WHO I AM RIGHT NOW

 

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 1^st and 2^nd 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 2^nd 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!