By James Wakahiu
First year students have been warned to be time conscious as they start
earning marks towards degree awards from Year One not in Third or
Fourth year.
Mout Kenya University (MKU) Vice chancellor, Prof Deogratius
Jaganyi says the former secondary school students often get confused by
university life where there is no one to monitor them.
“It is your personal responsibility to ensure you attend classes, you complete course
work, sit and pass examinations every semester and, finally graduate on
time,” he said.
MKU Ag. DVC APIA Dr Peter Kirira takes new students through orientation. He was representing the VC,Prof Deogratius Jaganyi.
Addressing new students at MKU last week, the vice-chancellor said
students who loose focus end up taking too long to complete their
studies. “Time management is life management. Start managing you
time now and not tomorrow. Avoid distractions because it is important
to focus on the goals not obstacles,” he said.
Daganyi told the freshers to become adept at managing difficult times
“Challenges are part of life. As you begin your studentship, you will
encounter difficult days and choices. Roger Crawford said that “Being
challenged in life is inevitable, being defeated is optional,” he added in a
speech read on his behalf by Acting Deputy Vice Chancellor
(Administration, Planning and Institutional Advancement), Dr Peter
Kirira.
The VC said worry has never accomplished anything. “When you face
challenges, figure out how to climb it, go through it or work around It.
Ladies and gentlemen, God gave us a powerful gift, “the power of
choice”. You may have no power to control your external environment
but one secret is everything changes when you change yourself. Make
the right choices.
Welcoming the new students to MKU, the VC said it takes personal
drive and personal leadership to take the transformational journey. “Ask
yourself, how do I become competitive in the job market or in business
world when I graduate? Most of the unique, good ideas flow internally
and not externally. It is therefore, important to have own strategy on
how to walk the journey of transformation,” he said.
The university don told the students to be ready to be transformed by
first defining what they want to be by end of their studies. “Do not just
think about your goal, write them down. List the great things that will
happen once your transformation is complete that is, the person you will
become by the end of your studies. This will be your source of
motivation,” he said.
Noting that personal transformation takes time and change does not
overnight, Prof Daganyi called for patience. “Evaluate your
performance every semester academic year and eventually you will see
results at the end of your study period,” he advised the freshers.
He told the students to relate well with fellow students and teaching staff
as it is the only way to get an opportunity to learn from them.
“Transformation involves learning new things. Learn from your
lecturers and your fellow students,” he added.
The VC said students must be ready to experience discomfort. “In a
race, one must get tired, sweat, sometimes fall short of breath and
naturally you may want to quit. This a new environment you are not
used to; you meet new people from different parts of the region, do
things that you are not used and for sure this can be scary. Growth is
always uncomfortable, you must embrace the discomfort because when
you practice tolerating discomfort you gain self-confidence and
eventually you will grow,” he said.
Jaganyi advised the students to make maximum use of all the resources
provided, including rich academic faculty, state-of-art learning facilities
and co-curricula facilities. “There is a great opportunity for you to
succeed in academic, co-curricular activities and talent development;
sports, film and creative and performing arts etc. focus to become an all
rounded graduate,” he said.
Echoing the words of Jaggi Vasudev, Prof Jaganyi said: “Self-
transformation is not just about changing yourself. It means shifting
yourself to a completely new dimension of experience and perception”.
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