DETERMINATION - A KEY TO SUCCESS

Photo was gotten from his IG @kunlemyk

(Post written by: Kunle Myk)

Listening to the track “Plantashun boys” by the then Plantashun boys (BlackFace, 2face and Faze) off their Album ‘The Beginning: Body & Soul’ makes me realize how determination brings you success no matter the obstacles or challenges (2face is an example of this).
Ever woken up one morning thinking of the personal assignments, group assignments and exams you have to study for and you just stay in bed contemplating your whole Life? Then you struggle to stay off bed, freshen up and get to the road to board a cab to school but you get struck by the sight of the large number of people at the junction who are struggling to get cab to school. I have friends who tell me when they get to the junction and they see people struggling for cabs, they go back home to sleep. Thinking of the whole stress one has to go through in school then some thoughts crosses one’s mind ‘Do I really need this Degree?”

Determination is an essential force in Life, it takes one to places. Challenges happens in Life but ones determination takes one through the hurdles in Life. Academic life is not really an easy one, not always on a platter of gold. I have a friend who wrote jamb four times before he finally secured admission, while writing his third jamb his level of commitment was a high one, he even had to sell his phone so he could pay his tutorial fee and would trek distance to his tutorial venue because he had no transport fare, he faced challenges but still persisted. After realizing he didn’t make it into the university after his third jamb, he went ahead to get a fourth jamb form, after much hardwork and prayers, he secured admission into the university, That’s Determination.
Determination is a quality that makes you continue trying to do or achieve something that is difficult, it involves persevering towards a difficult goal in spite of obstacles. Determination is considered laudable because it shows how individuals are motivated to succeed. Determination sometimes makes one drift away from the comfort zone. I offered a French course in 100 Level, it was a required course and I had no option than to make a good grade, with my level of determination I got someone who gave me extra tutorials, it wasn’t an easy one learning the French language but because I was determined to succeed my level of persistence gave me an "A".
Sometimes, you find yourself writing an exam back to back, no rest but ones level of determination really matters. Determination will make one spend extra hours reading than ending up having a carryover or a bad grade.
According to Dale Pennel et all Determination helps you
*Appreciate your strengths and acknowledge limitations
*Create plans to achieve goals
*Make appropriate choices and decisions
*Accept responsibility for choices and decisions
*Develop problem solving skill

Walt Disney who is famous for his Disney characters was once fired by an editor in 1919 from his job at the kankas City star paper because he “lacked imagination and had no good ideas”. Through determination he went ahead to create Mickey Mouse, Disney and Walt Disney Company have touched the lives of millions across the globe. From cartoons, to animated movies which both children and adults enjoy.
Determination is a key factor to success, without it we may never reach our goal because most times we get discouraged by one assignment where we have to spend lots of money on or that exam we have to read hard for. I believe that if you want to succeed at achieving your goals, you must have “self-determination”.  Without it, when you reach an obstacle or something holds you back, you may quit and never get past that barrier. Other people have the power to motivate you to try harder such as your lecturers, parents, but in the end you need to be the one to have the determination, drive and dedication to keep going and to continue fighting for your goals.
It has been necessary for me to have strong will and determination. I have never been the type of student that got straight A’s, like reading so hard for a course, reading to have an A but end up with a C. Luckily, I never let the thought of giving up or dropping out pass through my mind. I face obstacles most times in my school career, difficulty with reading sometimes but I have this determination to pass and graduate with a good grade. A musician here in Nigeria “Brymo” in his song ‘Purple Jar” says “Someday when this is over, when you will look back, you go remember……” make the struggle worth it through determination.

 Before a house is completed and regarded beautiful, it goes through lot of planning and construction, determination of the builders makes the house beautiful at the end. Your determination today, builds up your level of success. In Life, surround yourself with people, friends who will help you remain determined and stay on the right path to accomplish your goals. As a Law Student, are you discouraged by that big textbook you have to read or the amount of constitutions you have to learn and know? Your determination now builds up your future of being called a Barrister or when you finally become one of the Senior Advocates of Nigeria. Surround yourself with strong, positive people, people who are ready to wake you up at night to read for an exam, people who will “ginger” your spirit.
My sister is an example of a determined person. After service, she was offered a job of low pay, she refused the job and decided to be empowered, she decided to learn tailoring, after a while she felt she wanted to start up her own fashion business. She had no capital, no customers but decided to start something even if small. She bought just one sewing machine and started using the family’s sitting room as her shop. With determination she continued for close to a year all alone with no apprentice, but today she has a shop of her own, lots of machine and lots of apprentices. That’s determination, even when nobody believes in you or when you have little or no resources, believe in yourself that you’re capable of succeeding.
Sometimes there is no inspiration; it’s all determination. We search so desperately for some tiny shred of inspiration; that ray of hope that gives life and things a new meaning. Determine your fate, don’t wait around for anyone else to determine it for you. While you struggle day-in and day-out towards the fulfillment of our hopes and your dreams, know this “if there is no struggle there is no progress”.
Dreams come true, the road might be rough but you have to hold on to what you do hold on, keep on, follow your dreams and make it all yours It’s not easy but try rather than not try at all
Try and pray God helps you

ADEKUNLE ADEWUSI    
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