SLC-S29/W4-“Thinking and Ideas!| Rethinking the Normal!”

It’s week 4 of this season already and I am super excited to continue sharing my thoughts in this class (thinking and ideas).

Question 1: Name one practice, belief, or system that people accept as normal but should be questioned.

One belief people accept as normal is that success must follow a one-way path; going to school, getting a degree, finding a job, and working the same way until retirement. Society often see this path as the only valid definition of success, even though people have different talents, interests, and life circumstances. This belief ignores innovation, entrepreneurship, technical-skills, and non-traditional careers. It can also create pressure, anxiety, and feelings of failure for individuals who do not fit into this narrow framework. Accepting one rigid definition of success limits creativity and discourages people from exploring alternative ways of living meaningful and productive lives.

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This is not just an illusion but real life experience put into writing. I’ve followed through the pathway of education and returned with a degree but finding my dream job is really challenging. While waiting, I had no other option than to embrace entrepreneurship but older people around me still feels that something is missing. I love our generation so much because of the creative and innovative mindset.

I also had one funny experience few years ago, when I was done with school, I decided to just relax and think about my next step in life and how to apply for masters degree but my parents, Aunties and uncles were on my neck to follow the usual Nigerian pattern of education which is going for NYSC; one year compulsory service after higher institution. I actually wanted to serve after one or two years of leaving school but the pressure was too much so I had no other option than to register since seeing me on that uniform will be satisfaction. Before I decided to register, I was getting a lot of questions like; “do you have an extra year in school?”. Funny!

Question 2: Why do you think people rarely challenge it?

People rarely challenge this belief because it has been in existence for a long time and is strongly supported by our society, parents, education system. Many people also fear being judged, failing or stepping outside what is considered safe and acceptable. This pattern was actually working in the previous generations but things has really changed now; the job market after school is saturated. Moreover, social pressure plays a major role those who stray are often judged as careless or unrealistic. Over time, repeated acceptance turns the belief into an unquestioned norm, making it harder for people to imagine alternatives or speak against it.

Question 3: What could improve if this “normal” way changed?

If this normal way changed, people would have more freedom to explore different path such as business management, skill-based careers, and creative work. Job satisfaction and mental well-being could improve because individuals would feel less pressure. People would feel more liberated to pursue careers and lifestyles that align with their passions and strengths rather than societal expectations.

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Question 4: What might be lost if it disappeared completely?

If this belief disappeared completely, some structure and stability could be lost. The traditional path provides guidance, motivation, security, and without this, some people might feel confused or unsure about how to plan their lives. Institutions such as schools and workplaces rely on shared expectations to function smoothly. Without any standard framework, some individuals might feel confused or overwhelmed by too many choices. There is also value in discipline, long-term planning, and consistency, which the traditional model encourages. Therefore, rather than completely eliminating the idea, it may be better to balance it with adaptability allowing the traditional path to exist while accepting and respecting alternative ways of achieving success.

I will invite @chant, @josepha and @kouba01 to join the challenge.