A Redo?

I saw a tweet that said, “If somebody offered to send you back to the University for a second degree, fully funded, in a Nigerian private university of your choosing, would you take it? And what course would you do this time?”
I think the whole emphasis on a private university is because of the needless strikes by the educational sector that draw students back by years. But then there’s the other part. I know that there are a lot of us who regret the course we studied in college and others who don’t regret it but would love to have studied something else in addition.

I’m currently in college studying the course of my dreams. Or I’d like to think it is. But what if I could switch to something else or be done with this course and come back to study something else, what would that be? While everyone else discovered their skills in the beginning like singing, dancing, drawing, etc. And while I write this, I realize that I’m not bad in any of these but I can’t, knowing what talent means, call them my talents.

But then I realized, that creative writing and speaking have always come naturally to me. I’m usually okay with people underestimating or looking down on me, because I know the moment they read what I write or listen to me speak, they’d look at me differently. Or they’d see me better. And while I, in no way, actively seek the validation of others, it’s nice to know that you have an ace up your sleeve.

So when it comes to college, if I had the chance to study public speaking and creative writing as a career, I would. Nothing much, just the best writers and most confident speakers in the world as my lecturers. I can assure you, I’ll never even though an illness has me in a chokehold, miss a single class. I’ll be punctual and sit at the front, right under their noses. Taking down every single word of expertise and listening from their fountain of knowledge like my world depended on it._{which it does.*}

Sadly, something like that can’t be available but yeah, that’s the only reason I would want to go back to college for a second degree. The truth is, I realize that automation and AI have come to stay. And we can only learn to live with it and hope it doesn’t reach heights our careers can withstand. I don’t know what careers AI has brought for humans apart from Prompt Engineering but what about the rest of us?

I heard that copywriters are nearly out of business cause AI has taken their jobs. But as a writer, I don’t know why I’m not worried. AI has genuinely been a blessing. But I’m a bibliophile and a writer so I know that AI would never replace it. When I say this, I think of my favourite books. I think of the soul that emanates from each line, each page. Words that make me laugh to the point of hysteria and cry till I practically empty my ducts.

In the galaxy of writers, the emotions we evoke with our words make us indispensable. Let me not talk about public speaking. I mean, if you’re some Diplomat or an Ambassador. Or a motivational speaker or even someone who has a story to share, what height do you think AI could reach to beat that of humans? Wouldn’t you say our career as writers, speakers and of course legal practitioners(I can’t leave out my dear field) is safe?

But then...

I saw this video on TikTok and apparently, a new Chat AI has been developed. And this one speaks. This one offers advice and gives compliments. Lol, the AI, which had a female voice was even giggling like a besotted teenager and flirting in return. I was astounded and skipped to another video. I blatantly refused to think about it. But then, what are the odds? That my skills and strengths in speaking, writing and counselling will soon become a skillset you can simply switch on in your AI and they deliver impeccably?

What are the odds?

However, I’ve refused to fear. Somehow, since I know that all of these are created by fallible, flawed humans, AI will always be flawed. Always never be this imitation of humans on a more perfect scale. It’s enough to make me relax.

A career to me, in conclusion, is more than the field you studied in the university. It is what puts food on your table just as it puts a smile on your face. The absence of the latter just makes it a job. A career is what helps you grow, not just financially but emotionally and personally as well. With a career, you continuously evolve. Continuously develop. Continuously grow.

So back to the question, would you return to the university for a second degree if all expenses were paid? If yes, what would you do?

Jhymi🖤

---

This post is courtesy of the May Inleo Prompts. Do check it out...

---

_{Image created with Meta AI ^{...ironic right?}}

Posted Using InLeo Alpha