By Jimmy Siyasa
Unlike children, most adults don’t eat the icing on cake. They only like its decorative appearance. When the cake is served, they quickly chip away the icing to get to the cake itself because it’s what really matters.
As icing is on cake, so is a university degree — the Bachelor’s, Masters or PhD. This applies to other certifications as well.
When I graduated with my Master’s, a senior colleague, while sharing felicitations introduced me to that analogy. It has since stayed with me: “You now have a Master’s. That’s good. Now what?” he asked rhetorically.
“The degree is like cake on icing. You are going to file away the transcript, and your character and skills are what people will need.” Sam added.
Those words rang in my ears long after, as I hope they may ring in yours, now that the gown is off and your transcript filed away.
Should people around you hope to be served better? Has your education and new qualification made you a better human or merely bloated your ego? I pray it’s the former.
After derobing and cutting the cake, forget about the paper. Pour yourself into the deep work (voluntary or paid) of serving people with the skills you have acquired. Learn as much, and as fast, from more experienced people. Seek opportunities to be useful to people who need products, services or even relevant information within your field of training. In a few years, you will become a master of your trade worth the premium pay many graduates often desire while they do not yet have the requisite value.
As for character, too bad this doesn’t come with a degree. It is an immaterial ingredient essentially birthed from true submission to the law of God through Jesus Christ, then trained as a person matures in faith and biologically. Practically speaking though, you will be more effective in a work place if workmates can rely on your availability; if you keep your word; keep time; and contribute to day-to-day problem-solving. Most importantly, learn to communicate effectively through speech, text and otherwise. That is a superpower. A 2025 study by University of Applied Sciences Europe ranked communication “the most important skill in a workplace.”
During his address to the October 23, 2026, UCU graduates, Archbishop Stephen Kaziimba, the UCU Chancellor, said something profound: “Do not be in a hurry to be important. Be in a hurry [seek] to be faithful.” This was a precise call to being professionals of character and competence, rather than mere degree-ed “clever devils” as British author C.S Lewis would term such.
Unfortunately, in an age of credentialism and personal branding, most people are quick to celebrate and announce achievements, new qualifications or titles, than they are to embrace or dispense the responsibilities thereof. This ego contest comes alive on LinkedIn, which is often criticised as a platform for posturing through performative messaging to project authority, competence and leadership presence.
Now don’t become one of those loud, perpetually “thrilled” humans on LinkedIn. This is not to say, don’t sell your competences or show your impact— you should, otherwise how will potential clients find you? My point is, when they do, let them find your competence offline, just as good, if not better than what you project online, sometimes via a needlessly bloated profile.
Congratulations! You now have a degree or another one: so what? Shall we have the cake? Or is it all icing?
Book recommendation: So Good They Can’t Ignore You by Dr. Carl Newport.
The Writer is an Alumnus & Communications Officer of Uganda Christian University
