Life after school can be a tumultuous time for many young adults who are suddenly confronted with the responsibilities that accompany this period. This was the case for Valerie Amondi Odhiambo after she graduated from University of Kabianga in 2018 with a bachelor’s degree in Communication and Public Relations.
Becoming an independent grown up was not an easy transition for Valerie. She had very little training on how to land a good job, pay taxes and file returns, get health insurance, and even handle long distance relationships (both romantic and platonic) after graduating. Surely, she wasn’t the only young adult struggling to acclimatize to this new territory she had irreversibly walked into. This became her motivation to create her podcast, Post Grad Space, in 2019.
30 episodes later, Post Grad Space has acquired several listeners from their target audience who need a reminder that they are not alone. The episodes aired so far cover an array of topics. These include managing your finances at this early stage of adulthood, the importance of mental health, navigating unemployment, and choosing a career path that you love. Valerie is also frequently joined on the podcast by specialists who offer advice or fellow graduands who speak about their experiences.
One of the most popular episodes of Post Grad Space is titled “Conversations With My Father,” in which Valerie speaks with her father about “black tax,” and the financial responsibilities that await many African youth after completing their studies.
Post Grad Space has barely scratched the surface with the conversations that need to be held, but its impact already has been substantial. Valerie welcomes her listeners to take a sonic journey of exploring the early and mid 20s, and the uncertainty that characterizes this time.
Want to join the Post Grad Space community? Listen to the podcast here.
