Yes, I know it is not new, but in recent years, SSCE results have been
reported as poor, with less than 50% of the candidates having less than a credit pass in Mathematics and English Language. I remembered in
1999, WAEC announced its candidate with the best result which was 8-A1 and 1-A2. I was not able to reach that particular candidate, but I was able to
catch up with someone else that had the same result that same year to share
with us how he was able to achieve this. He had 8-A1 including Mathematics, English Language, Physics, Chemistry and Biology and
1-A2 in Additional Mathematics
 |
| Dr. Jide Oresegun |
My name is Oresegun Olajide, I am a Medical
doctor, I grew up in Abeokuta, Ogun State
where I attended Ogun International Montessori Nursery
&Primary School, Idi-Aba and later proceeded to the prestigious Abeokuta
Grammar School, Idi-Aba, Abeokuta, Ogun State. I grew up in a Christian
family set up and under a serene, loving but disciplined atmosphere back in Abeokuta.
I was a member of the Scripture Union, the Literary & Debating and School
QUIZ team. I was fortunate to have studious and godly friends who positively
influenced me and kept my negative tendencies at bay (meaning he had negative
tendencies too, lolzzzz)!
Yes, I
did have a defiant period when I felt my parents are old fashioned and could
not match up with what is in vogue, so they should not tell me what to do. I think every teenager passes through this
period of “I know it all”, “no one can rule/ control me attitude”; this happens
when our hormones run riot, it is a phase and it would pass. It took a lot of
humility and the grace of God to pass through this period; my hormones were
simply in control. It took me to sit and ask myself what I wanted for my future
and how my present way of life could lead me to my future dreams, that was when
I realized I was already in the wrong
path. Yes, I might want to blame it on hormonal surges, yes, but I had to take
control of the surges and tailor it into the path I wanted for my future and today,
I’m happy I made the decision. Know that your parents would not want anything
bad for you, their job as your custodian is to show you the right path, so,
please, be calm, listen to them and make sense out of their words. Their words
are golden.
By the
grace of God, I was able to have an SSCE result of 8-A1s and 1-A2. I ensured I
had brilliant and focused friends. Yes, I studied real hard, read every subject
back to back, played less during the day so that I could have strength to study
in the night and God simply crowned my efforts.
Excelling takes first
of all, the mercy and favor of GOD, diligence (had to attend all my
classes and had extra lessons, good notes, tutorials, studious and encouraging
friends) and support from parents (money for textbooks, lessons, school fees
etc).
Life at the
medical school was quiet stressful, with too much to learn and little time! But
God was faithful. I must confess, I was much of a 'triangular student'
-Church-Class-Home person...but I had some periods of fun in-between.
I was not all books, books and books. There were times I got
bored and had to hang out with my friend. I had social friend who invited to
events and all, but my friends were serious minded with good moral inclination,
so, we can be sure we weren’t doing things that could damage or distract us. We
went for birthday parties, but not all parties, we selected the ones we
attended and return to our books. While in the secondary school or anytime I
was home with my parents, I would ask for their permission before attending any
event. All the party and function attending were all within limits and no late
night crawling.
Being a medical
doctor had always been my childhood dream and excelling at school was strictly
tied to a rigorous work schedule. That helped to curb some negative youthful
tendencies. Being a born-again Christian with watchful parents also contributed
in no small measure in handling the opposite sex, not forgetting the
ever-saving grace of GOD.
I do not regret giving myself to studying; it’s an investment from which I will
by the grace of God continue to reap dividends.
I will advise
teenagers to stay focused and invest in knowledge. I realized that although
some people are born geniuses, the rest of us are born kind with almost equal
brain, it is now left to us as individual to develop the brain and talent God
has given to us, how well you stimulate your brain accounts for the differences
in individuals. When it comes to learning in school, the amount of time you
devout to real studying determines how well you will do in your academics,
since we did not come to school after having a full knowledge of the subjects
from home, we all came blank to learn from school. There is no way to learn
without reading. Improve the time to spend with your book, devout more time to
study, drop your bb, ignore the TV, hide the video games, close facebook, sign
out of twitter and let your friends rest while your study. Give your study time
your full concentration, all the other stuffs can definitely wait.
A lot of
teenagers want to get rich in a hurry, even at the expense of going to school.
Well, I would say this is you getting your priorities wrong. We have learning
years and earning years. Teen stage is learning years, cool down with the
earning thoughts, you watch reality show where huge amount of money is won,
that is fine, but come to think of I ,
how many people enter for these shows and how many of them eventually win? You
cannot base your life on chances! Some
even go into internet fraud, the truth is “what you do with your brain and
hands is what would last with and for you, the rest others are not durable,
they cannot stand the test of time.” This would make you stand confident among
your peers. Maximize your learning years, learn all you can and then you can step
into the earning years armed with knowledge to solve world problems. You can be
sure you will be better chanced as you pick the offers you feel most
comfortable with.
Form meaningful friendships, have friends
that can challenge and motivate you to study, learn meaningful and impactful
things, friends that can help you develop your potentials in the positive
directions and not just talk about fashion, movies, opposite sex, etc . But
friends that will challenge you to get more knowledge, to study more and to get
better grades. Sacrifices are also needed; you might have to lose some sleep to
cover up shaky grounds. Should you be weak with any subject, go for extra moral
classes, they help. For the sake of standardized examinations,
e.g. SSCE, SAT, GCE, you need to work with the curriculum.
The get-rich-quick schemes that
abound nowadays don't lead to enduring success.
Maximize your gifts and
talents? YES; compromise your education? NO.
Keep the passion for academic
excellence aglow and you won’t regret it!
With God on your and you playing your
part, you will surely do well.
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