Copy and Paste
In the initial years of my academic journey at Makerere University http://www.mak.ac.ug, I completely utilized the notes and slides of my mentor Prof. Denis Kalumba at the University of Cape Town http://www.uct.ac.za. This was done under his permission and supervision. I had no idea where to start from in relation to coming up with lecture notes. And since I could use his without any hustle, why wouldn’t I copy and paste. There was no need of being “new and different”. Actually even the way I present the lecture notes in class, up to now, is not different from Prof. Denis Kalumba.
Along the Way
After one year of teaching, I felt mature enough to start my own path. I came up with my own notes and slides and ways of teaching. This was the start of many battles with my students at that time. The notes were far way above the undergraduate level. Yet I thought I had become a superstar. During my postgraduate studies, I realized I was being taught the same. When I came back from MSc. studies, I humbled myself and went back to the notes and slides of my mentor. I can assuredly say that I have had a good relationship with my classes/students since then. And they have benefited more from my classes than when I thought I had matured enough to get away from the advice of my mentor. How many times has this happened to you? If you have not humbled yourself yet, the earlier you do the better.
Advice
I have observed, in Uganda, the spirit of “I can start from zero and create my own path”. Each generation starting from zero and sometimes from negative. Many of us start off in life by paying school fees for other relatives/siblings even before you get your own children. We have very few generational businesses. How many people have you encountered in Uganda living on generational wealth? Those who were fortunate enough to inherit it, have ended up swindling it. For the political situation, “we can explain”.
It is good to know that there is nothing new under the sun. Whatever you want to do, there is someone out there already doing it. Just humble yourself and seek for advice from them. It will be much easier for you than trying to create your own path. Imagine you are to embark on a journey from the capital city (Kampala) to a far city like Jinja. You have a choice, either to use the current road or create your own new road. You may succeed with your new road but it will take you more time and resources. The choice is yours.
Currently I am able to create my own notes and slides. Do not rush!
