My earlier juvenile days were amazing and at the same time threatening. The teenage years are very challenging especially when you are beginning to learn about your identity and purpose.
Then, I was so carefree and the song and abode by all the school rules. Knowing nothing about the real world and devoting myself to the old song that our teachers and parents would always sing:
"Study your books, study your books. If you want to be successful in life, you have to study your books so you can pass your exams."
...But they didn't know how misleading it was and how it didn't have any results in the real world.
Though I never understood what exam fever was at that time because I always prepared well ahead of time for them and was very excited about them I took my academics 99.9% seriously. It was my pride and joy.
I detested unseriousness and unserious students. Though, I had a good relationship with everyone in my class, I had my clique of friends who were equally intelligent as I was and we did everything together.
I was one good book worm. I read every single minute. Both when I was walking round the school premises or going to the rest room till my teachers and disciplinary Principal started calling me Dr. ID. 馃槆馃槆
Oh how it tickled my stomach each time I heard this name .
The constant praises and attention I had amongst my teachers and fellow students started to get into my head till the point that my seriousness began to drop.
My studying gradually reduced because I thought
"Well, is it not exam? I go run am."
Little did I know that I was setting myself up for failure until results came out and my average dropped so much. It was enough failure for me.
As you may know, my Principal was a Professor in disciplining unserious students and at the end of the term, he would go to each class with everyone's resukt and start calling it out from the 1st to the last position and those who didn't do well would be seriously flogged.
Judgment day (as we would call it) came and as the results were called out, my name was not among the 1st three but went down to the 4th position. I could see his eyes... red with anger.
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It was then I was face to face with death 馃ズ
I was the center of attention that day but this time, for good strokes of "the rod of justice".
The rod of justice was a cain that comprises of 4 individual heavy ones which was made by.my Peincipal specifically for the judgment day.
After that day, I couldn't do anything with my hands for close to a week plus I had countless assesment meetings with my Principal whose eyes were now much more focused me.
Fortunately, I picked up and continued my walk in glory after some time thanks to him. He was one of the person that made my secondary school days valuable amd rewarding.
I learnt a great lesson that day to never be proud of your achievements and be consistent and intentional about success.
Till next time, keep advancing...
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