WHY GIANTS CRAWL ON CAMPUS (HOW FORMER SENIOR PREFECTS BECOME STRUGGLING STUDENTS IN HIGHER INSTITUTIONS) by Olorunfemi Akuruyejo
1. . Lack of interest in their course of study: while
this may not be applicable to some students, it is however the major cause of
failure for many as many that applied for courses like Medicine, Law and top
Engineering courses found themselves in other departments they did not choose.
Many accepted the course with the aim of crossing to the department of their
choice (which does not work all the time). Can I advise you to embrace what you
have at hand for a bird at hand is better than ten in the bush. While I would
not advise you to settle for mediocrity, I would also want to be sure that the
reason why you want to study your ‘choiced’ course is worth it.
Do not pursue a course because;
-your parents want you to or
you want to please others. Many parents want their children to fulfil their
unfulfilled dreams; if the course is not your passion, kindly stop pursuing it;
you cannot continue the live of your parents, it is all yours to live.
-you think there is job security for the
course: many people choose medicine and some other ‘big’ courses, not because they
really love them but because they think that once you study such courses, you
would automatically get a job. Friend, the truth is that in Nigeria, there is
no job reserve for any course. Medical students now struggle to get even
housemanship, the richest people in the country are not likely doctors, lawyers
or even professors. Whatever course you study, it is your duty to establish
yourself in it and become an authority in that field. Not even these days that
graduates of courses like Yoruba, Mechanical Engineering now works in the bank.
You define the course, you don’t let the course define you. Create yourself,
all courses are good alike.
So even after you have checked and you feel
this present course at hand is not your way, still do well at it while you keep
working at crossing or writing another exam to get admitted into the course of
your choice. Many people have relied on crossing and therefore play with their
100 level only for them to be disappointed (as the crossing didn’t work out)
and they won’t be able to reverse their GPA.
2. . Lack of good foundation in the courses being
offered plus blaming their secondary school teachers for it. Many students
resume school with a faulty foundation in one course or the other;maybe
Physics, Chemistry or Maths such that they hardly understand what is done here
in class as it is supposed to be a building on the foundation they had in
secondary school. The truth is that only few attended a secondary school where
they had complete and competent teachers so you must first realize that you are
not alone. The way to tackle this is to determine to take charge of your life.
You can’t sit down here blaming a teacher (that doesn’t even know you have
gained admission) for your failure. Once a course has effect on your GPA, you
must work hard at it, you are the driver of your life and hence, you must take
up the responsibility. Enroll for private or group tutorials, attend group
discussions, get help from friends, buy textbooks on the course, and devote 50%
of your reading hours to the course. In no time, it will become your best
subject. You must always know that Life is a just employer and will give you
only what you demand of it.
3. . Misuse of freedom: Many students that have been
caged by parents/guardians, so on their resumption to higher institution, they feel
they have arrived and can now do and undo such that they enter a fresh bondage
even in their so-called Freedom. Instead of pursuing after knowledge and
building themselves for the future, they give themselves to immorality, many
girls eventually sleep with quite a number of guys. You must realize that life
works based on principles. You met it on ground, so you cant determine the
rules, having multiple partners or running after the opposite sex when you do
not yet have a direction or purpose for your life is a colossal disaster. The
freedom you have now is to build tenacity, develop healthy relationships, build
capacities and create your future. Every tomorrow must be planned for, for that
is the only way to make the best of today. Today is given so you don’t suffer
tomorrow. Don’t abuse this freedom, rather use it to your advantage.
4. Lack of Time management: there is a little hope
of success for a life without organization, purpose and proper use of time.
Many students get themselves engaged in several activities that sink their
academics. On campus, the truth is there will be several distractions, movies
to watch, games to play, friends to visit, party to attend, church services to
go to and yet your demanding academics. Lack of proper use of time wont bring
out the best in you. You must arrange your activities in order of priority and
plan each day ahead. Think on paper, take each activity of the day one after
the other, be organized. A daily record of how you spend your day can be helpful as well as it helps you to reflect over the
day and work on maximizing the day after.
5. Wrong Association: it is a general saying that
the kind of person you will become in the next few years depend on the people
you hang out with today. Do not join so many associations especially those
unrelated to your passion. You cant be everything. Join associations that align
with your purpose or passion. The fellowship I joined in 100 level is almost
100% responsible for what I am today and I will always be thankful for that.
You must be careful of which association you join. Know exactly what you want,
don’t be driven here and there. If you want to be social, be social!, if you
want to serve God or build your spiritual life, fellowship is the way, if you
want to be a student politician, be; choose your niche.
The first law of success of concentration.
Do not be in many unreconcileable groups. How can you be a worker in your
fellowship and at the same time a member of Man O’ war and you are also a
kegite? You may not be able to lead a class that way. Choose your niche and
dominate it! An association, even though good on its own, becomes a bad one
when it does not contribute to your success or help you achieve your primary
aim on campus. Your friends also matter. You must choose your friends, don’t
allow your friends to choose you. If you will be a giant, you can’t keep dwarfs
as your close friends. Walk with those that would challenge and inspire you to
succeed.
6. Isolation: One of the salient reasons why people
fail is isolation. They believe they can thrive on their own, some don’t even
have a phone that uses whatsapp. Hence, they miss some classes, assignments and
materials that fly around on whatsapp. On campus, it is a must for you to be on
your class whatsapp page. No single individual has sufficient experience, native
ability and knowledge to insure great success in life without the support of
others. While you avoid wrong associations, you must also form healthy and
correct relationships. Have team members, reading mate that inspire you to read
when you don’t feel like, you discuss questions with them, you revise together
but don’t cheat together. Never carry your team work into the test or exam
hall. Find those that are doing better than you in your class and make them
your reading mates. You’d achieve more than when you are alone.
*
Author: Olorunfemi Akuruyejo,
graduate of Industrial chemistry, OAU
08109733748
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