usually passed off as eccentricity.
Some
therefore graduate with a first class degree, but with a little
knowledge of how the world works or how to interact better with other
humans. The ability to relate with humans outside of an academic
environment is a very important skill to have.
4. Social life
This is
closely related to the point highlighted above. Avoiding parties and
limiting socializing to the barest minimum is almost like a prerequisite
for all Nigerian first class graduates.
However,
the truth is that most of Nigeria’s business and other endeavors is done
in a social setting. Deals are concluded over bottles of beer, and
people get jobs at parties where they meet their future employers.
5. Working experience
Many first
class graduates end up working under people who graduated with a third
class or even people who did not see the four walls of a classroom. This
is the reality of today’s employment experience, one that most
graduates need to accept soon.
A second
class graduate might be able to swallow the obvious slight, while a
first class graduate, due to the amount of work he/she has put in to get
that degree.
6. Knowledge
Many first
class graduates do not know as much as people think they actually do.
Many were able to graduate with a first class because they had good
reading and retention abilities. It is possible that the more practical
aspects of their field of study might still be difficult for them.
So when
they get into labor market, there are unusually high expectations which
they may not live up to, leading to problems for them which a second
class graduate may not face.
7. Cash prizes
The
tradition of giving cash prizes to first class graduates seems to be
expected in these times. It however has become what most graduates
expect upon graduation.
This might
foster a sense of entitlement and foster dependency. A second class
graduate, is not expecting any such gifts and will likely be more
proactive to gain financial freedom in his/her own way.
