GOING THE EXTRA MILE BY SUSAN MUMBUA 08-1277SUSAN MUMBUA 08-1277 COM 349X FINAL PROJECT. GOING THE EXTRA MILE Fredrick Brian Lichuma is a fourth year student at Daystar University. His major is Communication (Electronic Media). Being a wide area of study he had to look for something that will stand out in his work, “I needed something engaging” he said as he took another sip of his coffee, that’s when he decided to specialize more in video and audio editing. Cynthia did her editing course several semesters ago, she can’t remember what it entails and a project on editing is due. She tries to work on it with the little she can remember but she can’t get far with it. She decides to call Fred and they schedule a date on a Saturday. I join them on Saturday and the lesson was a full session on editing. Fred didn’t do anything he just taught and made her understand step by step about the whole process. It was amazing how she could now work on the project by the end of the session. Fred has learnt a lot by teaching and helping his fellow students in their work. These has landed him jobs here and there like editing weddings. He edits lots of weddings and this has led to watching the wedding show. Men would rather tune in to something else rather than watch wedding show and hear their wives nag how some of the weddings are better than theirs. For Fred he doesn’t mind at all because it gives him ideas on how to edit for his clients. Fred started helping out students since 2008 when lecturers requested him to help the rest of the students with their work, so he could get a class and take the students step by step in video editing. This fascinates many people because he gets time to do his work and help many students do their work. Some students also call him to critique their documentaries or any piece of work they have. “Journalism is the passion, and this is what drives me into doing what I do.” There are times he has been forced to stay in late just to help people even though he doesn’t have a class. So with all these people calling in for help, how does he handle it? Crossing his legs then making a side smile, he starts to tell me how he separates the two. One thing he values is time and therefore if someone wants his help he has to keep to the time schedule that they agreed to. He knows how long a particular job will take, so if he gives it approximately one hour and the student doesn’t come for the first thirty minutes, he will do what they (students) can for the remaining thirty minutes and the rest has to be scheduled for another day. “I work on my assignments early enough so as to get time to help my fellow colleagues.” So he works on his assignments on Saturday and Sunday and does some reading too. During the interview, students were interrupting. Some saying thank you for helping them while others booking time with him to help them. He didn’t seem overwhelmed at one point by all these, but he kept his word and for sure he helped them all. He talked to everyone of them with a warm smile and these encouraged some of them who looked like it’s the end of the world because they couldn’t do their assignments. “That is how I socialize, I meet different people with different characters not necessarily my friends, but I still help them.” Fred helps different students form Diploma to undergraduate and even Masters Students. This has made him learn a lot on how to deal with different characters. One of the students referred to him as ‘sent from heaven’ and he has had many other names given to him because of his work. James one of his friends came in during the interview and told him that he should consider doing his internship teaching audio and video editing because he is good at it. So with all these at your plate do you get overwhelmed? “Yes, I’m human and sometimes handling over 30 students in a day is not easy, it calls for God’s grace daily.” What makes him do it all over again the next day is when he sees people’s smiles after helping them. Fred is not paid for what he does, all these is voluntary, the only time he gets something in return is when he is working for his clients. He can stay up to 3am just to finish one clients work and deliver the same job to the client as early as 7am. Fred has worked for ten clients inclusive of individuals and corporate, and he is very positive about the future ahead. Fred is also part of the corporate affairs and he is the assistant director. This is also voluntary; he helps in marketing Daystar University in different places of the country but also outside the country. Fred’s determination keeps him on track, he knows what he wants from all these and for him the sky is not the limit. This is not the end of him helping people, he wants to help more and more and continue learning from them too. “It’s a give and take process, and I always find myself learning something new every day.” While teaching in the process he learns a new technique or a new way of editing the pieces, because the software get better each day. Fred hasn’t thought of being a lecturer, though students have told him he would make a good lecturer, he is taking a step at a time. He wouldn’t mind if that’s the direction God is leading him, and during the whole interview you will notice Fred’s faith plays a big role in his planning and what he wants to do. He would refer to God one time or the other and thanking Him for the heart that’s patient and willing to teach and learn at the same time. Taking his last sip of his coffee, “If you don’t have the passion for it, develop it.” WORDS: 1029 TYPE: PROFILE FEATURE.

SUSAN MUMBUA

08-1277

COM 349X

FINAL PROJECT.

GOING THE EXTRA MILE

Fredrick Brian Lichuma is a fourth year student at Daystar University. His major is Communication (Electronic Media).  Being a wide area of study he had to look for something that will stand out in his work, “I needed something engaging” he said as he took another sip of his coffee,  that’s when he decided to specialize more in video and audio editing.

Cynthia did her editing course several semesters ago, she can’t remember what it entails and a project on editing is due. She tries to work on it with the little she can remember but she can’t get far with it. She decides to call Fred and they schedule a date on a Saturday. I join them on Saturday and the lesson was a full session on editing. Fred didn’t do anything he just taught and made her understand step by step about the whole process. It was amazing how she could now work on the project by the end of the session.

 Fred has learnt a lot by teaching and helping his fellow students in their work.  These has landed him jobs here and there like editing weddings. He edits lots of weddings and this has led to watching the wedding show. Men would rather tune in to something else rather than watch wedding show and hear their wives nag how some of the weddings are better than theirs. For Fred he doesn’t mind at all because it gives him ideas on how to edit for his clients.

 Fred started helping out students since 2008 when lecturers requested him to help the rest of the students with their work, so he could get a class and take the students step by step in video editing. This fascinates many people because he gets time to do his work and help many students do their work. Some students also call him to critique their documentaries or any piece of work they have. “Journalism is the passion, and this is what drives me into doing what I do.” There are times he has been forced to stay in late just to help people even though he doesn’t have a class.

So with all these people calling in for help, how does he handle it?  Crossing his legs then making a side smile, he starts to tell me how he separates the two. One thing he values is time and therefore if someone wants his help he has to keep to the time schedule that they agreed to.

He knows how long a particular job will take, so if he gives it approximately one hour and the student doesn’t come for the first thirty minutes, he will do what they (students) can for the remaining thirty minutes and the rest has to be scheduled for another day. “I work on my assignments early enough so as to get time to help my fellow colleagues.” So he works on his assignments on Saturday and Sunday and does some reading too.

During the interview, students were interrupting. Some saying thank you for helping them while others booking time with him to help them. He didn’t seem overwhelmed at one point by all these, but he kept his word and for sure he helped them all. He talked to everyone of them with a warm smile and these encouraged some of them who looked like it’s the end of the world because they couldn’t do their assignments. “That is how I socialize, I meet different people with different characters not necessarily my friends, but I still help them.” Fred helps different students form Diploma to undergraduate and even Masters Students. This has made him learn a lot on how to deal with different characters. 

One of the students referred to him as ‘sent from heaven’ and he has had many other names given to him because of his work. James one of his friends came in during the interview and told him that he should consider doing his internship teaching audio and video editing because he is good at it.

So with all these at your plate do you get overwhelmed? “Yes, I’m human and sometimes handling over 30 students in a day is not easy, it calls for God’s grace daily.”  What makes him do it all over again the next day is when he sees people’s smiles after helping them. Fred is not paid for what he does, all these is voluntary, the only time he gets something in return is when he is working for his clients. He can stay up to 3am just to finish one clients work and deliver the same job to the client as early as 7am. Fred has worked for ten clients inclusive of individuals and corporate, and he is very positive about the future ahead.

Fred is also part of the corporate affairs and he is the assistant director. This is also voluntary; he helps in marketing Daystar University in different places of the country but also outside the country.

Fred’s determination keeps him on track, he knows what he wants from all these and for him the sky is not the limit. This is not the end of him helping people, he wants to help more and more and continue learning from them too. “It’s a give and take process, and I always find myself learning something new every day.” While teaching in the process he learns a new technique or a new way of editing the pieces, because the software get better each day.

Fred hasn’t thought of being a lecturer, though students have told him he would make a good lecturer, he is taking a step at a time. He wouldn’t mind if that’s the direction God is leading him, and during the whole interview you will notice Fred’s faith plays a big role in his planning and what he wants to do. He would refer to God one time or the other and thanking Him for the heart that’s patient and willing to teach and learn at the same time.

Taking his last sip of his coffee, “If you don’t have the passion for it, develop it.”

WORDS: 1029

TYPE: PROFILE FEATURE.