An Open Letter to Students – On Late Graduation

This is a long story made short.

In my own revolutionary conscience, I would like to tell a story about a young Namibian man who once enrolled for a course of study at the University of Namibia in 2013.

After going through all the battles of my study, I thought I would not graduate in 2017. After all, I tried to avoid failing, but it turned out that the module I failed has postponed my graduation day. What matters most after staying all four years at varsity is ultimately going to bring a qualification home, be it a certificate, diploma or degree.

I was disappointed in my third year of study after my academic record came out with my major module reading “failed – sub minimum not obtained. Please try again next year!”

Now let’s us look at the treatment, the solution, the therapy and the counselling of such stress.

The Danger of Failing Block Modules

Block modules run from semester one and two in our educational context. If you fail one of them while nearing the end of your studies, it will indicate that you have just given yourself another year out of the required six years per course of study. This has a serious disconcerting impact on your chances of graduating as there is no guarantee that you will pass.

Not with assessment of learning! Know your prospectus like you know your constitution, because if do wrong you always then refer back to try to validate your disconcerts. Take them seriously and check out for pre-requisites.

If you have not given up within the first two years of your study, please do yourself a favour and don’t quit. We are fortunate individuals who have not been failing terribly that we lose our beneficiary contracts, be it bursaries, loans or grants. When you know you are progressing, instead just continue to progress. Not everyone who has graduated actually has a clean standing academic record with flying colours as they describe.

What Do Late Graduations Mean

Late graduation is simply an opportunity bestowed to the remaining group of students who did not make it on time with others. It happens for a reason just like getting married. The importance of obtaining a qualification is that is gives you the confidence and buoyancy to be regarded as intelligent in society. Graduating in any number of years is an accomplishment to be proud of, irrespective of what you have gone through.

Some people are addicted to cheating, so do not try to cheat on anyone who will hold you accountable for not graduating. Tell your parents about it as soon as you realise things are not going to work as anticipated. Express your feelings like I am right now and let everyone know before it’s too late. Your family will still love you and your friends will still support you.

Your graduation will happen. If you attend your classes and study hard, it will happen. There is no reason to rush. Just do your best. Try your hardest. Take classes when you can. Just by doing that, you’re doing more than what others are.

You’ll get there. Take your time. Enjoy your classes. Find new interests. Study what you love. Embrace opportunities. Study abroad. This is your time to take in everything the world has to offer.

If you happen to find out that you will be a late graduate, keep calm and continue working towards the special day in your life. I caution you – do it before your study period is declared void.

Essentially, a student facing late graduation has two options: Stay in school and earn a regular qualification late or leave school and earn nothing. Late graduates fare better compared to students who drop out.

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