27/06/2026
CEO Teah Sneh Saadiashus writes.....
What Is Expected After the Classroom?
Following recent social media posts, I have seen bloggers mocking and criticizing people who have not yet had the opportunity to attend university or earn a degree, simply because they spend time in nightclubs while their peers pursue higher education.
First, let me congratulate and celebrate all those who graduated from Cuttington University today. Your commitment to education, hard work, resilience, and determination despite numerous challenges has distinguished you among your peers. You have set a high standard for yourselves and inspired hope for a brighter future for our nation.
However, I strongly condemn the reckless statements made by some bloggers. No one should be ridiculed because of how they choose to enjoy their social life. More importantly, it is unfair to conclude that those who have not gone to university or earned a degree are unserious. Many people face genuine obstacles such as financial hardship, limited educational opportunities, unemployment, and the country's fragile economy. These realities continue to prevent countless talented and determined young people from achieving their educational dreams.
Beyond that, earning a degree is one achievement; applying the knowledge gained is another. This brings us to the question that truly matters:
What is expected after the classroom?
The answer is simple: education does not end at graduation.
There is far more to education than attending lectures, reading textbooks, passing examinations, receiving academic awards, or earning a degree. The true value of education is measured by one's ability to apply knowledge to solve real-world problems and positively impact society. If knowledge cannot be translated into practical solutions, then the purpose of that education must be questioned.
As we celebrate today's graduates, we must remember that what is expected after graduation is far greater than the degree itself.
Governments, employers, businesses, and organizations are not only interested in academic qualifications. They also want to see experience, competence, innovation, integrity, leadership, and the ability to solve problems. During job interviews, employers often ask candidates to demonstrate how they have applied their knowledge and what challenges they have overcome. Communities expect graduates to create positive change, while institutions seek professionals capable of contributing their expertise and leading responsibly.
Rather than mocking those who have not yet had the opportunity to pursue higher education, today's graduates should prepare themselves for the responsibilities that lie ahead. Likewise, the people they will eventually serve deserve professionals who are competent, ethical, and committed to excellence.
Our society does not need a nurse who prioritizes scrolling through a phone while patients require urgent care. We do not need a civil engineer who cannot properly design, construct, or maintain roads when entrusted with public infrastructure. We do not need professionals who possess certificates but lack the competence to perform the duties their professions demand.
Liberia cannot afford leaders who hold impressive academic credentials but fail to apply their expertise to improve the lives of the people. Whether in government, business, healthcare, engineering, education, or any other profession, society needs individuals who are responsible, accountable, transparent, competent, confident, and committed to serving with integrity.
These are the qualities that should define a true graduate.
At the same time, we must continue encouraging those who have not yet earned a degree. We should work together to create more opportunities for education, vocational training, and practical skills that enable people to contribute meaningfully to society. Those graduating today should become a source of inspiration, not a reason for others to feel discouraged or inferior.
Social media influencers and bloggers also have a responsibility. Instead of using graduation celebrations as an opportunity to mock those who are less privileged, they should use their platforms to educate, motivate, and encourage positive change. Their words should build hope rather than deepen discouragement.
This article is a response to the growing trend on Liberian social media, where some bloggers and individuals use the achievements of university graduates to shame those who have not had the privilege of pursuing higher education. As Cuttington University and several other universities celebrate their graduates today, some have chosen to turn these achievements into tools for mockery rather than inspiration.
Education should unite us, not divide us. Graduation should remind us of what is possible, not become an excuse to belittle those who are still struggling to reach the same destination.
A degree is an important milestone, but it is not the final destination. What truly matters is what comes after the classroom: the character we demonstrate, the competence we display, the problems we solve, and the positive impact we make in our communities.
That is what society expects after the classroom.
Thank you!
Monsterrado Chapter - SAE Liberia
Sinoe Chapter - SAE Liberia
Gbarpolu Chapter - SAE Liberia
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