Patrice is one degree hotter

After three years of serious effort and frustration, the relief that accompanied the thought of graduating (UWI) this year was inexplicable. I will not deny that there was the feeling that “I know... I am out of university.” The feeling of superiority left when a day or two after its arrival, my father — the voice of pragmatism — gave me a reality check. Thousands of persons will graduate from UWI and other tertiary-level institutions this year. In many cases, having a first degree barely gives an individual the cutting edge anymore, especially in areas that have become saturated with experienced, knowledgeable, zealous persons...and yes — those with degrees. I say barely because I think there is a certain kind of discipline and mental preparation that can be found in little else except studies of some kind. However, it is far from being the closing of a book on “How to...” Of course, I am by no means saying that the pursuit of higher education is futile. In fact, it is not always enough. Failing such pursuits, there is the added pressure of finding ways to satisfy a growing demand for rational, intellectual, communicative, well-informed...(the list goes on) individuals. We see a myriad of persons who have attained higher levels of education, who have more skill and are more familiar with the areas that interest many of us, draw from their abilities everyday, proving themselves repeatedly. I began to close the book without giving it a second thought, only to discover that I had only read the preface. University, or any kind of preparatory endeavours that develop proficiency, keep everything in focus. I am not entirely sure that I can quote endless bits of Shakespeare, Donne, Selvon or Naipaul at a moment’s notice. However, I subscribe to the notion that society is very complex in its daily routines though these routines are subject to change. There is very little that can be done except to ensure that attention is now given to stretching myself in many ways. It is a notion that, for me, was revealed after three years of endless reading as an English major and experiencing that microcosm of society existing as the St Augustine campus.

Therefore, the pressure has just begun. I find myself attempting the most difficult book that I will ever have to read. I also find myself reading while demands for alertness and intuitiveness as an individual grow steadily. Thus, the chapters seem long and daunting. Attempting this book requires a keen mind and mastery of talent that can only come when efforts are made to broaden the scope of my vision. Graduates of any quest to achieve higher learning must now ensure that the range of our skills goes beyond the academic, covering as many fields as time and lifestyle permit. It is especially difficult for young adults and those younger than ourselves as there is that constant battle between wants and needs that can often lead to disillusionment of who we are, why we are here and that inevitable question that faces all of us at one point or another — where are we going? The sun gets hotter as morning progresses and we have now begun to feel that mid-morning heat. Degrees are increasing in number and while it is possible to face the heat unprotected, it is crucial to arm oneself with the necessary tools that will prevent us from being burned. Daddy would say: “you just have to keep doing and doing ...anything constructive... and life would become easier.”

That never made as much sense as it does now. The more we do, the better prepared we are for the unexpected because “you’ll just have that combination of skills and experience that someone else may not have.” Therein lies the advantage of preparation. If anyone has any doubt, simply look at the requirements for a well-paying job. At the very least, it amounts to experience, communicative skills and tertiary education. We are now faced with the burden of grasping any opportunity and acquiring any qualification not only to get good jobs, but also to become well-rounded individuals. What makes it more difficult is that as we read, we write. We read what is there already and use it to determine the ongoing plot, the characters and ultimately the success of its reading and authorship. Meanwhile, the pressure swells and the beads of our labour form on our shining foreheads as we carry the weight of that stress. For those of us who hate to read, or are unwilling to make the effort, get ready to feel the heat...a high degree of heat.