2013 IN PERSPECTIVE

Lemuel…

www.lifebeyounduniversity.blogspot.com is the blog, no sorry, that's the one we can call our blog! And when I say "our" I don't mean just the three self important guys that founded this blog but it includes you our dear, fantastic and amazing reader.

Yes! We say "our" because we feel you've been with us since our first post. With more than a thousand views throughout the world we know for sure that you have both read and identified with our stories. We can't thank you enough.

Drew…

My growing-up-year is how I describe 2013. Lots of things occurred that changed my life, one of those amazing things is this blog. It has allowed me to use my own life as a test book for the subject of life to the benefit of myself and all the incredible friends who log onto this site daily.

I am grateful for everything that happened in 2013. I mean, I graduated from the Ghana Institute of Journalism! With my crazy friends, ha! Oh, and one of them; Lemuel Nortey won best student! I also enjoyed the mini birthday parties of my dad, three big brothers and of course myself. Have I mentioned that I was posted to Graphic Communications Group Limited for my National Suffering, sorry typo, National Service?

Actually, all those events did not require a lot of growing up from me like the last quarter of 2013 did. Two of my friends, Eric Ninson and Jonathan Donkor lost their mother and father respectively. Actually, Jonathan told me of his dad’s passing the very day I was returning from Eric’s mum’s funeral. I had to learn how to support a friend in emotional pain. I can’t say I did a fantastic job but I did my best.

I look forward to 2014 with much optimism and hope that it will be a good and challenging year. Why wouldn’t it be challenging if I have to secure a job and go back to school after National Service (happy I got that right) and simultaneously establish a company in the agricultural business. Agriculture in this country is not an easy industry and I know I will have fun breaking into it.

Jonny….

Whew! What an expedition. Time really flies. The last time I remember, I was writing the very first entry in my fantasy diary for 2013 ; pledging myself to be at my very best socially , academically, morally  spiritually and  all the “ally’s” but here I am on the last page giving a retrospective view of the year.

2013. Hmm! (searching Google and flipping through the dictionary) the hunt for the most suitable adjective to describe it has been tough. How I wish I could combine “CHALLENGING” and “FULFILLING” and simply say “CHA-FILLING” because the combination of the two best describes my 2013.  

I chose CHALLENGING because death whisked away two of people closest people to my heart; granny and daddy. Their demise hurt so much that Life beyond university somewhat came to a pause; even graduation did not turn out as planned because the family photo would not be complete without these two people.

Alas! The FULFILLING moments came as love lifted me. Albeit my new found love cannot fill the vacuum created by the departure of daddy and granny, she has created her own which cannot also be filled as I have cast her to play lead in the new seasons of my love life.

I am not privy to what 2014 holds; whether another “CHA-FILLING” one or I would have to create another word   but whatever it is I am optimistic because in Christ Alone I place my trust.

 Lemuel here again; I personally feel especially honored to be a host writer on this blog, together with Jonathan and Andrew. However, it shouldn't have to be just us, be a part of this phenomenon, be a writer, be our guest writer! It’s totally therapeutic to tell your own story to the world, believe me I know.

On that note I sign out with the utmost conviction that we have entertained and benefited you since our first post on the 11th of May, 2013. Continue to pass by each time you are online because Life Beyond University just got better. Till our next and 12th post; This is www.lifebeyonduniversity.blogspot.com.

I’M GLAD YOU WERE MY DAD

    

JONNY

Life beyond university was moving on well; at least I was enjoying the 77 steps to my place of posting, my numerous church activities and dreaming of sharing my graduation photos with my family, until Sunday evening of October 6, when death gave me a hard knock on my head, waking me up from my day dream.

Ouch! It still hurts because I am yet to recover from the pain that comes with losing a father.

And so with this poem I wrote about three father’s days ago, not knowing I was writing a tribute to him, I would like to express how special my dad, the late Mr. William Kwame Wasaa Donkor is to me.

                                 

~I’m GLAD you're my DAD~

 I know my dad may never read this

But whether he does or not, it is still his

For all the love words you told my mum,

And all the love songs you had to hum,

For all the lovely gifts you had to buy too

Until finally she said 'I do',

I'm glad

You’re my dad.

For all the strength you lost in making me,

For all the styles though I didn't see,

And for all the silly errands you had to go

All because pregnant mum said so,

I'm glad

You're my dad.

For all the prayers you said till 27th august dawn,

For all the stress till I was finally born,

For all the baby sitting you did whenever mum was away

And all the lullabies you sang to make me play,

I'm glad

You're my dad

For the trouble you went through when I got burnt on my chest,

And the countless times you took me to the clinic for eye test,

For the lenses and frames you continuously bought

And I carelessly broke while I slept or fought,

I'm glad

You're my dad

For each spank, for each slap, for each blow,

For each knock, for each lash I saw you throw,

I hated you but now I’ve grown and I know

That they were only to help me grow

A day will come that I will be called daddy too

And I’ll do my best to be lauded like you

My ears went close to my sweetheart's tummy today

And I’m sure I heard each of my future twins say;

I'M GLAD

YOU'RE MY DAD

{written in June 2011}

 I wake up each morning hoping to hear him knock on my door, reminding me of morning devotion. I enter the living room in the afternoon hoping to find a white bearded man asleep in the sofa with both the TV and radio on; I intentionally fall asleep at the living room in the evening waiting to feel his hand waking me up to go to my own bed.

 As I prepare to physically part with him on Saturday December 14, I know he will still be up there watching over his little boy.

I miss my dad, yes I do but I guess his maker misses him more.

GOOD SAMARITANS DO EXIST!

From Drew.

Every now and then we fall on our friends and family to help us get through the difficulties of life. We may rely on them for financial help, education, health and/or other essential areas of life.

I used to think people only help the people they know. The person may be a high school friend, or even that guy in the neighborhood you may never have spoken with, yet helping such a person would seems much better, simply because of the fact that you are familiar with the person to some extent.

When I went to Takoradi for my National Service, I was struck with much surprise in a mesmerizing way, by how the people, whom I have never met before, were enthusiastic to helping me find a place to stay or perch for a night.

The people I met there were really kind and very welcoming. I was drawn to tears at a point when somebody offered me his three bedroom house for free! Nobody was staying in the house, so he wanted me to stay there for at least two weeks while I look for my own place (he was helping me find a place).

I never had to move to the three bed room apartment because an old friend of mine got me another place. Once again my host did not know me.

I am surprised by all these because I was wondering how I could invite a total stranger to my dad’s house in Accra to sleep over. My contemplation was not about whether my dad would allow it or not. It was more about whether I would opt to do that favor in the first place.

I want to believe that I am a kind person but I do not think I could do what those people in Takoradi did. I think one needs a certain divine inspiration of some sort to be able to be that kind.

They have inspired me to help people more. I realized I don’t have to always be in my comfort zone before I can help someone in need. They opened up their homes for me and they demanded nothing from me, nothing, except of course, to be a good person just so they don’t regret showing an act of kindness to a total stranger.

Prior to my National Service I had given up on the idea of helping people because some people (most of whom are members of my extended family) I had helped had disappointed and disgraced me in the end which sometimes made me curse myself for helping them.

I have a different perception for people now. I have got a renewed Do-Good-Spirit. It doesn’t matter whether or not I know the person who needs my help all I can do is help when I’m approached.

This will be one of many positive things that I can attribute to my national service with Graphic Communications Group Limited.

Thank you to Mr. Agyekum, Cyrus, Ralph, Micheal and my own aunt; Aunty Efuah and her family for their warm welcome to the oil city of Ghana!

When someone calls on you for help, all you need to do is to try and help. You may not be able to achieve the desired results in the end, what is most important is that you at least tried.

PS: Please make sure you are not awarded one of these.

Have you been on the receiving end of some amazing act of kindness? Tell us about it!

10:45

 Okay guys who has ever spent the night wandering the korle-bu teaching hospital?

Hmmm...Well i did, and i came out with valuable experience.
Here is a gist…

• When you do make sure you are absolutely obligated to be  there. 
•        Please make sure  you have the best mosquito repellant with you.The
     mosquitoes swarm all around.   
•   Kindly endeavour to be patient because some 'fianga-fianga' nurse will be extremely rude to you
• Be assured you won`t spend the night in your relations' or acquaintances' ward  especially if they are of the opposite sex.
   
•      Finally, come prepared for life altering moments and scenes i.e. if there is ever any  suitable preparation   for those moments.

Now, let  me tell you how i can be sure of this advice and what's been happening
in my life since my last post.
 Three weeks prior to the 29th of August,2013 the date of  the famous Supreme Court verdict date, I happened to be at the
korle bu teaching hospital on account  of my Grandmother.Her condition was bad
so my aunt and mum took turns, staying with her on twenty-four hour
basis.This meant they needed an errand boy,to be collecting drugs ,laboratory test
results etc.
Yes you guessed right it was good young me.A GIJ graduate
waiting on the National Service Secretariat to post him either to some
obscure village somewhere in Ghana or some big company in Accra.As it turned out, i was most qualified and obligated
in my whole  extended family to spend the nights
wandering the korle Bu Hospital both day and night.
 On nights like these, i found out that the security personnel at the
Hospital were mostly very friendly people who were eager to chat
anytime.However, they are  all immune to mosquito
bites or at least the mosquitoes just missed their presence.It wasn`t so
with me,the mosquitoes attacked me mercilessly. Thus,I had to carry a mosquito repellant with me,applying it to
every part of my body and yet the insects' whining sounds still made the nights
terrible.
On other nights,my mother would call me to come help with adjusting the old
lady's  bed and other stuff.Usually when I did, I met nice young nurses who
were willing to cooperate with us.Nevertheless, on one of those nights  i
met a nurse there and being my gentle self i greeted and told her was to
help lift the old lady.She didn't even look up to see me nor did she utter
a word so i entered the ward.After a few minutes she harshly and loudly
kicked me  out ,stating that guys were not allowed in there.Okay that i can
understand but the fact that my grandma needed special care which they were
not ready to give, was annoying.I left without uttering a word in reply.

 One more thing i observed was that the hospital
is disturbingly peaceful at night, apart from the occasional hallucinative moans and
scary cries of some suffering patients. It happened that i was
prepared to enjoy the peacefulness of one night roaming about, when my
elder sister who was taking care of grandma on this night called me to help
out.This unusually rude nurse pushed
me out .I could only catch a glimpse of grandma’s blank staring back at me.If only i knew those moments would be among her last  i would have
defied the nurse and stayed.I returned to perch somewhere leaving my sister there.

After a few moments,my sister came running up  the stairs shouting grandma is not
breathing! grandma is not breathing! I rushed past her into the ward and
amidst my sister's loud wailing i could bearly make out what the young
doctor said but it sounded something like "I'm sorry but your grandmum
passed away".I turned to see my grandmum oxygen mask off, looking peaceful and
yet it broke my heart..... at that same moment my phone's light came on for
which reason i'll never know and the time said 10:45..A life changing moment it
was.
 Two months after 29th August 2013,am short of one more loved one to share
each milestone i reach with.I realise that death till its done with, will
continue to  pluck our loved ones away one by one, that is if we don't go
first.Then later, we probably find that we are left with no one to share the so called success
with.So maybe, we should all hold on to our loved ones tight, not to be so focused on
our dream chase that we neglect them.
Guys now,do you remember  that obscure village I mentioned earlier? Well the National service postings
came out weeks ago and OH YES BOLGA HERE I COME!......stay tuned more to com come.

77 STEPS TO GNA

FROM JONNY

The Ghana National Service Scheme (NSS) released postings for the 2013/2014 national service year a few weeks back. As usual, the news was received with diverse reactions; disappointment, happiness alike. 

Presently, some people are still registering with the various NSS offices while others are yet to locate their place of posting on the map of Ghana. I wish them all the best.

As for yours truly, I have registered and have even reported to my place of posting. In fact, this piece was written about and at my place of posting.

The very first time I set foot at Ghana News Agency (GNA),Cape Coast was in 2009. I had just started work as an agent for SIC-Life (yes, I’ve worked there and still do; maybe my next post should be about that). 

I had gone there with a letter seeking permission to sell the SIC life policies to the staff. There was just one person there; a young lady who was certainly bored because she was playing with a rubber band.

 After climbing the 77 stairs (I recently counted) to the fourth floor of the former ministries building, where the office is located, on two occasions and never meeting the manager, I gave up and nearly swore I was never returning to that office again.

Two years came to pass; I got admission into Ghana Institute of Journalism (GIJ), the long vacation for internship came and I chose ATL FM; a University of Cape Coast based radio station. It is affiliated to JOY FM; one of the best radio stations in Ghana.

The day I sent my introductory letter, I was given a hearty welcome that made me feel I was already a part of them, all because their marketing manager was also called Jonathan Donkor. That feeling unfortunately was short-lived as I was told the next day that there was no vacancy.

I was eager and ready to work so I went to Eagle FM, YES FM and Graphic Communications group limited; all in Cape Coast but their responses were negative. 

Then at a choir delegates’ rally at Twifo Praso, I met an alumnus of GIJ. He had done his internship at GNA- Cape Coast and advised that I send a letter there. He sounded convincing so I decided to give it a try despite my initial encounter.

I climbed the 77 stairs again the next day, submitted my letter and to my utmost amazement, I was asked to report to work the next day.

 As the days went by the perception I had due to my initial encounter changed as I realized that the work was on the field but not at the office hence the empty office I met a few years back.

I went places, met dignitaries and saw my stories online and in the newspaper even though it did not bear my name. The feeling was good especially the day Radio Ghana used my story as a leading news item.

I ascended and descended the 77 stairs for almost two months and when the time came for me to return to school, I did not want to leave because I was learning a lot about the job. But I had no choice than to leave.

I will always be grateful to Mrs. Alice Tettey, Mrs. Justina Paaga, the delightful Ms. Delight Dela Biney and all the staff and service personnel who mentored me.

It feels good to be back for national service. It feels good to be climbing the 77 stairs again. I no longer see it as an occupational hazard, rather a constant reminder that a journey of 10,000 miles begins with a step.

I cannot predict the future; whether I will stay here after service or leave but wherever I may work as a communicator, I will always be guided by the motto of GNA; speed, accuracy and objectivity.

And every difficult task or trial that comes my way, I will see and climb it like the 77 stairs to GNA.