I was admitted to Egerton University at Njoro to pursue a Bachelor of Arts degree in 2016. The opportunity allowed me to study three disciplines, and I settled for Economics, Mathematics and Sociology. In the third year I dropped Mathematics and concentrated on the other two disciplines, which I had found both exciting and intriguing.
Ms Charity M. MakauI was admitted to Egerton University at Njoro to pursue a Bachelor of Arts degree in 2016. The opportunity allowed me to study three disciplines, and I settled for Economics, Mathematics and Sociology. In the third year I dropped Mathematics and concentrated on the other two disciplines, which I had found both exciting and intriguing. Even before I enrolled for the programme, my father gave me a book titled Economics: A Very Short Introduction, which helped me learn a few things about the discipline and why there are differences among economies in the world.
In the course of lectures and through private study, I came to appreciate the disciplines I chose for my degree programme. I came to learn that Economics is mainly about the choices people make concerning production, consuption, and distribution of goods and services. Most learning activities in the discipline, therefore, involved analysing data on these processes. On the other hand, the study of Sociology involved analysis of issues such as change and development, deviancy, feminism, and gender.
Contrary to the misplaced views some people have concerning the Bachelor of Arts degree programme, I found it both challenging and exciting. The courses I took not only helped me understand society better but also equipped me with skills and values that should help me in future endeavours. I am confident that the experience I gained through the BA curriculum, as well as the opportunity to study for CPA and other packages, will serve me well in the field of work or further studies.
In many ways, the academic activities involved team work and the forging of friendships that may last a lifetime. Similarly, interacting with people from diverse cultures and other backgrounds over the four years I was at Egerton University broadened my view of society and life generally. It was a truly enriching experience, which will not only leave me with fond memories of Egerton University but will also serve as a worthy foundation on which to build a future.
My story would not be complete without a comment on the campus itself. The rural nature of Njoro and its well-endowed physical environment accorded us the perfect setting in which to pursue our various programmes. But the peace was on several occasions disrupted by unscheduled closures caused by strikes by either students or staff. However, the greatest disruption was from March 2020 when the Government of Kenya announced various measures aimed at curbing the spread of Covid-19. Among the measures was the closure of learning institutions and the transition to online classes for learners at various levels. At Egerton University, online studies had mainly been confined to the E-Campus before that time and so the rest of us had challenges adjusting to what was a new mode. Accessing the e-learning platform was difficult for many students for a variety of reasons. For some, access to an internet-enabled laptop or a smartphone was barely possible. In other cases, the major hindrances were the lack of sources of electric power and internet bundles. Even when one had the necessary accessories, there was no assurance that one would log in successfully and stay connected till the end of the session. However, lecturers did their best to keep learning going through strategies like sharing lecture notes and keeping consultation channels open.
Despite the difficulties of e-learning, and those created by the Covid-19 pandemic generally, we eventually did our final examinations in December 2020. We are grateful to all those who made this phase of our lives as stimulating as it was despite the academic and other challenges life thrust our way.
By Charity M. Makau.
