31St July 2015 will
remain eventful for me. This day marked the culmination of my basic education.
Finally, I was able to successfully graduate with an undergraduate Bachelor’s
degree in Business Information Technology (BBIT). I rightly said it- My first
degree from Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT). The
moment of my pride was learning I graduated top of my class with a First Class
Honors. That’s no mean achievement.
I looked back and was more than
amazed by the number of years I have spent in formal years and can only say,
‘THIS FAR GOD.’ It was finally the end
of at least 17 years of formal schooling. That’s the Kenyan system. Spend 1 year in
pre-schooling, 8 years in Primary, and 4 years in Secondary school and another
4 years for a degree course in a college or university. That’s the least you
can be schooling if you are luck and do not repeat classes and years.
As it is the tradition world all
over, graduation ceremonies are hyped. There are major preparations. And as for
the Africans, -where I belong, this celebrations will never be any better
without inviting family members, friends and well-wishers both near and far.
People join in dancing, feasting, praising and thanksgiving after the main
ceremony in the university’s graduation square. God is the center of the
ceremony and the center of attention is the grandaunt.
That day, I sat in the gathering
of invited and uninvited guests listening to heaps and heaps of praises
directed to me. I was humbled by the kind words, love and gifts I received from
them. Right from the graduation square where the university management led by
the Chancellor and Vice chancellor led the ceremony to confer the awards, the
mood, talk and people were fantastic. The excitement could be felt in the
atmosphere.
At the end of it all, I was
thinking, I have the powers to read and to do what it pertains with the degree
how do I become of use to the society- Kenya and the world? This is not a
simple question to ask. That’s the subject of another day. Today I look back
and identify some of the lessons, I’ve learn t over the years that helped me
shape my convictions in excellence.
Success is a right to everyone
Success is a right to everyone
but it is not a privilege, favor or priority to some. It is not for a selected
few whom the nature has chosen in place of others to succeed. Instead the same
natural terrain provides a level ground where all can work and succeed. Anyone
can succeed if they so desire to.
Nature demands people of excellence
Nature demands that you work and
succeed for a reward of success among other things such as a happiness,
satisfaction, financial freedom and freedom to choose what you will do. Those
privileges that come along with success cannot be enjoyed unless one succeeds.
Only successful people join in the service of kings. The privilege of being
excellent will make you step in place you may never get to serving, dinning
with princes.
God should be the center of our excellence
When people trust in God in their
life, they do not see their limits. They are able reach the level set for their
perfection by God. God helps them to view things beyond the horizons of their
ability and far beyond what they can conceive with their finite minds. It is
because there is no impossibility with God. His grace is sufficient even in the
hardest times and his promises yes and amen. I have tasted if this and have
found it to be true. With God on your side, you will have comfort when things
seem not working. You will not be afraid to start something and you will not be
worried and anxious when there are people who seem to dislike you all over.
Understand Seasons of beauty in life
God has made everything beautiful
in its time. We should thus strive to understand the season of beauty for every
event and thing. Without this undisputed truth, we will act foolishly because
failure to fathom this crucial time will see us act out of selfish ambition,
hopelessly to see results and of course in ignorance. We shouldn’t be
over-anxious for quick results which may be too costly for us in the end. Life
has no assurance that in a single fraction of a minute anything planted
germinates and matures to be fruitful. Some will be instant while others take
long but the fact is that they all come to be harvested at the fullness of
time.
Faith it till you make it
This is the last truth for today.
Indeed my principle has been, creating perceptions around something and make
people believe it is happening even when it’s not till it happens. This is life and most often than not no one
will believe you until they see it. They will demand something to see, touch
and feel. You may not have it but make them have a perception it exists. You
have to faith it that you are the best until you defeat the best in town. I am
own a start up JoinTheDots Stationers & Printers which prepares revision
materials for Students. No one was interested in our products we had to create
perceptions that that they are highly successive even in its first year so that
people can buy them. And its slowly paying off.
Those Five may not be all that I
have learn t but that is the beginning. They are vital lessons in life as a
successful entrepreneur and academician.
Have a reflective life. Remember
to stay in touch with me at jeremiahwakamu@gmail.com or join this conversation on
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