Advice on Quitting to succeed... (Guest writer)

‎"To be successful, you must decide exactly what you want to accomplish, then resolve to pay the price to get it."

While going through the weekly tabloids this morning, I caught a glimpse of a headline that shocked me it read, “One million students fail 2011 WAEC Exam.” I shared the piece with my colleagues and most of them kept saying “Ahh… children of nowadays, I’m not surprised at all, during our time bla bla bla…"

A few minutes later, I saw a post on Facebook that read “Thanks to the very many talent hunters, one million students failed WAEC.’’  Yes every one has a share of this blame but most of it all lies on the Nigerian youth.

I know what it feels like to fail WAEC because I was once a "victim." I was to blame, my school was to blame and my country’s education system was to blame too.

However, the purpose of this article is to encourage the youths of this country, especially those who are at the brink of being crushed by this mass failure. “It is not too late to start afresh and pursue that future you dream of…the future is in today, it is where you are living now.”

We are no longer leaders of tomorrow but young leaders of today. So all those dreams and aspirations are in our hands to shape.

People might see you and want to recall your failures to your face but it is what you see in yourself that counts. Winners do quit, no matter what the cliché is. If your heart isn’t in it, then it doesn’t serve you to keep doing the things that people think you ought to do.

If you want to be the best Doctor or Engineer ever, you might have to quit the dance club or whatever it is that is taking your time and attention away from passing those examination that will launch you forward. In fact, you might need to quit everything else. But that is up to you and your dream.

Don’t let anyone tell you that persevering through something you can’t stand is of a higher moral imperative than quitting. There’s value in pushing through the tough parts, but suffering for someone else will never be cool or productive for you. Quit the frivolities and mediocrity and commit wholeheartedly to pursuing excellence and good success will wrap its arms around you.

Guest columnist: Chioma Chukwuneta

Chioma is an Accountant and an active volunteer with Nigerian Youth Climate Coalition.