“For as long as you rely on an external system to define who you are, to give you credibility or enhance your capacity to influence, you are weak.” – Adeolu Akinyemi
I was at Ife over the weekend to speak at an academic seminar organized by one of the campus fellowships. The event had two key speakers, myself and a friend Deji Olatunde. We spoke from different angles about how they can make their academics work. We spoke about a number of things, and from the response of the audience the key concepts sank in. There was however a module of the presentation that left a very strong impression on my own mind. Why do graduates live forever under the classification of an imperfect system? Who told you that making a 2:2 makes you a second class, or making a 3rd class makes you 3rd class? Does any system, perfect or imperfect have the right to class you?
In my study of intelligence, I have come to learn that human beings have multiple intelligencies. We also have many avenues through which we learn. For some of us, what the university system ranks, our ability to take in and regurgitate, is our strength, for some others it is not. Some of us are very smart logically and some of us very wordsmart, these kind of smarts will grant you the priviledges of good grades in most Nigerian university courses. What about the others who have other intelligences? Must you forever live under the impression that you are not good because one university that still has courses that have not changed in 20yrs says you are not? I don’t think so?
You are good in more ways than you have discovered! Are you the type of person that can smell the scent of a perfume and know the brand? Are you the type of person that remembers what you read by the type of music that was playing when you read it? Are you the type of person that learns and connects things just by looking at nature? Are you the kind of person who hears a song for the first time and can pick out all the wordings? Are you the kind of person who hears a music, forgets the lyrics but can hum the baseline from beginning to end? Are you the kind of person who just needs to see one picture and a whole textbook falls into perspective? Are you the kind of person who learns most when discussing with someone else? Are you the kind of person who needs to be alone in a tranquil enviroment to learn? Are you the kind of person who can creatively mix food items together to get fantastic results? Are you the kind of person who sees patterns in things that don’t make sense to others? Are you the kind of person who always dreams about major events before they happen? Are you the kind of person who feels extreme emotions and intuitively knows what to do ahead of crisis? Are you the kind of person who knows how to make people relax and tell you secrets they’ll share with no other? Are you the kind of person who knows how to connect with powerful people without much effort? Are you the kind of person who draws attention wherever you go? Are you the kind of person who knows what colours to combine? Are you the kind of person who… Tell me did your univeristy measure any of these things? Does your class, grade or GPA reflect any of these things? You cannot be effectively classed by any known system.
The human make up is interesting. I believe that every human being has a unique combination of skills, flairs and opportunities that if properly maximized can make you into a first class personality. You can be number one at being yourself. You can be sui generis (In a class of your own)! Stop living under the cloud of that rating, stop thinking talking and acting like a 3rd class, a 2:2, 2:1 or even a firstclass because it was your grade? Who says that is your grade? Who says you were fully measured? Who says that you are not more than this? Who?
For as long as you rely on an external system to define who you are, to give you credibility or enhance your capacity to influence, you are weak. – Adeolu Akinyemi
17 thoughts on “Who says you are second class?”
Words in due season!
Many are trying to be themselves without actually knowing who they are. I think self mastery begins with self discovery.
If we look inward and build within us a very strong system of measuring ourselves , I believe this will give us a first class personality in a class of our own for that matter.
The baseline to this matter is delibrate and personal realisation of Self…..the moment a man (or woman) discovers who he or she is, a sequence of events follow this discovery.
It is at this state of being that such will be able to position his/herself on the Stage of Human existence. Then you will no longer be an echo but a voice to be reckoned with.
I remember watching “The Titanic” and seeing how the first class passengers always tried to separate themselves from the second class and third class passengers. Eventually when the ship capsized, the first class passengers denied the other classes of passengers space on the life boats because they weren’t “equals”. I wonder why they couldn’t fight their way unto the boats, maybe they were held captive by the world’s classification? A lot of times, I believe people act that way too, allowing externalities to dictate choices & options, maybe I even have too; feeling that you do not deserve some certain jobs/ opportunities/ challenges etc because you don’t have the right grade. If we do a bit of soul searching, discover our skills and hone them, then we really can find our voices; listen to your soul and hear it tell you what you know to be true and not what someone else considers to be true…
I wish every nigerian can read this.
We are not a product of the system. who we really are is stronger than any system or structure.
Thanks.
I think this is a gospel that should be preached in all tertiary institutions in Nigeria, many have lost the sense of who they are because of this.
I have seen adults weep like babies just because of GPA, I have seen courage desert the seemingly courageous and men have become subject to a mere award, forgetting that it takes an understanding of who they are to reward them.
I wont mind mind being a missionary for the sake of this gospel.
This made very interesting reading to me. I’ll like to add a few things which already had been infered in the article. I write from the point of view of someone who had an extra semester in school. It’s bad enough to graduate with a 2/2 or third class sef. But add extra to it, either session or semester and you may be adding salt to injury. I discovered that it’s what you make out of yourself that the society will take you for. When I had to register for this semester in school and was on a queue in the bank, I saw different reactions of people to the sitaution they were in at the moment. Some said they just couldn’t face the ‘shame’ back in school while others just joked about it. To me, I just ain’t through yet with school! Add to it that I do not see myself as been sub standard or inferior to my mates. NO! The world has a lot to learn from me and it just aint time for me to burst out, finish! Really, we would have less folks on queues at telecoms companies, oil companies,etc if they would just look inward and task that thing that makes them unique and different from the crowd.
Wow…Fiyin, I’m so proud of you! (If i’m permitted to say that) Way to go…don’t settle for the title. You are more than what any system labels you.
Kamal – I hereby nominate you as the ambassador for this course. I hope you know there are no special allowances oh!
But it’s true…so true! I’ve seen how bad people can feel myself, and I have wondered.
Yemisi , Gbubemi – Yessoooo… If you really think about it, how come people don’t buy into it so much when they are called oloriburuku?
Lanre – Word!
Stephen – Sorry, I can’t help noticing…you need to get a blog. I want to inspire 10,000 Nigerians to own their own sites…just do it! If you need help, let me know.
I have seen people’s lives who have been scarred because they had a 2nd class or 3rd class. Our educational system is quite archaic and doesnt allow for self expression and actualisation, irrelevant courses should be deleted, courses that would allow for individuals to achieve their potential should be accredited.
Some one said, no one can make you feel inferior without your permission.
….You can be number one at being yourself.
Now if that is not enough, I really dont know!
Oro! 🙂
Thanks for the advice Deolu, I’ll see you about it soon. I am inspired to get a blog now that you have mentioned it.
Deolu, finally oh. I now have a blog but writing is not as easy as I thought oh. Thanks man for the inspiration.
Excellent piece. I am a third class graduate and proud because I know it has not made me a lesser being than the next person. It hasn’t stopped me from developing myself to my full potential or my dreams of being big someday. Why should I restrict myself to some motal’s judgement? I know within me that I am destined for greatness and see those people’s perception as one of the hurdles I have to constantly overcome.
People are unique, each person is an answer to the worlds question.
Deolu thanks for a challenge to go and make things happen , irrespective of where one finds one’s self.
Belive in yourself again.
Hmm, I enter this conversation at the risk of sounding smug and probably being stoned! Still, as I’m entitled to my own view (Its a democracy the last time I checked)
I agree it is important for students not to judge themselves by other people’s assessments and numenclature and if they already have the 2.2 or 3rd, why cry over spilt milk?
But whilst they still have the chance-students should fight the fight the fight of their lives and get a 2.1 at worst! It doesnt matter whose grading it is-find how 2 get it!
For some lecturers its just a question of regurgitating-give it to them, for some its a matter of your analysis-then analyze. The truth is: not having a 2.1 locks you out of so many doors and at the end of the day, you realize that-you could easily have done it if..if..So my advise- take off all the ifs! You can do it!
I’m speaking from experience: I had a GP at one time of 1.8, I decided I was going to get out (because my dad threatehed me) and out I got!
How? God helped me and I worked too. You know what? many people said it couldnt be done. I did and I didnt cheat too.For me it was a journey that redefined how much God was willing to help. I lost friends on its account but today I’m not living with the if..question!
I believe too many students get distracted on campus, even by good things such as fellowship and they need to strike a balance. If you have a test the next day and you havent finished reading, God will not be angry if you miss fellowship-you are in school primarilly for the books, so hit them.
If you have tried all you can and still can’t hit the high grades, then….but I am yet to meet anyone who starts early with the right focus who doesnt hit it! God is no respecter of persons.
So there! let the stones come, I’ve said my piece, nice day all!
@ Chinedu,
Why? It is a democracy 🙂 I agree with you a bit though, on the angle that people should give their best to being the best they can be within the definition of the systems, but as soon as that system is over, you cannot afford to limit yourself to it’s definitions.
Good or bad, if you derive strength from external systems, those same systems hold the capacity to destroy you. The bible says that Jesus did not put himself under in the hands of any man because he knew what was in Man. Man made systems are not worth creating one’s personality or reputation on, the same people that said hosanna are likely to say crucify him at the drop of a hat.
But to seek to be the best, I agree. But if you try and you are forced to be someone else and to conform to excel, I say strongly do not conform.
@Chinedu
its as though one’s academic performance is the best definition of success for you. i am happy you got out of school with a 2.1. my brother thats great but you need to understand that that isnt the beginning and the end of life. who says that those who didnt get good grades from school cant make it in life? when i read comments like this, it only makes me understand why great men like Bill Gates will opt out of school and several years later, the school syatem will call him to come and collect a certificate. you want to know why? the reason is because the only responsibility of a man is to make the most of his life. be impactful, add value to yourself and the lives of others and to leave an indelible mark in the annals of history that will make people remember you!
i do not envy my profs and do not want to end up with grey hair, fully puffed up with all the knowledge and yet not fully findind full fufilment.please, it is important we take our studies seriously but most imporatantly, do not let the school system determine who you are. you are worth more than that 1st class, 2.1,2.2,3rd class or pass. you are a champion. never you forget who you are.
it is the weakness of our minds that make us hold on to people’s opinion about us. i keep stressing that we are as productive and as we think and say we are.
secondly, it is very true that people will judge you based on the knowledge they have about your past and your present but God acknowledges you based on the Knowledge He has about you. and the real you is the manifestation of your purpose and your purpose is what God uses to identify you.
I’m the worlds most needed personality…the world will come looking for me…sooner than later, i will be heard because i am coming out of obscurity to limelight.