Unveiling the Potential: A Journey to Discovering Your Child’s True Calling

My heart beats as I put this blog together. I hope you share with parents and everyone that comes to your mind as you?read!

I am EKUNDAYO Michael Oluwadamilare, a graduate of Obafemi Awolowo University with a degree in Animal Sciences. During my time in school, I discovered my passion for helping young people become better versions of themselves, increasing their productivity and helping them live fulfilled lives. I have been working in the youth development space intensively for 9 years.

While I was in school, I interacted with thousands of students, and now, as I serve my fatherland in Uyo, Akwa-Ibom, I have taken up a teaching role for my place of primary assignment, which has given me more access to students. I have experienced students’ pain and struggles as they try to make a point to their parents that they are not failures. Some students work easily while others struggle a lot, which can be demotivating. This is the main reason for putting this blog post together, to encourage parents, guardians, and support systems of both youngsters and young adults to “Know your Child”.

I grew up in an environment where dreams are driving to career choice. My parents are elite and disciplinarian, who are also life builders. Both are teachers, though retired several years ago. One thing my parents did as believers in Christ was to consult the source of life (God) about the purpose of each child they brought to earth (written in their diary). As I grew up, my father wanted me to study a particular course because he desired one of his fruits should do so. This is a normal thought for parents because every family wants to have a doctor, nurse, pharmacist, lawyer, engineer, etc. While some believe some courses aren’t futuristic based on their knowledge. Any child that deviates from this view of them is on their own. Different character switching begins to come in, being aggressive and harsh on such a child. You will agree with me that most of the problems in our society start from home. Family is the first school of discipleship, discovery, and development, but when this school fails, the secondary phase becomes hard, complicated, and uneasy.

Parents are too busy to find out the unique abilities their children have, they have no idea what struggles their children are going through, just concerned about results and more results. Pressure is everywhere, environmental, societal, and so?on.

I have seen students struggle trying to put a point to their parents that they are not this and that. They struggle academically, financially, and emotionally, and their mental health is poor trying to redefine what their parents have called them. They have lost confidence in themselves due to comparisons between them and others. Nothing is as painful as seeing your parent compare you with another child whatsoever. This is totally out of it; where is the love, where is the care, where is the hood?

Parents have called their child a failure because of subject or course failure in school, or because things are not working as they projected. They have beaten, demotivated, and affected the mental health of their child because the standard of comment is in people’s perspectives and not what GOD SAID.

Children have lost the confidence to approach their parents and tell them how they feel about so many things because all their parents are interested in is the result and not the process. Home should be a place of abode where rejuvenation and confidence are impacted. Thanks to my mother for this, she is so blessed with bringing confidence to me and my siblings and reminding us who we are. You can relate if you have experienced such.

At the entrance of my academic journey at Obafemi Awolowo University, though I never wanted the course I studied, thanks to good people of vision who encouraged me, I didn’t want to sit back home. So, I tried again and still got Animal Sciences. Studying the course was one of my best decisions. I am so glad and grateful to the Holy Spirit. My Dad wanted me to change; he mounted pressure on me based on what people told him. He wanted the best for me based on what he saw other children become in their professional fields. As I mentioned, every parent wants their child to succeed, so I have no reason to be angry at him. But the scope was a limited one. He finally agreed with me, and then another pressure came, first class. First of all, I haven’t understood the course I am going in for, not to talk about assimilating its content. I struggled and struggled in my early years, and the more I do, the option of writing another exam shows.

I am feeling down because my results didn’t reflect my efforts. However, I remember almost giving up during my second year, and I decided to focus on self-development by taking courses and investing in myself. Even in my third year, things didn’t seem to be getting better until I met a professor who encouraged me. He told me that I had figured out my mistakes and why I wasn’t doing well, and that I was capable of doing better because I was brilliant. This changed everything for me, and with the help of my friends, colleagues, and tutors, I was able to succeed. I went back to my dad and promised to make him proud, and I did. I wasn’t the best graduating student, but I was fulfilled because of the awards I received, the impact I made on the community, the development work I did, and the financial breakthroughs I enjoyed.

Regardless of your situation, you are not a failure. You have simply discovered what’s not working, but you haven’t figured out why. Once you understand why, you can develop a strategy to become?better.

To parents, you can still make up for any issues you have with your children. Discover their needs, encourage them, show them love, be their biggest fan, and be available for them. I have many school children who have never seen their parents before, and that’s not acceptable. If God Himself were like that, we would all be consumed. Be approachable, reachable, and available for your children, and they will reciprocate the love you show them.

For those having difficulties discovering what their children need, here are some?tips:

- Listen to them

- Ask them questions

- Observe their behavior

- Give them space to express themselves

- Be honest and open with them

I wish you a happy and lovely family reunion. If you follow through with these tips, you will see improvement. Feel free to share this message with your loved ones, and let’s unite children with their parents.

Sincerely, EKUNDAYO Oluwadamilare (PMP, APM, CEL)?—?Your Personal Development Person