Source: Beacon G. Hope via Facebook
I like using my hands. Every year, I pick a project, research it, and undertake it. I’ve done projects in plantain tissue culture, where I multiplied plantain suckers exponentially, and in the phytochemical analysis of Alstonia boonei (Nyame Dua). The kitchen cabinet I’m using now was also built by me. Last year, I wanted to assemble a high quality Bluetooth speaker like the JBL Boombox, but I told myself, “Let me rather take a technical course in school.”
The aim was to challenge myself. Electrical work might come relatively easy for me because I solve petty electrical faults at home, while building and construction is too physical for me. So, I settled on plumbing, something I knew absolutely nothing about. None of the courses I did at university had any element of plumbing in them.
I didn’t want to learn from just any plumber, so I researched and enrolled at the African Centre for Technical Training – ACTT. It was not easy. I had to combine my regular job with weekend classes and family life.
The school exposed me to the fundamentals of plumbing, how to read plumbing plans, troubleshoot problems, lay pipes, and more. It was an eye opener.
I graduated, and my final project was to design a water purification system that removes physical impurities from galamsey ridden turbid water. The project was a huge success and even earned me an award at the graduation ceremony.
I also did a one month internship with one of the best plumbing companies in Ghana, where we were assigned to a project on an eight storey twin tower with more than 150 rooms.
My decision to learn plumbing opened my eyes to a world I never imagined existed. There are some professions we don’t respect, and plumbing is one of them. But learning plumbing was another eye opener. It is a full engineering discipline with a lot of calculations. My analytical science background came in handy for those calculations.
One day, I will do a full write up on plumbing through the lens of a learner. It might even be in parts.
I haven’t settled on this year’s project yet. The mind has been hot. Bread and butter issues, you know lol.
When I told a doctor friend who is specializing at Korle Bu about my decision to learn plumbing, he was happy. He shared his passion for also learning motor vehicle mechanics and owning a diagnostic garage soon.
A medical doctor with a “fitter” job as a side hustle? Yes, that’s right. Another doctor friend also told me about his plans to open a gym.
We are going technical. You can do it too. It is all about determination. Sometimes, we need to put our certificates aside and get our hands dirty. The motivation may not even be money, some things simply bring fulfilment.
What is your passion? What is your dream? What do you have in your hand? What do you want God to multiply for you? Act now.
Dzo Lali
Now or Never