Having a first class is always the desire of almost every student in higher institutions, it is a thing that you can be very proud of if achieved. But why do we have very few people that could achieve this feet? Is it by determination, setting goals, being financially stable, or an inbuilt abilities in someone? students come from different backgrounds and tribes and this somehow can influence the ability of students when they get to the university. Below are three categories of first class students I have observed and would like to share with us.
Some students have the determination even before they entered the University that they were going to graduate with best of results, they set their goals and work towards achieving it. They allow no room for distractions and believe that with determination and prayers they will come out in flying colors. Fortunately for them they were to keep the determination throughout their stay on campus and were able to graduate with first class.
Some are being driven by their parents; their parents create this notion in their head that their primary and major assignment in school is their academics and nothing else should come before it. They always give them word of encouragement, advice them when they are confused about something, these type of first class students take their parents as the source of information, they discuss almost everyday on what they couldn’t get right in their academics with their parents. I had a roommate when I was in 100level, his dad always call him everyday to ask about the classes he had during the day, they would discuss like they are classmate and at the end of their discussions the dad will still give words of encouragement to the guy. This help him go over what he was taught during the day and he did well in many of his courses. If your parents are doing this for you, I respect you sir and ma.
Then we have those that don’t have ambition when coming to school, they know very little about grades in the University, their parents also are not educated, they don’t even know how to speak in English or read. These students only have the desire to go to university, they never believed they can be excellently exceptional. But there is only one thing they detest, and that thing is “failure”, so while they strive not to fail they tend to take everything serious, they would attend every lectures, attend tutorials, read fervently and before they know it, the first result came out, they had a very good result and found themselves on first class, which they don’t believe will be as good as that. This gave them motivation and made them realize that they have the ability to become one of the best in their departments.Then they began to put more effort so as to maintain the result and improve their performance
But what I discussed above is not as easy as that, there are some qualities that these categories of students have in common. I would like to highlight some of them. I must tell you that the ‘first class’ is in your hands and not in the hands of your lecturers.You choose the grades you want by the decisions you make and the actions you take. Your lecturers only give you the grades you choose. Below are five qualities that you must cultivate if you must become a first class student:
- Dedication:
This is the quality of being devoted to something. Are you devoted to that goal you want to achieve? Dedication shows up in class or lecture attendance, amount of time spent revising notes and studying and so on. - Discipline:
First class students know what it means to delay self-gratification. Studying is not always as interesting as watching a movie or playing a video game. Discipline is the practice of training oneself to ensure acceptable and desired patterns of behavior. You must always remind yourself that your future and the kind of life you will have tomorrow depends on the decisions you make today. You must pay the price to sow good seeds today so that you can reap the desired harvest tomorrow. - Perseverance:
Encarta tells us this word means steady and continued action or belief, usually over a long period and especially despite difficulties or setbacks. In other words, a first class student will say no to compromise and laxity when it’s time to study, to pray, to go for lectures or to do those things that he is supposed to do. - Prayer:
First class students know that to trust in one’s might, strength and ability alone is foolishness. You must take seriously your closet where you communicate with God and draw strength, wisdom and enablement from Him. If you do not have a relationship with God through Jesus Christ, you need to enter into a relationship with Him. - Balance:
This one is also very important because this is where so many students miss it. The university is not a place for solely reading and studying to obtain a degree though this is the primary purpose. It’s a platform for acquiring knowledge that will help you build a future for yourself, for discovering your purpose in life and for general all-rround self-development. You must engage yourself in other activities that will develop you spiritually, intellectually, physically, morally, socially and even financially. Get adequate rest also, very important. It’s not in the amount of ‘night classes.’
The eulogist
RENARSA PRESS UI 