Is Education Really the Key to Success?

When I was in primary school, teachers often motivated us with the phrase “Education is the key to success.” I even remember delivering a prepared speech on that very subject in Grade 11, because it was what I grew up believing.

However, after university, I realized that education alone does not necessarily open doors. What truly makes the difference is skills. In fact, I would argue that the phrase should be: “Useful skills are the key to success.”

It’s not just about attending school or earning a degree—it’s about mastering valuable skills in whatever course or field you pursue. Whether in high school, university, or beyond, focus on building and sharpening skills, and you’ll find doors of opportunity opening much more readily.

In My Thoughts 1: Lamarck Was On to Something With 'The Law of Use and Disuse'

I graduated with a Bachelor's in Engineering in 2024, and it’s been a year now outside university. For the past year, I have been feeling the gap created by not applying what I have learnt in university and at school. I reckon this is how someone who took a gap year after matric feels. I feel like the skills and knowledge I worked hard to acquire are fading due to lack of use.

Nevertheless, as an optimistic person, this is how I supplement and enhance my skills:

• Short courses: Enrolled in Data Science with ALX

• Network: Started a blog, active on LinkedIn

• Knowing your points of improvement: As an introvert, I have joined Toastmasters to build communication for impact

• Projects: I have signed in for Kaggle and plan on doing projects that correspond with my values, and then post

• Licenses: Passed learner's license, now busy with driver's license

• Applications: Consistently applying for technical roles

This is my journey, and I am taking charge.

“One day, the years of struggle will strike you as the most beautiful.”~Sigmund Freud

Grades Matter—But So Does Everything Else

A lesson I'm currently learning is that a qualification alone doesn’t fully reflect a person’s capabilities. At the end of the day, employers and recruiters are looking for value. If you're still in high school or university, focus on building a strong personal brand—one that reflects more than just your academic record. Invest in your professional presence, get involved in extracurricular activities, and aim to grow in a way that makes you a well-rounded individual.

SQL is Simple: A Library Analogy

Too often, what makes something feel difficult is just the perception that it is. SQL is one of those things. I’ve been learning it, and honestly, it’s not as hard as it seems. Let me break it down with an analogy that helped me understand it better.

Imagine I volunteer at a library. I work as a cataloguer, and I need to communicate with the librarian to find or organize books. Now, the librarian understands four specific languages. These are:

DDL (Data Definition Language)

Used for setting up the structure of the database, like creating shelves in a library.

DML (Data Manipulation Language)

Used for adding or changing content, like placing or removing books.

DQL (Data Query Language)

Used for asking questions, like “Where are all the books by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie?”

DCL (Data Control Language)

Used for setting rules, like who is allowed to borrow certain books.

Whenever I speak to the librarian using one of these languages, they give me the right information about how to find or manage a book.

But here’s the catch. The librarian doesn’t work alone. They quietly pass my request to the manager of the library behind the scenes. The manager handles the actual operations and makes sure everything runs smoothly.

This is how SQL works. You’re speaking to a system that understands your request, translates it behind the scenes, and returns the information you need.

Conclusion

Learning SQL is like learning to speak to a librarian who knows exactly how to find what you need, as long as you speak the right language.