Examinations may be over for some students, and they are anxiously waiting for results. Waiting for exam result is no doubt one of the most nerve wracking chapters in a student’s life.
The reality is, while some students who sit for exams excel, other may not excel for the same exams. For those who made a pass, congratulations! For others who do not excel or who are worried they didn’t do well, relax! It’s doesn’t matter if you didn’t do well in an exam. What matters is “What’s Next?”
Like every race, we run to finish. It doesn’t matter if you finish first or last. All that matters is that you complete the race. You probably may have noticed that in a graduation ceremony, all students are celebrated and rewarded with a certificate, acknowledging they all ran the academic race, and completed it. So, look at the time you spend at the university as a race you are competing to finish. It might take longer for some, but your priority should be to finish the race and receive your crown, acknowledging your participation in the race.
To support you in finishing your race, I will share with you four tips that will help you create a positive atmosphere as you continue your journey/studies at the university.
- Look at the bigger picture
In every race, there is a prize to win. Prizes are not only reserved to those who finish first, second and third, but to all those who started the race and completed it. In fact, picture every goal you set in your life as a race. When you finally achieve the goal, you are rewarded with a prize. For example, if your goal is to become fitter, at the end of your race – which could be regular gym sessions with a personal trainer – your fitness is your prize.
Set your gaze at the bigger picture, which is to finish up your degree and life after graduation. Whatever your bigger picture is – having a degree, working in a law firm, working as an accountant, etc. – remember that a laborer’s appetite works for him. Therefore, press forward bearing in mind a bigger picture of what you want to achieve, and complete the race set before you.
- Consider yourself a winner
If you’ve ever researched about how a woman conceives a baby, you will understand that during fertilization, only one spermatozoa fertilizes the egg out of about 100 to 400 million spermatozoa. You are the result of that one spermatozoa who out of that 100 to 400 million spermatozoa won the race and fertilized the egg. You came first among millions of competitors. You did it before, and you can do it again.
From birth, you have been participating in races, and I can assure you that you have completed a handful consciously or unconsciously. It shouldn’t be different now. You need to create a winner’s altitude and atmosphere that will hurl you towards your goal of completing your degree at the university. Consider this, what you think, affects how you feel, which in return, affects what you do. Consider changing what you believe in if it’s not a winner’s belief.
- Seek assistance from other course mates.
Never before has success been an individual journey. The big corporations in the world are not made by one person. That is why they employ thousands of individuals, who each day contribute towards making the corporation great. You will also hear of companies going into joint partnership and strategic alliances, nations collaborating by forming organizations like the United Nations and the World Health Organization. They all make use of the concept, “two is better than one.” Likewise, it should not be different in an educational setting.
Remember the phrase “none of us is as smart as all of us”, written by leadership expert Kenneth H. Blanchard. Consider maximizing the resources available in the Student Portal. Contact course tutors and fellow course mates when you are in need of help. They will sharpen your area of weakness as you run your race.
- Avoid procrastination
There is nothing as bad in a student’s life as procrastination. As mature students, we always fall into the trap of assuming that at the start of the academic year, we have more than enough time to prepare for exams before the academic year runs out. Many who have fallen into this trap should be able to testify that after procrastinating, an academic year goes by quicker that 24-hours in a clock.
Rather than being caught up in the trap of procrastinating, it is important to plan and set goals at the beginning of the academic year. Specify your goals, and see to it that you achieve them. Make every endeavor that you read through all course material you are given at the start of the academic year, and answer all pass questions available before you sit for exams. Seek counsel if you have difficulties dealing with procrastination.
We are all unique, and our uniqueness makes it even more fascinating because we all draw motivation and eagerness to succeed from different sources.
Regardless of where you draw motivation from, look at the bigger picture of what you want to achieve, and run your race with pride. Bearing this in mind, at the end of the race, your struggle and the distance you have covered will be rewarded with a prize.
Philip is studying the BSc Business Administration by distance learning. He is originally from Cameroon but currently lives in London.
Reblogged this on Eric Mugambi.
Brilliant post! Your attitude is very inspiring, and heart warming. I learned quite a bit from you Philip. Keep up the good work.
Reblogged this on Philip WIlliams.