Chapter1: HOW IT BEGAN.
I have shared this story so many times, at random times with
random people, but I have never written it down. I guess this is a good time to
do so seeing as my daughters are around the age that I made a decision that,
well, sort of changed what I dreamed my career path would look like.
You see, I studied microbiology in the university. 90% of
persons who study microbiology started
off with the intention of studying medicine, ending up with microbiology (or
Biochemistry) because they did not meet the cut off for their choice
course-medicine. As for me, however, my 1st and 2nd
choice in the Jamb that got me into university was microbiology. Biology,
English and Agricultural science were and have always been my favorite subject.
Like, I did not have to stress to pass these courses-A grade too! I love
Biology and English especially so naturally, I knew I would enjoy working in
the lab.
Now to the real gist. I decided to study microbiology with
the intention of working in a medical laboratory when I graduated from school. Unfortunately,
I got a huge shocker in my 2nd year (shey that is when we usually go
for that 3 months IT?) in the university when I went to UCH ibadan for my first
Industrial Training. I worked for that period at the medical microbiology
laboratory in UCH and it was there I discovered that if I wanted to be
certified to work in a medical microbiology laboratory, I needed to have a
degree as a Medical Laboratory Scientist. Wow! First lesson: before you decide
on a course to study, be sure it is leading you in the direction you intend to
go (except of course, your intention is just to sha go to university). Let me
quickly mention here that I had done about 6 months IT cumulative at a private
medical microbiology laboratory in Ughelli while and after I had my OND in Science
laboratory technology before going into the university. What made it worse was
that, the time I spent working as an IT student in UCH made me surer of my love
for the laboratory. The culturing of samples on petri dishes, viewing of sample
slides under the microscope. I cannot forget the first time I saw that moving
micro-organisms, erm whats the name now….yes… trichomonas vaginalis…under the
microscope while viewing a urine sample. Reminded me of when I first saw
spermatozoans in semen samples during my OND Industrial training days. Those little
tadpoles are damn fast and uncountable in a healthy semen sample. Talk to me in
the corner let me explain what the unhealthy ones look like to you. The disgusting
task of writing out the macroscopy (physical appearance) of a stool sample viz formed,
semi-formed, watery. Quick advice- whenever you are asked to bring a stool
sample, think of the laboratory attendant and remember to only drop no bigger
than a chin chin size. Gosh! Please do not fill up the sample bottle! They do
not need more than a smear most times anyway.
Sorry, I wasted your time reminiscing. As I was saying or
typing, it realized I was in the wrong course. I asked myself if I should just
find a school where they studied MLS (medical laboratory science) and go start
afresh. But omoh, 2years has passed now…I was not eager to start afresh. I entered
university at the age of 21 since I had already done 2 years getting an OND
that I never used. I found out that there was an 18 months course in UCH
ibadan, that I could come back to do, as a graduate of microbiology that would
earn me a degree as a Medical laboratory scientist. Great! I decided that was
what I would do.
Chapter 2: THE FIRST STEP TO MY NOW
I enjoyed studying microbiology so much, except when I had
to write my BCH (biochemistry related) exams sha. Oh ofcourse, any physics
related never worked for me but thankfully we were done with that by our first
year. My favorite subjects (blasting As, lol let me brag small) were
pharmaceutical microbiology, virology (tough but you know when you like the
lecturer it gets easier), and mycology. Environmental microbiology was not bad
either. Although they were busy telling us that we are the quality control
gurus that the FMCGs needed when we were done with school, (we kuku believed them)
I had my mind set on working in a medical laboratory. So my thought and plan
was after NYSC, I would go to UCH ibadan and do that 18months course that would
certify me to be what I wanted to be. Unfortunately, before we even began NYSC,
that course had been scrapped from UCH. Reason is because of some set of
persons being upset about the likes of us who will come and do 18 months and be
the boss of them who did a full 2 years lol. Long story that there is no need
for right now sha. Me too now went and got married in the course of my NYSC and
I allowed myself to believe that marriage is a reason for me to not keep moving
towards my goal. Yes, UCH cancelled the course, I found out that University of Jos
had this same 18months program. I could have applied and gone for it like two
of my course mates did but well, I did not wish to go to school as a married
and pregnant girl. Second lesson- never allow marriage or motherhood alter
your dreams. Others are doing it. You can too.
I still really wanted to tow that line or atleast something
similar. I heard of a nursing school in saki, oyo state and I randomly
mentioned to my husband that I want to go there. Lol, man’s got his hustle too
as a young, not big earner, hustler of a civil servant. He can only tell me its
okay. The responsibility of making the move laid solely on me. Again, I allowed
‘I have a baby’ to hold me back. Third lesson- if you do not make a move to
act, nobody will take your words seriously.
Let us skip to a couple of years after, I managed to get a
job in a medical laboratory (my past experience helped me). This was were I became
a guru (I don use that one chop eba sha) at drawing blood samples. I am smiling
at the memory of my time there. I loved every bit of it. Although my main job
there was to type out tests results ( I type faster than most secretaries. Lol),
whenever we had a crowd waiting, I would help out in the laboratory. I was not
allowed to work in the laboratory officially because I was not certified to do
so. Sigh. Truth is, not confirming about my course of choice and my intended
career remains one of my biggest regrets ever. I am grateful to my boss for
showing me (atleast he allowed me to watch and learn) how to carry out more
simple laboratory tests, thereby adding to the knowledge gained from my IT
days. I cannot continue being front desk, report typing graduate sha. Therefore,
I continued my search for something else…whatever….anything that I will atleast
be happy doing.
In 2011, I got my first make-sense job as client manager in
an HMO. At first, I did not even know what the job was about. All I knew was
that it was the health sector so I guess that was satisfying. Bad as e bad, I will
still be in the mix of something I enjoyed doing….in a way sha.
Chapter 3: THIS IS ME NOW
As a client manager, my key role was to ensure client satisfaction
and retention. I have very good interpersonal relationship so building relationships
with clients came quite easy. In my department at the time, all three of us had
science background (2 microbiologists with experiences in medical areas and 1
health educationist) so it was easy for us to take up the task of giving health
talks (slides prepared with the supervision of doctors in our medical department).
We also carried out on-site checks by ourselves. The onsite checks included
basic tests such as blood sugar, blood pressure (we used only the digital sphygmomanometer)
and Body mass index, so we were not breaking any rules. My favorite area was
giving the health talks and carrying out the blood sugar test. Of course,
pricking fingers for blood samples allowed for sweet memories of my laboratory
days.
Twelve years later in the same industry and sector, 3 HMOs
and one non-HMO health organization after, the favorite part of my job still
remains having engagement sessions with my clients. Although where I currently
work, the part of giving health talks to client and carrying out onsite check
lies with the medical services department, I always enjoy tagging along as
there is always something new to learn from their presentation. Did I mention
anywhere up there that I am also a peer educator long before I became a
certified counsellor? I am sure I did not. Well, this makes it really easy for
me to speak freely on every subject area without discomfort that some others
may feel where they need to make reference to sexual parts of the bodies or similar
topics.
I noticed in my first year as a client manager, I had an
advantage over my colleagues where it came to interacting with different classes
and levels of clients because I am good enough in my spoken English to speak
eloquently when the crowd is Executive or ‘tush’ type category. Also, because my
first language is pidgin English (pure sapele born and bred that I am), I could
also easily control an ‘agbero’ or ‘trenches’ kind of crowd (no offence meant
please). Is it Yoruba, I was fluent too (as long as you do not expect me to do
the parable thing). Let me share a short story…maybe two with you. I was
managing a client and a section of them were truck drivers. I mean the big Dangote-type
trucks o. These people were very disgruntled and the session I was going for was
a re-orientation type thing. When I got there and I saw them sitting all over,
floors, leaning on walls etc, I said to myself, ‘girl, no laptop is needed here’.
I left my laptop in the car and came out, faced them and tried to introduce myself
‘officially’ in good English. The response I got basically was something along
the line of. ‘we are not here for your big English, what do you have for us. Speak
and let us move onto other things’. I looked really official likeeee. I took a
deep breath and switched my brain to my sapele mode. I ‘hailed’ them and smiled
at them, saying something along the lines of ‘I do not have anything for you to
drink but do not worry you will like what I have to say’. The response I got
from them in expression and all assured me I now had their attention.
Another similar case was when I had to address some factory
workers and the very learned HR saw me and said, ‘you are the person your company sent? Ha,
you cannot handle this people o. I don’t think it is advisable you even speak
to them. Go back and let one of your male colleagues come. These men are rugged
and they do not care. You may even leave here in tears’ (something very very
close to those lines). I told him in confidence that it is okay and I am sure I
will be fine-I was happy and grateful for the heads up sha. The people gathered
and as expected, looked me all over like who is this one? I smiled at them and
asked in pidgin, should we speak Yoruba or English? Tell me which you prefer. Some
laughed many smiled, a few still had stone faces, and they responded, ‘speak
both o speak the two’. Anyways, we had a successful interactive session in mainly
pidgin English and some Yoruba. At the end of the session, the HR told me how
surprised but impressed he was at how I handled his staff.
I am still a client manager. Do I still enjoy my job? Most part
of it, especially the part that has to do with me interacting with my clients. Oh,
I feel really satisfied when I am able to resolve a client’s problem. Ofcourse there
are the areas I cannot say I enjoy so much of. Lol. That is not what this write
up is about. I look forward to my next client engagement session happening in a
few hours from now.
The decision to put all this down in writing came about
40mins before I started. Yes, that is the only way I have ever successfully
written anything in my life. Short notice inspiration with immediate action. Hopefully,
the next time I write something again will not be in another 6 years!
