The Certificate of Secondary Education Exams kicked off last week in Kenya, with 577, 253 candidates sitting for their high school exit exams. The results will be released either late February or early March, 2017.
The KCSE examination is also the entrance exam to public and private universities in Kenya. Students who are bound for higher education after high school will have a few months’ time on their hands before their university course begins. Njeri Mbure, a UNICAF Marketing Officer in Kenya has some good advice for them:
Dear secondary school leavers, don’t waste your time until your university course starts; invest this free time wisely, and start working on your future career; here are some useful activities to take up, which may also help you discover your hidden talents.
Volunteering is a great way to give back to society, to make new contacts and learn new things, plus it looks really good on your CV. Try things you have always wanted to do, such as DIY (Do it Yourself) projects, that could help you discover a hidden passion for design, decorating, or even carpentry. Learn to sing by joining a choir, or learn about theatre by offering your services as backstage assistant.
One of the most effective ways to get ahead in your career is through networking. The people you meet today may one day prove very useful. Take the time to meet new people and ask about the work they do. If they are in the profession you intend to pursue, or even in one you are considering as an alternative, their advice and experience will be valuable to you in the years to come.
Most successful people have relied on their mentors at the beginning of their careers; having someone who can give you sound academic advice, or show you constantly the right path in career and life, is a precious gift. Having a mentor is equivalent to having an accountability partner, who helps you navigate through life, making informed choices.
Learning a foreign language gives you a competitive advantage in the job market, opening up opportunities to jobs that demand multi-lingual staff. Speaking more than one foreign language is seen as a sign of flexibility and adaptability to diverse working environments and makes you more employable; plus, languages come in handy when you travel to foreign countries.
