In continuation of our Interview with the amazing Haleema Hazah, she talks about her Challenges, Soft Skills, Time Management, and Networking Life while at the Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto (UDUS).
What soft skills are really important in Biochemistry?
In my course now, data analytics is still needed, virtually in all courses, we do biostatistics and others.
Could you believe that I ran statistics for my sister and my sister was studying accounting?
I did a statistics analysis for her, not because of anything but because we were taught in class during null hypothesis and alternate hypothesis.
There are some skills that are universal, they cut across all careers and courses.
Sometimes, not just you alone would benefit from it, for example,
You know how to handle Excel properly and one of your oga says, he is having issues with this and you take over and do it effectively.
They would be like, wow, this is a great asset. Does Excel have anything to do with Biochemistry? No.
But for us to stay within trends, we have to acquire skills. This applies to biochemistry, medicine pharmacy etcetera.
We need to acquire skills that would make us relevant, amongst them are; Literature review, publishing etcetera.
If I was forced to do biochemistry, I might not have done it as well as I did. I had to convince myself since that was God’s plan for me.
While studying, ensure to have extracurricular activities, with extracurricular activities you would be able to know yourself better, you would identify your weaknesses and also develop some soft skills.
After learning soft skills, you become unique and focused and an elite in your profession.
What Challenges Did You Face In Your Academic Journey?
In my 100 level, I didn’t have challenges, same as the 200 level, but challenges started in the 300 level.
We had bulky notes to cover and lots of courses.
Time was one of the factors, we had lectures from 8 am -6 pm, and we would still have courses to cover.
It was in the 300 level I started extracurricular activities, sometimes they would just call me, we have a meeting now.
One of the major challenges I faced was ‘time management’.
How did you Manage Your Time?
One of the things that helped me was scheduling.
I would be like, from 8 am-10 am, if the lecturer is absent, I will start with a pathway that I have learnt before to confirm if I have understood it; from 10 pm -12 noon, if the lecturer does not come, I would cover something, from 12 noon – 2 pm if lecturer does not come, I will sleep, I cannot die.
That was how I managed my time.
I applied as a campus ambassador for Unilever while I was in the 300 level, first semester, ending of 2021.
My examination was from January- February, and I sought solutions. So, I went offline totally throughout the exam duration.
I finished my exam on February 9th and unknown to me, Unilever has approved my application and asked me to send some documents and the submission deadline was February 5th.
Allow me to say they have not gotten back to me since then and that was how I lost the opportunity all because I went offline, a sacrifice for my 300 level exam.
I messaged them and they did not respond.
My mum and I used to speak daily while in the 100 and 200 levels but in the 300 level, in a week we might not have spoken.
Hello, Haleemah.Where are you? Hello, mummy I am at the library, call me back.
I would miss lots of calls, anytime she calls I would be at the library or trying to sleep. One day, my father told my siblings that every time I called your sister, she was at the library.
That was when I was stressing prayer. I barely know my roommates. When I get to the hostel I sleep, eat and go out.
I would always pray to Allah, do not forsake me on what I have done, crown my efforts, make me a successful person and let me leave a mark in Usman Danfodiyo.
Did you network, or have a social life?
When I was about resume 100 level, everyone that was advising me was saying, Haleemah, ìwé lásán ni a ni ko ló ká o, mo sé nkan nkán, go and read your books.
In the 100 level, I read I did not join anything, in the 200 level, a senior colleague was like “Haleemah you are so brilliant, come and do this and I was like, no, I can’t”.
My mummy said I should not do it, I clocked 17 in school, and I was just so lucky, I got into the university at 16.
I was still a child, my mummy said I should not do it, and my daddy said I should not do it.
I then joined a group, University Scholars, and I was selected based on my CGPA.
I joined people with remarkable achievements, it was at the 300 level that I began attending boot camps, a 2-day boot camp, and a 3-day sensitization program and I began to network with people.
The only introduction of myself I could give was, that I am Haleemah Hamzah, a 300-level Biochemistry student.
How Did You Navigate From The Theoretical Aspect To the Practical Aspect of Biochemistry?
I was not quite lucky in the practical aspect of Biochemistry, at the end of the 200 level, we needed to go for an internship.
I went to an industry in Ilorin, Ayo Ayodele Pharmaceutical Chemist Limited, when I got there I found out that all they do there were basic things, they were not carrying out research.
I was not learning much, so after a month, I left.
I saw the Fulcrum Research Institute in Ilorin, I joined them. All that I did there was still elementary Biochemistry.
They were not the core aspects of Biochemistry, what do I mean by the core biochemistry?
In Biochemistry, at the end of the 400 level, we were taught genetic engineering, in genetic engineering we have DNA cloning, how to isolate DNA etcetera.
Those were the things I could not lay my hands on, I do not have gel electrophoresis, and I lack some practical aspects of Biochemistry.
One of my lecturers was telling me that, with my outstanding performance, he could sponsor me for a Master but the only limiting factor was that I do not have practical experience.
Do you do DNA extraction? Enzyme extraction? I said no.
My plan is to get into research, I need to get acquainted with the practical aspects of Biochemistry.
After gaining my PPA from NYSC, I cannot say I have practical experience and expertise in Biochemistry.
What Lessons Can You Pass On To Future Biochemists?
At 100 level, it’s a background, get that knowledge and the lectures you are having.
At the 200 level, we are still free, it’s not rigid, rigorous and hectic. You begin reading ahead and majorly chemistry and about 16 courses.
A core course in Biochemistry is Molecular Biology.
In Biochemistry, try to understand what is the metabolism of carbohydrates, amino acids, lipids etcetera.
Get a textbook like Satarana, and read ahead.
At the 200 level, be on the lookout for industries. Remember, I mentioned not being able to get a good place of attachment for my internship.
You do not have to be lazy, look for organizations.
But, that is after identifying your niche, if you are going into research, then go for a top-notch research institute.
Through that research, you would gain hands-on experience, once you have your internship, it would align with what you would be taught in class.
Having your internship at a research institute would make you unique and enhance your portfolio, at the end of the day, I would be able to fill a gap.
You could think of diversifying, if you have interned in the industry before, for NYSC placement you could go for a research institute and later go for a graduate assistant.
You would be really sound in Biochemistry, having theoretical knowledge and gaining hands-on experience.
If you decide to go into industry, for example, you could work with Dufil (Indomie), you could work in their quality controller because Dufil does not require you to have in-depth knowledge of DNA.
START EARLY, have a direction.
Along that line, after venturing into all internship aspects then you would decide on what you want to do and what you can do well.
Some of our lecturers go into lecturing early, they only write papers and do not research except they are collaborating and then it would be published.
It depends on where you are going and children nowadays are inquisitive, knowledgeable, have memory retention and are capable.
It’s our responsibility to guide them toward it and not impose it on them.
