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#Episode05

The #specialedition

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Veronica, making a mockery of my condition while chatting with her friend, said, "The Head Boy (Senior Prefect) of your school picks dirt like a scavenger, sweeps the floor of juniors, even down to JSS1, arranges the chairs, and worst of all, washes the ill smelling toilet used by students."

This is no fiction, but the story of my life, untold.

I remember that fateful Monday afternoon, in SS1, when I went to the tutorial center after the closing of the public school I attended in my community. I got to the gate of the tutorial center, opened the gate, and the secretary asked for my tuition fee.

Prior to that week, I had been receiving lashes for almost two weeks due to an unpaid lesson fee.

As usual, I'll chest the anguishing pains and proceed to class, for I don't want to miss the teachings of that day.

Even though my parents were trying their best to take good care of me, I never wanted my unborn children to witness this tough experience I had. We couldn't afford to buy textbooks, so I had to save my lunch money to purchase books, to the extent that I developed an ulcer in the process.

Back to the Secretary's gate...

The secretary was on the verge of sending me home since I was owing a lesson fee, but the lesson coordinator stopped him and asked me this question: "Peter, are you willing to play a servant-like role at the center, but you won't pay any lesson fee again?"

Without giving it much thought, I said yes.

Then he asked again: "Peter, I mean that you would have to arrange the chairs, sweep the floor, wait behind after your classes, and wash the toilets, not forgetting that your colleagues and juniors will see you doing this."

Hmm... I gave it a thought about personal prestige, but I still pondered the cost of turning down this 'no-choice' offer.

Finally, I said yes.

I did this job for three good years, from my SS1 to SS3, even when I was Senior Prefect and my reputation brought in many students to the tutorial center.

However, throughout this phase, my dad never knew. I wasn't going to allow my ego to steal my dreams.

__________ TRANSITION __________

That boy, who literally had to flush the poo of his colleagues and sweep their dirt, graduated from his secondary school as the Overall Best Graduating Student, and the 2nd Best Chemistry Student in Lagos at the Awokoya Chemistry Competition 2014.

He went further to emerge as the

• Best Graduating Student in the Chemical Engineering Department, University of Benin.
• One of the top 20 participants of Lagos Business School's Young Talents Programme.

And he still has more success stories to share if you stay tuned to this newsletter.

__________ LESSONS ____________

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Let me quickly mention this:

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1. The habit of blaming others for your mistakes or life circumstances
2. willingness to quit at the first sign of defeat.
3. The habit of compromising with poverty instead of aiming at riches. The general lack of ability to be, to do, and to win.
4. searching for all the shortcuts instead of facing the pain of discipline.
5. wishing instead of willing.

_______________________

I hope you got value from this post.

Bring in your questions so I can answer them in the next episode.

Like I said, I am truly interested in your progress.

Please don't forget to #likeandshare. That's what's going to motivate me to proceed.

I am available for speaking engagements in the areas of academics, excellence, capacity development, and renewable energy.

________________________

I remain your "Partner in Success," Peter Oyefolu.

Your #we_cannot_be_small friend!

#inspire_peteroyefolu

#peteroyefolu

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