What do you want to do after NYSC?

A picture of myself during NYSC camp drills

Ah, the dreaded question: “What do you want to do after NYSC?” If I had a naira for every time I heard this, I’d probably have enough to escape to a remote island and ponder my future in peace. Honestly, the question terrifies me. It’s like staring at a blank canvas, but someone forgot to hand me the paintbrush, or even tell me what picture I’m supposed to paint. WHERE IS THE INSTRCUTION MANUAL?!!

The future creeps closer every day, shamelessly unbothered, while we shuffle around trying to make sense of it all. Our future is, quite literally, in our hands, yet it feels like trying to hold water with a sieve. There’s nothing as mysterious, or as maddening, as the unknown.

Once upon a time, I had it all figured out or so I thought. I wanted a career that screamed “guaranteed success.” Nursing seemed like the holy grail. You know; stable, respected, financially secure. But these days, even nurses are hustling like their lives depend on it.

The other day, I visited a family friend at the hospital. A gorgeous young nurse complimented my wig and then launched into a pitch:
“Sis, I sell wigs oh. Beautiful wigs like this one you’re wearing. In fact, I have some with me now for delivery later today. I can show you samples so you see how neat my work is.”

After the conversation, I walked away stunned. So, even being a nurse doesn’t come with a “financially comfortable life” guarantee? Nawa o. Adulthood is wild. Every day, I wonder, “Who signed me up for this? Nobody told me it would be this hard!”

When I was 14 or 15, life seemed so simple, barbie movies kinda simple. You know the drill: pick a career, gain admission, study the course, fall in love, graduate, get a good job, marry, build a house, have kids, and live happily ever after. Straightforward, right?

But life is the opposite of a ruler, not straight at all. First, I didn’t gain admission on my first try. When I did, I settled for a course I never imagined I’d study. Fast forward, I’m graduating single, with no grand plan for what happens after NYSC.

And then there’s the location dilemma. You might be a proud Abuja babe today, but what if your dream job is in Sokoto? Suddenly, you’re packing your life into a bag and starting afresh as a stranger in a new land. If that doesn’t send shivers down your spine, I don’t know what will.

Everyone says, “Learn a skill. Be your own boss!” But not everyone is cut out to be an entrepreneur. Managing a business is no joke. if you don’t have backup resources, and a backup for your backup, you’re asking for trouble.

And let’s not even talk about probabilities. You could start a business, and it might thrive, or it might flop. You could graduate and get a job, or not. You could strike gold or stay on the hustle. It’s a big game of “it could be this” or “it could be that.”

All roads lead to one unchanging truth: the future is unpredictable. It’s like a game of chess, except you can’t see your opponent’s moves in advance. Every decision we make shapes the outcome, yet we have no guarantee of the results. Isn’t that terrifying?

Now, when people ask me, “What’s your plan after NYSC?” I’ve stopped pretending to have all the answers. My go-to response is:
“I have multiple skills. I can stand on my own as an entrepreneur or thrive in a team for a company. But I’m not making rigid plans. I’ll take life as it comes and make the most of it.”

Because isn’t that all we can do? Prepare as best we can, so that the future, whatever it looks like, doesn’t catch us completely off guard. After all, as the Yoruba proverb goes, "Oo le gbiyanju lati sare ju ojiji rẹ lọ, ṣugbọn o le kọ ẹkọ lati rin pẹlu rẹ." (You can’t outrun your shadow, but you can learn to walk with it.)

And so, here I am, walking boldly (although nervously) into the great unknown, preparing myself for what every corner I take, might bring.

Hivenaija December prompt: Fear of the Unknown.

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