#16 TheKareem: On Campus Journalism, Content Creation, Radio Presenting and her Childhood Dream
When I learnt about what profession/career was about in secondary school, I knew and made up my mind about what I wanted to become... I would not say the journey has been smooth...
Hi, Thank you for joining us for today’s episode of StudentsWhoCreate Interview. Our Student Creative for today is a 400-level student in the Department of English, Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU). As a child, every time she saw someone on the TV presenting she loved it and wanted to do the same thing. Knowing very early that to get into the broadcast journalism space one should be able to write and document things, she decided to pursue a campus journalism career in her early days on campus to get headlines and put herself out there. What has the journey been like? How did she go from being a campus journalist to becoming a radio presenter on the University’s radio station? What has kept her going despite a number of rejections? Read and enjoy!!!
Hi, Thank you for speaking with us. Can we meet you?
My name is Kareem Oluwaseyi Precious also known as TheKareem. I am a 400-level student in the Department of English, Obafemi Awolowo University. I am a radio presenter, content creator, event host, red carpet host, and journalist.
Interesting!!! Which of all these came first for you?
Campus journalism came first.
How did you get started?
It started very early for me. It started when I knew what the whole profession thing was about in secondary school. Every time I saw someone on the TV presenting I loved it and wanted to do the same thing. When I got to secondary school, I joined the press club and later became the vice president of the press club.
I did OAU pre-degree and in my pre-degree days when people came to my room to gist, I was the dramatic one who dramatizes when narrating a gist, and people always complimented me about it and said a career in that path would soothe me and promised to let me know when an opportunity shows up.
On getting to campus in part one, I started out as a campus journalist.
How were you able to transition and expand into the other thing you do now?
I would not say the journey has been smooth because being a campus journalist in a school like OAU is not an easy thing to do. Fortunately for me, I got to know very early that to get into the broadcast journalism space you should be able to write and document things which was why I started out as a campus journalist. I wanted to get stories and headlines and also to put myself out there.
You know when journalists tell us not to be friends or close allies with politicians and how politicians and journalists are not friends? It’s the same in OAU. At some point, I became the editor-in-chief for my faculty’s news agency and the whole experience opened me up to a lot of things especially when I get complaints about a story we publish.
I love to explore, so these other things came naturally to me and I chose to pursue them.
How have you been able to combine school work with doing all these?
It was not easy at the beginning. It actually shattered my sleep pattern because I had to catch up with school books, write news/articles, prepare for my show, and all but I learned to plan and schedule my time. It became easier over time and also the radio station works with our timetable to fix our show airtime, so it has gotten better.
What are some of the challenges you face as a student creative?
A very big one is when I get referred for some jobs, some people think I won't be able to handle it because I'm a student.
Another one is how my day can change drastically. For example, I may be in my room resting and then get a call to go cover a developing story, not forgetting the fact that I have an assignment to submit or a test to prepare for. So managing my time and schedule can be a lot.
How have you been able to navigate these challenges?
As I said, I work with my schedule. I plan my day ahead and give a space for free time and let you know If I can do something because I don't want a situation where I will have to disappoint someone.
Is there a community for creatives and content creators in your school?
No, I am not aware of any.
What is your creative process? How do you go about creating content?
Firstly, I use my book and pen to make a draft. I have a list on my notepad where I drop content ideas because ideas can come any time. When I have the time, I go to the list and work on one of the ideas I have written down and develop it depending on the kind of idea it is.
How would you describe the impact of the Covid-19 lockdown on you and your work as a creative?
Overall, I would say it had a good impact. At the beginning of the lockdown, I wasn’t doing anything because I didn’t expect it to take long, I expected the ban to be lifted shortly, after which I can continue with my life when I get back to school but then it was prolonged. During this period, I reached out to a number of companies to intern with them but they were asking me for some qualifications, that someone, my age is not expected to have. I spoke with a lot of my friends at the time too. I was able to get the radio presenting job through one of my friends I spoke with at the time. We did a voiceover thing together and he asked me to come to the studio the next and surprisingly, I got the job.
Have you ever felt like quitting?
Yes
What brought about the feeling?
Someone close to me made a statement that got to me. When I wanted to start my journalism career, a friend told me "Are you sure you can handle this thing, you that you're too shy". At that point, I was like maybe she's right, and thought about those who get dragged on social media for doing the wrong thing and thought about how I would not like to be dragged.
How did you get over it?
Another friend spoke to me and I just decided to go on and thought to myself that the worse thing that can happen is for me to get corrected and getting corrected is not a bad thing.
What are the proudest projects you have worked on?
I am very proud of the red carpet I hosted for an event in Lokoja. It was a very big one for me.
Another one is my YouTube channel. I am very proud of what I have done with it.
How do you stay creative? What keeps you going?
Advice from my loved ones keeps me going. Also, when I see people that are doing the things I aspire to do, I am motivated to keep going.
What do you do for fun? How do you relax when you're not actively working?
Some people may find it hard to believe that I am not as playful as they think I am when I'm alone. I love to stay indoors, watch movies, and gist with my friends. I also enjoy watching tutorials on how to achieve some effects for my videos.
Who are the creatives that inspire you?
Tomike Adeoye, Nancy Isime, and Ebuka Obi-Uchendu
Who are the creatives you would love to work or collaborate with on a project?
Tomike Adeoye, Jeremy Lynch, Nancy Isime, and Ebuka Obi-Uchendu
What brand(s) would you love to work with?
BBCAfrica, TVC, Nestle, and Maltina
What advice do you have for someone looking to get started?
I would say, STOP PROCRASTINATING. Have a learner’s mindset and have a mindset that the worst that can happen is that you get corrected. It's not a bad thing to get corrected. Also, do what works for you. Don’t get pressured by what you see on social media. People don't post what they go through on social media. They only post beautiful things and moments, so don't get pressured.
Who would you like us to interview next?
Oladipupo Paul
How can people reach you?
People can reach me on Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, LinkedIn, and oluwaseyiprecious2001@gmail.com
Thank you for sharing with us!!!
Takeaway Nugget: STOP PROCRASTINATING. Have a growth and learner’s mindset Also, do what works for you. Don’t get pressured by what you see on social media.
Thank you for reading and don’t forget to share the story
See you next time!!!
Follow us on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn to stay up to date.