Showing posts with label Campus Life. Show all posts
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As the leaves fall from the trees and the crisp autumn air fills the campus, many young students find themselves caught up in the whirlwind of college romance. But for all the excitement and butterflies that come with a new relationship, there is a harsh reality that often sets in: relationships on campus just don't seem to work.

One of the main reasons for this is the sheer amount of stress and pressure that college students are under. With demanding classes, extracurricular activities, and the ever-present pressure to succeed, it can be difficult for students to find the time and energy to devote to a relationship. As a result, many relationships end up falling by the wayside, leaving both partners feeling hurt and frustrated.

Another reason why relationships on campus often fail is the fact that students are constantly surrounded by a sea of potential partners. With so many attractive, intelligent, and interesting people all around, it can be tempting for students to explore their options and pursue new experiences. This can lead to infidelity and a lack of commitment, which are major factors in the downfall of many college relationships.

READ ALSO : Confession : My roommate from Hell

Additionally, the transient nature of college life can also take a toll on relationships. With students moving in and out of dorms and apartments, and graduating and moving on to new cities and jobs, it can be difficult to maintain a sense of stability and continuity in a relationship. This can lead to feelings of isolation and disconnection, which can ultimately push partners apart.

Campus relationships can be challenging due to the transitional nature of college life. Typically, the majority of the students are learning and growing, while trying to figure out who they are and what they want. This can make it hard to fully commit to a relationship, as they may feel like they need to explore and discover themselves before they can truly be in a successful partnership. This lack of commitment and uncertainty can lead to conflicts and misunderstandings, which can ultimately cause a relationship to break down.

Additionally, the pursuit of relationships with older and wealthier partners by some college students, , particularly women, can create power imbalances and lead to feelings of resentment and inadequacy. The age difference can also cause conflicting priorities and expectations, ultimately leading to the breakdown of the relationship. Overall, the unique challenges of college life can make it difficult for campus relationships to thrive.

All of these factors combine to create a perfect storm of challenges for college relationships. And while it may be tempting to blame yourself or your partner for the failure of a relationship, the truth is that the deck is often stacked against college couples. So, the next time you find yourself caught up in the excitement of a new romance on campus, remember that it's not always easy to make it work, and that it's okay to let go and move on.

READ ALSO : List of TOP 10 Campus business ideas you can start with less than 5k


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Not the real picture - for attention!

In 2015, there was a young student named Emily, a BCOM student at Egerton University. Emily was struggling to make ends meet - food, printing etc

She shared a 10x10 wooden room in a small slum called Njokerio, just outside the university. Emily had taken out loans ( HELB ) to pay for her education. Even with a part-time job in one of the shops in Campus, she found it difficult to afford all of her expenses.
One day, Emily's roommate suggested that she try to save money by cooking her own meals instead of eating out all the time. At first, Emily was skeptical. She had never been much of a cook and didn't think she had the time or the skills to whip up delicious meals on a budget.
But with a little practice and some help from her roommate, Emily soon discovered that she could save a lot of money by cooking for herself. She started by buying ingredients in bulk and making simple dishes like Mandazi, Chapati, Doughnuts , chips, githeri etc. As she became more confident in the kitchen, she began to experiment with more complex recipes and even started bringing her homemade lunches to campus.
Emily's cooking skills quickly became well-known among her classmates, and before long, she was receiving requests to make extra meals for them. Seeing an opportunity to earn some extra money, Emily started selling her homemade lunches to her fellow students. This additional income helped her to make ends meet and even allowed her to save up for some of the things she had been missing out on, like going out with friends or buying new textbooks.
Not only did Emily save a lot of money by cooking for herself and selling her meals to her classmates, but she also found that she was eating healthier and feeling better overall. And as a bonus, she even made some new friends by sharing her meals with her classmates.
In the end, Emily learned that with a little creativity and hard work, it was possible to survive and thrive even in a small slum like Njokerio. Emily graduated from Egerton University and stepped into the real world, .... she held tight to the valuable lesson she had learned. Now, she runs a thriving three-star hotel in Nakuru, always remembering the wisdom of her past.
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The Roommate from Hell : Egerton University

When I was a student at Egerton University - Njoro Campus, I had the misfortune of being assigned to share a room with my course mate. At first, I was excited at the prospect of having a roommate, but that excitement quickly turned to frustration and annoyance. 

My roommate, let's call him Omondi, was a complex person. On the one hand, he was a talented and intelligent dude who always performed well in his Engineering exams. He was also a friendly and outgoing person who was popular among our course mates. On the other hand, he was a messy and inconsiderate person who made my life miserable. 

Omondi was notorious for bringing an endless stream of girls back to our room and satisfying his carnal desires with them, making loud noises and moaning openly. He was a total slob, always leaving a trail of dirty clothes and half-eaten food in his wake as he carelessly tossed his belongings all over room. Sometimes, he would also eat my food, inabidi nimeiname, ....... wear my clothes without permission, and steal my coins. His behavior was incredibly disruptive and made it impossible for me to study or sleep. Despite his good qualities, I found it difficult to get along with him because of his bad habits and disrespectful behavior.

One night, I had had enough. I was trying to study for an important exam, but Omondi and his girl were making so much noise that I couldn't concentrate. I asked them politely to be quiet, but they just ignored me and kept going. I tried to ignore them and focus on my studies, but it was impossible. Finally, I snapped and shouted at them to shut up. They were taken aback by my outburst, but they finally stopped.

From then on, things only got worse between us. Omondi started to resent me for standing up to him, and he would often do things to spite me, like turn off the lights when I was studying or take my food from the fridge without asking. I tried to talk to him and resolve our issues, but he refused to listen.

Eventually, I couldn't take it anymore. I complained to the university administration, and they agreed to move me to a different room. I was relieved to be away from Omondi and got some peace and managed to focus on my studies.

Dear Friend, If you're living with a roommate from the depths of hell, it's time to take a stand and set some boundaries. Learn to assert yourself and protect your own well-being. Don't let a difficult roommate bring you down.

Some roommates are straight from hell.

READ ALSO : List of TOP 10 Campus business ideas you can start with less than 5k

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Here is a list of 10 business ideas comrades can start with less than KES 5,000 at your free time with minimal extra skills. Leverage on social media to reach more clients.

1. Selling laptop and phone stickers. You can source them at luthuli or download or design custom ones and print on vinyl paper.


Sample Laptop sticker



2. Polish people's jewelry and restore white shoes to their original color. This is done with special polishes and detergents for those specific purposes.


Restoring white shoes

3. Car headlight restoration and tinting. This is cleaning stained headlights and making them brand new. Window tinting comes as a bonus.



4. Selling cool rolling papers. It is very legal to sell rolling papers. So if you know friends who puff puff and plugs you can sell them your products.


Sample Tobacco rolling papers


5. Sell hand made jewelry. Guys with artistic ideas can make earrings, bracelets waist beads etc and make some extra cash.

Sample hand jewelry



6. Selling custom water bottles. You can source unique water bottles and even customize them for each customer.

Sample custom water bottles


7. Sell custom shoe laces and buttons. People are willing to get a new set of buttons for their shirts as long as it makes them look cooler.

Sample custom shoe laces

8. Sell photos online. If your phone has a cool camera or can get a better one, this is for you. Best selling photos show nature, love, happiness, sunsets etc. Use sites like shutterstock.com

9. Do simple online jobs like data entry, logo design, social media management etc. You can try sites like freelancer.com

10. Be a broker. Be that resourceful person who can source things for people when they need them at a small fee. Cars, laptops, tvs, second hand products, etc.

Lastly, no business is automatic. It will require some commitment, service delivery, trustworthiness and creativity. Don't forget to SAVE for growth. All the best.😊😉
---------
For more, follow Anna on Twitter.



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A large of students graduate every year but keeping in view the no of graduates in different fields compare to the no of jobs offered every year, there are much less jobs available and that’s why unemployment increases day by day. Every one of us who completes his/her degree start running after the job. His/her prime purpose each day is to find a job, no matter how much the pay is or whatever hard it is but a

JOB.

But keeping in view the no of jobs and opportunities available, there are not much positions available and still running after the job, many of us remain unemployed and due to which demotivation, frustration, anxiety and hopelessness increases.

Especially young graduates have no motivation nowadays.

You know that there is one major problem with the Social Animal called Mr. Human. The problem is “IMPATIENCE”.

Being human, I have suffered of this problem and I have wasted a lot of time but at same time I have learnt a lot. Before my job in Dec-2016, I have almost 18 months of being unemployed graduate. I like programming and I have tried every programming language and now today I know the basics of almost every programming language but I am jack of all and master of none because of this  habit. I have not earned much but have learnt a lot. I have made mistakes but today I have learnt a lot from those mistakes and now today I want to share what I have learnt to help you avoid those mistakes and to give you a concise and clear way to earn while still unemployed. One thing I want to make clear that I am not sharing anything like QUICK RICH formula but what I am sharing, will require a lot of hardwork, patience, focus, dedication and commitment.



Many of us graduate and then their whole purpose of life becomes finding a job. Just they read their course again and again and prepare for tests and interviews and not doing anything other than this. I am not saying that don’t prepare for tests, do prepare, work hard to find a job in a good organization but being jobless, open your mind and start learning about other opportunities around you because It will help you in both your personal development and also in financial side.

You know GOD has given you the gift of a good education from a good institution and you should use this great gift.

A lot of people in this world, less educated than you, having much less access to opportunities as compare to you, but are earning tons of money using the online opportunities available.

YOU CAN EARN TOO!!!!!

What you have to do, Just START!!!!!!

Now you will think, what to start, where to start, how to start?

And I am going to tell you in this article “what, where and how”.

1- BLOGGING:

Blogging is a great place to start for anyone who like writing about anything. You are graduated in any field of education and you can write blog about any subject of your field. If you are engineer, you write blog about different technologies and problems occurring and how to solve it. Enough Opportunities are available but you have just to start. Even if you are a student, you can also write about how to solve a specific problem? You can learn about blogging using YouTube videos and also different articles on GOOGLE. Just type “How to learn blogging” and “How to earn money using blogging” and you will find tons of articles and videos about it.

2-YouTubing

YouTube is second most searched Search Engine after Google. If you have a passion towards technology, programming, software, education, music and any other passion, and you can talk about it, you can teach about it, you can make videos about it, then YouTube is the great and free place for you. You can make a channel on YouTube and make videos about anything and upload it and view will come, ads will appear and you will earn. But keep in mind this great advice that first learn then earn. YouTube is the great place to show your skills. A large no of people having much less education then you are earning thousands of bucks per month and living a happy life. YouTube is great place in a way that It helps you develop your presentation skills, designing skills, video recording and editing skills and personal development skills. I know a guy who is just middle class and earning thousands of bucks with his “” channel. This is just one example. Just you have to choose a niche and start making videos. You can learn about YouTube Earning Career using different articles and YouTube videos. A large no of tutorials are available.

3 — FREELANCING

Freelancing is great career for anyone who has knowledge about anything especially for programmers, developers, designers, video editors, article writers. There is a large no of great freelancing platforms that includes Freelancer, Upwork, Fiverr, PeoplePerHour and many more.

Freelancing is a great place because it has much more opportunities available for people from different fields.

You can learn about freelancing using Google and YouTube.

All the above 3 methods shared above are great in every aspect for anyone either employed or unemployed. But all of these requires learning it. Believe me learning is not hard. If you can learn tons of subjects (most of those you don’t like) for 16 years then why not try 4–6 months more with more hardwork, commitment and focus to change your life. First you should learn any skills for 4–6 months minimum and then apply it to earn using it and at the same time keep learning it. Because according to 70–20–10 law, 70 percent of learning occurs while practically applying the skill.

My advice to you is that either you are a student, a graduated unemployed, graduating soon or an employed early level professional, that try any of these method to start online earning. Because it will help you develop your skills and will expand your mind and will help in you in your future job.

Also My advice to anyone, who has decided to learn online earning, is that first learn any skills or about any niche for 4–6 months and then after learning it, start earning through it. Apply the skill or method you have learnt and then keep learning and earning at the same time. Don’t be impatient. Don’t hurry the process. To earn using these methods it will take time up to 1 year or more and then you will enjoy the life.

If anyone can do it then you can do it. If people are making money using these methods, you can earn too. If you can work hard for 16 years to get a piece of paper (degree) then why not work for 1 year more to learn those skills and methods.

My dear unemployed graduates, GOD has blessed you with a great ability but you need to start. So start now. I am saying that don’t search for jobs but the key purpose of this piece of text is that while searching for jobs, also find ways to earn money. Because there is no guarantee in today’s world of extreme unemployment that when you will find a job but if open your mind, expand your thinking, think big then enormous opportunities are in front of you. Just think big. Just expand you mind. Just open your eyes to see those opportunities.

My dear unemployed graduates, GOD has given us 24 hours in a day and this is much much enough time for everyone to do anything but it depends on us how we use it. Now from today, this moment, promise yourself that out of those 24 hours, for only 4 hours, I will learn about online earning and a skill that will help me to earn online. Do whatever you do in those 20 hours, apply for jobs, play, sleep, enjoy with friends but 4 hours only for this task. Then in a short time you will observe how your life changes. How your circumstances changes.

Now Decision is in your hand. ACTION is in your hand. You are capable of much more. Just don’t content yourself by only 16 years of education. Do what you can do today to make your life better.

Start Today because Today is GIFT and Tomorrow is a Mystery.

Because GOD help those who help themselves. You cannot control unemployment but you have control over yourself and my dear this is the time to take control of your time because those who wastes time, then time wastes them.



If you liked this article, click the share button, so other people can read and enjoy it here on ChuoniKenya. Also Share it on Facebook and Twitter to reach this message to your loved ones. Subscribe to MOTIVATION RECHARGE Channel on Youtube to Watch and Hear Motivational.

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University Of Nairobi - School of Business

Prof. Mwaluma from the University of Nairobi has this to say to college and university students:

Life requires more than the ability to understand a concept, memorise it and reproduce it in an exam. School rewards people for their memory. Life rewards people for their imagination. School rewards caution, life rewards daring. 

Academic excellence is overrated! I said it. Being top of your class does not necessarily guarantee that you will be at the top of life. You could graduate as the best student in Finance but it doesn't mean you will make more money than everybody else. The best graduating Law student does not necessarily become the best lawyer.

READ ALSO: First Years Guide Book : Do and Don'ts

The fact is life requires more than the ability to understand a concept, memorise it and reproduce it in an exam. School rewards people for their memory. Life rewards people for their imagination. School rewards caution, life rewards daring. School hails those who live by the rules. Life exalts those who break the rules and set new ones.



So do I mean people shouldn't study hard in school? Oh, no, you should. But don't sacrifice every other thing on the altar of First Class. Don't limit yourself to the classroom. Do something practical. Take a leadership position. Start a business and fail. That's a better Entrepreneurship 101.Join or start a club. Contest an election and lose. It will teach you something Political Science 101 will not teach you. Attend a seminar. Read books outside the scope of your course. Go on missions and win a soul for eternal rewards.

Comrades: Do something you believe in! Think less of becoming an excellent student but think more of becoming an excellent person. Make the world your classroom.

Step forward try politics, try business, try an extra thing great person.

I wish you all the best in your academics.

READ ALSO: LADIES : Beware of the Ponyoka Na Fresher Operation

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Hang in there, we hope for better days.
After graduating in Sep 2019 and landing an internship immediately things were going very well. In Jan 2020 everything seemed promising, it was the year I was going to land that dream job. Opportunities were in plenty Total, Schneider, EABL, Baker Hughes all had graduate programs and not forgetting other entry level engineering jobs and internships. 

I landed two interviews in the first week of January. One was at Kapa Oil for an internship position. This is the first Mhindi company I have ever come across. The interview was great.The offer was a 6-month internship, no pay, had to pay for my own lunch in the vegan canteen, I took it. After two days there, I got a real job offer in a bakery till Rona hit and I lost the job after 6 months, had to start tarmacking again. This is where my nightmare started.

On 29th June, UoN Career Services posted a job advert and it was forwarded on WhatsApp. Metal Crowns Ltd wanted Mechanical and Engineering graduates and I knew this is it. I mean UoN career services gotta be legit.

This was the job description.



The job looked good on paper, it's operation of automatic machines.

I didn't waste any time so I sent my CV to UoN career services and they confirmed. All I had to do now is wait.

On 30th June, that was the last day on my old job. I got a call from the company's HR, a very nice and calm man, he invited me for an interview. I was lucky I mean I haven't even spent time tarmacking. I was very excited.

The following week, I went for the interview. They gave me an aptitude test, easy basic Engineering maths and some stuff about compressed air and how to read a vernier caliper... I did well and at the end they informed they will give me the job but I had to show them my previous job's contract. This was a big red flag but I told them they have to match the terms of my previous contract and they said okay. 

After about two weeks a lady calls and said she was from a company called People Link a consultancy company that the HR gave them my number I am supposed to go with my certificates at Corner Hse in town and sign some papers. I was confused because in the interview they didn't mention anything about sub-contracting me. I went anyway to see what they were offering and see if they matched what we discussed during the interview. When I got they gave me some papers to sign and fill my details.

What these consultancy companies do is that you register with them, pay some registration fee. They have some clients i.e. companies that hire them to provide labour. When an opportunity comes up they get you an interview and if you get a job you pay them a % of your first full monthly salary. In this situation, I hadn't even heard of PeopleLink and wasn't even their registered member. The company didn't want to hire me directly so they used them because it's easier to get rid of subcontracted workers to hire me. 

First I had to fill a registration form and then before I had finished gave me a contract agreement to sign that I would give up my first full month salary. I asked why they showed me the service charge sheet which I felt it was robbery since they played no part in getting me the job.

After all that, I signed the agreement and I started asking about the terms of the job.

First it was the working hours, the job was a shift job 12 hours day shift and 13 hours nightshift. During shift changes (switching working from night to day), you have to work 18 fucking hrs
The second thing was the salary, they said I can't get what we agreed with HR, I have to settle with 30k and in this 30k they deduct lunch and supper they offer in the company( which is terrible tbh). For me, money wasn't the biggest of priorities so I didn't complain too much.

Another thing was lateness, I was to join the night shift and I was supposed to report at 6pm. If anything happened and I was late for 30 minutes I have to go back home and no pay for that day. They didn't offer any transport or any additional allowances. For those who know the Likoni Rd-Lunga-Lunga Rd route, the only available matatus are the old Outreach Sacco (Idk how those things still work) in Muthurwa. So, if you're coming from the other side of town, you have to walk to catch a matatu at Muthurwa every single day to and from. This means if you live a lil bit far you have to add 4 hours of commute to your working hours. This means the job is taking between 17-19 hours of your day.

After getting all this information I still took the job, I was to start on the night of August 5th. The reporting time was 6pm so I left home at 4pm and arrived a few minutes to 6pm. They did the security checks and linked me to the team leader of the shift.

The guy gave me an overall and told me "I hope huogopi kazi". No orientations, no introductions the guy took me to the machines.. They produce metal crowns/glass bottle tops for soft drinks and beer. He gave me some other guy who showing me how the job is done. The guy demonstrated for 5 minutes. 

The job was first forming the cartons in to a box, then fitting a polythene bag on the box, fill up the box with the metal crowns, shake the box for the crowns to settle, you seal the box, label the box, put it in a pallet, stack up the pallet up to 5 stacks, drag the pallet to the storage, come back with another pallet and start the same cycle. The first 30 mins I was already sweating but I thought probably after some time I was informed I had to keep doing it till my shift was over. By 9pm I was so exhausted.

At 10pm, a "supper" break came to my rescue, it was for 10minutes but I got time to talk to the other guys. I asked them how they manage to do that job every day. Most of them had joined like three weeks earlier and they don't have an option they have to do it for their families. The "supper" was 2chapos na ndengu, very shitty food, which was tobe deducted from your salary.

As I was talking to the guys, they told me that day was a slow day. There's a day they worked 18 fucking hours a night. You clock in at 6pm & leave next day at 12noon. That's madness! That supper break was the only break, for the rest of the night you're expected to work till your shift ends. By midnight, my legs and hands were shaking, my back couldn't hold anymore but I had to keep going. The speed of the machine was crazy.

So I started tracking how much working I was doing just to distract myself. One box of the metal crowns was 10,000 pieces and by midnight I had done 60 cartons. That's 600, 000 crowns. The price of metal crowns i.e wholesale is 1.08KSh-4.33KSh (Source: Alibaba) In kenya shillings that's 5 bob per piece, which means in 7 hours the cost of all of that was fucking 2.6m. By the end of the night I did 1.2m pieces which translates to almost 6 million Kenyan shillings. The guy next to me did 2.6 million pieces which is roughly 11m Ksh

With 4 lines of Fabrication you can only imagine the amount of money those guys are making. These "small" companies in Industrial Area make lots of money but the working conditions there are horrible. They don't care at all about their workers. I don't understand how someone is expected to work 14 hours a night with one 10 min break for 6 days a week and when the demand is too high the off-day is deferred to a later day. And to switch from night shift, you have to work 18 hours with no compensation.

I don't have a problem with the salary but doing that kind of work for 14 hours needs superhero powers not someone who was used to mandazi for lunch and chapo ndengu in UoN. How can a company take 18/24 hours of your time, means you have 6 hours personal time and you haven't even slept. and to think of the money they're making, it's just inhumane. I don't even know that's legal.

Anyway, I clocked out at 7.08 am. I was feeling sick so on my way I was checking the job description and I realized they said they required someone with "physical stamina and strength", which clearly I wasn't. I was never going back to that place.

I slept the whole way kwa matatu, I actually felt I needed an ambulance tbh. I arrived at home around 9am. I took breakfast and slept for two days😭😭😭 Today 5 days later, I am still recovering.
I wonder how many people in Industrial Area work under these conditions and probably worse. I am lucky I don't have a family so I can survive till the next opportunity comes up. That's high-key modern day slavery if you ask me.

Their bargaining power is that so many people don't have jobs so when you go to the interview they will utilise that to get you signing up to really bad terms cause you don't have another option. I am sure they have already replaced me with someone else and the cycle continues.

I feel for every young Kenyan man, it's crazy out here. For everyone looking for a job or in a bad one, sending some love ❤️ Hang in there, we hope for better days.

----
Follow the writer on Twitter : @wyregi_

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Getting to college or university is a worthwhile deal here in Kenya. However, going to school without a laptop is like refusing to use paper and pen. Having the right laptop strikes a ceiling on how far you can get and quality of lifelong abilities that you can acquire.

But don’t just buy whatever is on sale; you need the right laptop for your specific needs.

We have picked quick tips to help you pick the best laptops.

Quick Tips

  1. Go portable: 11- to 14-inch screen size, less than 4 pounds
  2. Durability matters: Spill-resistant keyboards, MIL-SPEC tested are pluses.
  3. Recommended specs: Intel Pentium and above
  4. OS Options: Chromebooks are good for kids. Windows is best for productivity, but macOS is for art/design students.
  5. Battery life: 8+ hours is ideal; 6+ hours is required.
  6. Keyboard and touchpad: Look for responsive keys with deep travel.
  7. Consider a 2-in-1: Great for drawing, pen-based note taking, working while standing up

1. Pick a portable size

The whole point of buying a student laptop is that you can carry the device to class. Unless you’re an engineering student who needs a CAD workstation, look for a laptop that weighs under 4 pounds and has an 11- to 14-inch display. Film students editing their masterpieces may also need a larger screen, such as the high-res panel in the 15-inch MacBook Pro.

A younger student can get by with a laptop that has an 11-inch screen, but typing space and screen visibility are often a concern at that size. Thirteen inches is the sweet spot between portability and usability, although students in the arts or engineering may put more value on a bigger screen.

2. Pay for durability

If you have more to spend, shop for laptops made from aluminum, magnesium alloy or carbon fiber, for sturdiness you can count on. Also, look to see if the manufacturer has made any durability claims. 

3. Get specs for the long haul

You want something that isn’t going to be obsolete before graduation, so keep an eye on the key internal components.

4. Display: Most budget and many mainstream laptops have low-res, 1366 x 768 displays that aren’t very sharp and can’t fit a lot of text on the screen, which makes them poor choices for writing papers or doing research. Unless you’re buying a really inexpensive laptop or one with an 11-inch screen, getting a display that’s at least 1920 x 1080 (1080p) resolution should be a priority.

You can go even higher, too, with resolutions of 2560 x 1440 (QHD) or 3840 x 2160 (UHD). These are great for photo and video students who need to view high-res source material, but those display specs add to the price and subtract from the battery life. Touch screens add functionality to your laptop, but they consume a ton of power, shortening your battery life by 10 to 25 percent, so don’t get one unless you really need it.

5. CPU: If you want a system that provides solid performance for today and tomorrow, get an Intel Core i5 or Core i7 CPU. Make sure the processor model number has a 7000 in it (ex; Core i5-7200U), which means that you have the latest Intel 7th Generation (aka Kaby Lake) chip. If you’re on a tight budget, a Core i3, Pentium or Celeron CPU will suffice for light productivity work, and Intel’s Core M processor delivers decent performance in slim-and-light designs.

6. RAM: Unless you’re buying a cheap laptop for a younger child, 4GB is the bare minimum amount of RAM you should have in a laptop, and 8GB is ideal. That will run everything you need without dragging you down or interfering with multitasking.

7. Storage Drive/Hard Drive: Getting an SSD (solid-state drive) rather than a mechanical hard drive has a more significant effect on performance than buying a fast processor. Because SSDs have no moving parts, they run three to four times faster than typical 5,400 rpm or 7,200 rpm hard drives. That means faster app opens, start times and task switching, along with much better responsiveness. SSDs do cost a lot more while offering less storage, so if you have a lot of media files, you may need to store some in the cloud or on an external drive.

8. Wi-Fi: Make sure you get a laptop with 802.11ac Wi-Fi standard, rather than the older 802.11n.

9. Ports: USB Type-C ports are the future, but regular USB Type-A ports are the present. If you can get a laptop with a mix of both, that’s ideal. Definitely try to get a laptop with multiple USB ports, so you don’t need to carry a lot of dongles with you.

9. Get the right OS

Consider the operating system. If you’re heading off to college, check with the university about software requirements. Sometimes schools will need you to have a specific type of software or operating system to ensure compliance with future workloads. Windows 10 is the most popular operating system and most versatile; Microsoft’s platform has millions of applications, supports both touch-friendly tablet mode and keyboard-friendly desktop mode and offers the helpful Cortana digital assistant.

Apple’s given its macOS platform even better integration with the iPhone, as well as its digital assistant Siri. And while Windows 10 is the platform with the most programs, there are certain apps that are exclusive to Macs, so ask others in your field of study to confirm which operating system best suits you.

Chromebooks, while offering limited software options, could be just the thing for the truly budget-conscious shopper who is comfortable doing everything online. These devices start at just $149 and are increasingly accepted by some school districts. Soon, Chromebooks will offer support for Android apps from the Google Play Store.

10. Look for 8 hours or more of battery life

Don’t tether yourself to an outlet. Get a laptop that promises quality battery life, and look for systems with optional extended batteries for the longest run times. In general, you’re better off buying a system with more than 8 hours of juice, regardless of the price. The average for ultraportable laptops is 7 hours, 55 minutes.

 11. Check the keyboard and touchpad

The keyboard should be springy and comfortable, not mushy. Look for deep travel and strong feedback. The touchpad is equally important; you’ll want to make sure the responsiveness is smooth and that multitouch gestures like pinch-to-zoom are appropriately reactive. Business laptops — such as Lenovo ThinkPads, Dell Latitudes and HP EliteBooks — offer some of the best keyboards and touchpads.

If you are wondering where to buy an affordable student laptop, please Get in touch via whatsapp. Our prices range from Kshs 15,000 - Kshs 250,000.


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How to get a job without experience
It is the Catch-22 situation that has been frustrating jobseekers across the world for ages: positions requiring experience from applicants who can’t gain any experience without first being employed. But there are ways to make oneself employable and gain experience without landing a position in formal employment first.

What employers are looking for in many instances is to be given proof that someone is able to self-manage and that a candidate can be trusted to make a contribution as early as possible. The experience requirement is an attempt to ensure new employees are productive as early as possible. This makes good sense, and while there are several good reasons to be training new people, it is always helpful to have someone who has done something before.

If you are studying and about to graduate, you need to be looking at all the ways you can fill the experience gap right away. In order to do so, students must analyse the kind of work they intend to do and then look for opportunities to build appropriate experience in that niche.

For instance, if you are studying towards a journalism qualification, volunteering to run a student newspaper or getting involved in putting together newsletters for local NGOs are the right kinds of experience to present to a potential employer. Volunteering at a children’s home is good experience for someone studying social work or psychology, but it may not be the perfect fit for someone studying law. However helping to put together a fundraising campaign for the same children’s home would enable business and public relations students to put together experience they can present to potential employers.

READ ALSO: How to Build Your Online Presence - Guest Posting

The beauty of gaining this kind of ‘involved citizen’ experience while studying is that everyone wins. You gain the skills you need to show that you have some of the experience required by the employer, but at the same time, you are giving something back to the society that enabled you to get the education in the first place. And the beneficiaries benefit from a much-needed service they did not have to pay for from their often meagre available funding.

Career counselling researchers (Penny Loretto, the Hansens and others) have noted that while the value of different attributes employers look for varied, there remained key values and attitudes that attract the attention of employers.

If you keep these in mind while volunteering, you can build a set of references that speak exactly to the attributes that matter to a potential employer. Be conscious of what you need in terms of skills, demonstrated ability and qualifications, and then set out in a determined manner to build a portfolio for yourself based on the experience and recommendations that make you different from the person next to you.

She says some traits are universal in terms of their attractiveness to employers who need to decide whether a candidate is worth investing in, and that future jobseekers should ensure they are able to demonstrate:
  • Strong work ethic: Be the person who volunteers to do more than anyone else and don’t give up until the job is done; this includes the ability to manage and motivate yourself – to get on with the job when no one is watching.
  • Dependability and reliability: Never let anyone down. Under-promise but over-deliver. Be loyal.
  • Positive attitude: Look for solutions and don’t get caught in negative spirals.
  • Adaptability and resilience: If circumstances change, change with them.
  • Integrity and honesty: Would you employ someone who lied to you?
  • Willingness to learn: Tackle and master new things.
  • Self confidence: Believe in yourself and your contribution without arrogance; and improve the quality of your written and verbal communication skills.\
  • People skills: Make other people feel comfortable, cultivate the ability to work well with a range of different people, and manage conflict and disagreement positively.
Most people don’t get the opportunity to get a higher education qualification, so as a student you are already part of the privileged few. But the competition for good jobs is brutal, and to succeed you must cultivate the qualities that will set you apart from millions of other job seekers. Gaining relevant know-how where need exists will not only enable you to tick the omnipresent ‘experience’-box on your application, it will also provide you with the opportunity to demonstrate that you have the qualities that can turn you into a valuable and valued asset should an employer take a chance on you.

RELATED : Common Interview Questions for Graduates in Kenya

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University education is out of touch with the reality


As a university scholar and teacher, I have personally witnessed many cases of mismatch between universities’ approach to teaching and what industry requires of a university graduate.

I grew up in a small village in Western Kenya where university graduates were not as common as they are nowadays. That was the mid 80s. Since then things have changed. Universities are now income-generating ventures whose primary objective is no longer provision of quality scholars but to make money at the expense of the learner. The situation is even worse in many private universities.

There are several reasons why university education is seen to be out of touch with reality: First, the research which is a product of the universities is hardly consumed by the intended users of the findings which includes the Government, the business community as well as the wider society. In this era where information and communication technology is an integral part of everything, the focus of research among other things should be directed towards adopting emerging technologies. This should be accompanied by adoption of primary technologies in this field of ICT as the only way to become fully industrialized by 2030.

READ ALSO: Ranking of Universities in Kenya with highest HIV prevalence rates.

Still on the research front, the academic researches being churned yearly from universities are immense but such works are often left to gather dust on the shelves of the university libraries. Apart from being published in revered journals and earning one a master’s degree or doctorate, there is no other useful application, commercial or otherwise. Such academic papers will only be useful as long as all the stakeholders of the research are involved in the consumption of the research findings.

There have been many occasions where the general public has raised the alarm over the relevance of university education compared to what employers require. Many a time, employers have preferred diploma graduates than degree holders in similar jobs. This is partly true owing to the partial or complete lack of training facilities especially laboratory equipment for the key technical areas in the universities.

Many universities in Kenya are busy producing graduates in Engineering, Sciences and related courses without having a single modern equipment in their laboratories or only having a handful of dilapidated often equipment of outdated technology. The issue is not lack of funding alone but is due to a number of other reasons: Corruption, carefree attitudes by technicians, lack of knowledge about modern technologies among a plethora of other reasons.

Lack of proper mechanisms for university –industry linkages are also to blame. Whilst the Kenya Government has been in the forefront in the recent past by introducing compulsory and paid internships for the college and university students, attachment cannot be the only solution. Why not also attach university lecturers who do not have industry background?. Is the Government required through the Ministry of Education or individual colleges/universities to prepare a special curriculum guide for industrial attachments? In addition, one thing that is lacking in Kenya is where the Government has failed to completely implement the primary manufacturing model in Kenya.

READ ALSO: The curse of the First Class Honours from Kenyan universities

The university graduates we send out to the market every year especially engineers seem to be misplaced, so to speak. Whereas universities train qualified mechanical design and production engineers, there is no machine to design,so our engineers end up as maintenance technicians. In fact one cannot realize the difference between an engineer and a technologist, a technologist and a technician, a technician and an artisan.

The writer , Soita Juma,  is a PhD student in Business Administration at the University of Nairobi with major in Operations and Technology Management. He is an Assistant Lecturer of Operations and Supply Chain Management with the Technical University of Kenya and the University of Nairobi.

By Soita Justus Juma
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MUSA - Led by Peter Muhia , Gibson and Spokesperson Laban Macharia

As COVID-19 (coronavirus) continues to wreak havoc around the country experts predict that the country could be hardest hit through Government resolving to lift the restrictions . But Murang'a youth are not sitting idly by waiting for the worst to come; throughout the county, they are hard at work providing solutions to help reduce the spread of the virus, and address the socioeconomic impact of the pandemic,
The MURANG'A Students association (Musa) which is an association comprising all students across the MURANG'A county launched the MUSA Charity Event for food donations to the old and vunerables across all constituencies across the county who are highly affected by this pandemic.It is encouraging to see young people across the county leading the way in the fight against coronavirus, and stepping up to help their communities. 
As youths we know the future depends on our actions.Indeed, we youths represent energy, creativity and innovation thus devoted to be beacons of hope that can support the community at all times especially in times of such crisis. Through individual acts and collective action, young people are reclaiming power in the face of this pandemic and the powerlessness it makes us all feel.
Youth-led civil society and movements are acting on an unprecedented scale. Youth are mobilizing communities to protect themselves, and supporting governments and health workers together.
As Murang'a Youth Governor also the MUSA Secretary General I appeal to Governments to put in place measures and mechanisms to facilitate, coordinate organize and impact youth engagement in the fight against coronavirus. Most importantly, young people have realized that they have a critical part in fighting the COVID-19 pandemic - knowing that the spread of the virus is a threat to people, livelihoods and development and stability.
Youth are yearning to work with governments and diverse partners to stop transmission of the virus and to keep everyone safe.
Youth Governor,
Peter Muhia,
Former Finance Director 2018/2019 at University of Kabianga - Kenya
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JKUAT First Years Orientation

Dear Freshmen,

 Re: My First Year Orientation Memoirs 10 Years Later
I joined the University of Nairobi Lower Kabete Campus in January, 2011 to pursue a Bachelors of Commerce degree. Joining the university was a dream come true for my family being the firstborn girl and the first grandchild in the family to do so was no mean fete. Joining the university like I discovered later was not a personal affair, everyone was concerned and a few involved in this new space of life and the two pieces of advice I got were, to work hard and have a career and secondly to ensure that I did not misuse my freedoms now that my parents would not be around.

When I walked through the gate of Lower Kabete on that chilly Monday morning with my traveling bag accompanied by my father, a new life awaited me. I was afraid yet happy, I was not trusting, yet in need of finding meaningful friends, I was ready to conquer the world but my heart was timid because of the journey ahead.

Once you walk through those gates alone or accompanied and the registration process is completed, you become a bonafide member of the institution you are in. As a young Christian girl then, I knew that I needed to plug into a fellowship where for starters, I would be “safe”. So you can imagine my joy when registering for clubs and associations, I found the Christian Union Desk. I was made to feel welcome and was given a brochure that contained all the meeting times and dates.

The orientation team that is set up by the Christian Union is tasked to ensure that a relevant programme is planned mostly in the evenings to equip and introduce the freshmen and women to the fellowship and an introduction to campus life.

The social media explosion we experience today was not very vibrant, so our crude yet effective communication methods of posters and personal chaperones really worked. I guess that due to our fewer numbers then, we could afford to have persons assigned to follow us up or better still grouped for follow up. Whichever way, it worked and I attended all orientation meetings for the campus administration, clubs, and associations and the Christian Union.

At the end of the orientation week, the campus administration organized what was called the Freshers Dance, which later evolved to become the “Ponyoka na Fresher Ball”, I need to be updated on the new terms. In 2011, I chose to believe the CU elders who warned us not to attend the ball/dance and instead advised us to attend the Friday fellowship and a retreat on the following day. I must say, this decision set me apart and from that day that I firmly belonged to the CU fellowship and made a decision to be a follower of Christ while on campus.

In my more than 9 years interaction with students either as, a student leader, a student worker and now as an associate, I can without a shadow of a doubt say that you chose which path to follow right at the start of your stay as a resident or a non-resident student. The choice is yours.

The freedoms in campus life must be harnessed for the good of the Gospel, the common good of others and for your edification. This verse in 1 Corinthians 6:12 must under guard your decisions “I have the right to do anything” you say—but not everything is beneficial. “I have the right to do anything”—but I will not be mastered by anything” (NIV)

In relation to your academic life

Start off from the first lecture you attend. Show commitment and determination, be diligent and hardworking, follow instructions, be innovative and give your best. There are those few geniuses who may not need to attend all classes but will ace all their tests and exams, you may or may not be one of them. Know who you are and where the library is.

In relation to your social life

Learn the art of making friends. There are fake people around you just as there are real. Be careful about what you spend your money on and who you spend it with. There are some senior students who specialize in fleecing freshmen and women.

This is the time students get into meaningless cross-gender relationships. Infatuation and confusion due to transitions can confuse even the most level headed person. I pray that the CU will plan for such sessions in the early days of campus. For those who come in while relating, it is okay, work to nurture the relationships. Some good relationships happen on campus but conventional wisdom states that someone should not propose to you as soon as you have just landed and you accept!

Work to nurture relationships with your parents, guardians, and siblings. Visit during breaks and long holidays and if you are non-resident, then make time to update them on how and what you are doing. 20 years ago most students in campuses were resident, the case is different nowadays but that does not stop us from connecting with our loved ones intentionally.

In relation to your spiritual life

We are living in a world that is increasingly placing God in the back room. He is no longer prime and we have adopted an “I can do all things by myself. I am a self-made person”. The Bible is clear about such people who believe in themselves Psalm 14:1 has an apt response.

The campus social, the CU, the academic rigors give one the opportunity to see God at work, to grow in faith, to struggle with life questions and to test one’s heart. I pray that in these 4 to 6 to however long it may take for you to finish your studies, the truths about God will be engraved in your heart and ingrained in your mind.

There is a lot one can write about orientation and life on campus, for now, plug in and enjoy an adventure with God, Start with that one step of committing to follow Jesus as He leads you through campus life as a resident or a non-resident student.

Safe Safari!

Yours in Christ

Mrs. Caroline ,UoN Lower Kabete Campus.

ALSO READ:

  1. A PIECE OF ADVICE TO ALL FIRST YEARS JOINING CAMPUS
  2. ‘ PONYOKA NA FRESHAA ’ - where campus wolves grabs a fresher
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