the unplanned academic journey

below is an interview of students sharing their story on what led them to doing degrees they never envisioned( taken and edited by Patrick Mwangi on 3rd November 2023)

by Patrick Mwangi.

why students land in courses they never envisioned.

every person in life has a dream and a vision of where he/she wants to achieve and go, however, at some point in life one can be found to have taken a path that is far from what they initially envisioned.

"the unplanned academic journey" is a common experience that many students can relate to, filled with twists, turns and unforeseen detours.

This is a case for me also, I wanted to do a degree in computer sciences but  due to the cluster points and the pass marks that had been put in place I found myself at a point that I was not eligible to do what I wanted cause I had not achieved the cut out points thus opted to do a bachelors degree in Information Sciences, it took a toll on me but I had to accept that I had not qualified and had to move on.

Joyce a  first year student at Moi university( Moi ) says that she really felt heartbroken when she found out she had to opt for another degree than what she initially was interested in. However, his fellow comrade Brian (also a first year) says, he saw it as an opportunity of "tasting new waters" even though it was not what he envisioned. To him it came as a form of a new  challenge that he was eagerly ready to explore.

Not only Brian and Joyce are going through the same scenario, but many are the students who have opted to remain silent and suffer the emptiness of not fulfilling one's dream. This surely can take a toll on someone's energy. 

(information science students, at Moi University, picture taken on 17 July 2022 by Evyon wangeshi)

Most of the students laments that what influences their decisions of changing a degree path completely different from what they envisioned as a dream,  apart from not achieving the cut out points, comes from parents and family members while some, the societal pressure that is placed by the community around them.

" for me we sat down as a family and decided on which course  was better for me to do" said Joyce.

Joyce sends a clear  statement that her decision to do the degree she is doing was greatly influenced by a panel of family members who sat down to decide his future.

 The family on her behalf decided that a Bachelors degree in Cabin Crew was unmarketable and has a limited job offer, thus opted Joyce to do a Bachelors degree in Information Sciences.

For Brian however, it was different, he says, due to the time factor. He opted to do Bachelor of science in Information Sciences as it was a way of upgrading himself and later after the period of the degree is over he would  gladly go back to his original path of  Music. For him it was a sole decision that never was influenced by anyone.

To most students this is a stumbling block as it takes their time and energy, and many are opting to use the phrase " acha kuende vile kutaenda" a  common phrase that signifies disappointment or a thought of someone who doesn't care anymore of what will happen, he is ready to face whatever will come his way. 

Most of them have lost hope and have decided to go with the flow, whatever comes his/her way is what he/she will  do. 

This is an issue that should be addressed and looked into as many students are going through mental breakdowns due to the pressure from parents and the society as a whole, and it is very hard living a life that is completely different from what you envisioned. The institutions and government as a whole should come up with measure and strategies to help the students that are dealing with such issues. 

  Education has no limit as Brian's puts it, you still have time to do what you wanted even if you start off at a completely different path from what you wanted, just don't get tired of dreaming .