Tuesday, 30 June 2015

Edu-Focus: Dream big & go for it




A dream for some is a state of unconsciousness. While some believe in their dreams others don’t. How, we choose to examine and perceive our dream is up to us. The bottom line is we all dream and that is a fact. On this special edition of Edu-focus, we will be shedding light on the word “Dream” and analyse how to actually realize it at our respective levels or fields of life. It is also important to note that the ‘dream’ we are referring to is simply the picture of our desired future which in other words can be substituted as vision.

Before we go any further, it is important we see the definition of the term “Dream”. The word is a noun and according to the Oxford Dictionary, it is; (1) series of scenes or feelings in the mind of a sleeping person. (2) day-dream or fantasy. (3) ideal, aspiration. (4) a beautiful or ideal person or thing.

A renowned writer and motivational speaker John C. Maxwell spotted the following five key reasons why dreams never take flight;
Ø  We have been discouraged from dreaming by others
Ø  We fall into the habit of settling for average
Ø  We are hindered by past disappointments and hurts
Ø  We lack the confidence needed to pursue our dreams
Ø  We are missing the imagination of our dream

Having identified the five reasons mentioned for not being able to dream, the question now for us at our respective level is “what then are steps to be taken to enable us to accomplish our dream?”

There are several steps one can take to accomplish one’s dream but we will streamline them to just four as stated by Late Dr. Myles Munroe as follows:
1.       Being able to Prepare Prayerfully as a student, teacher or career person: We all would agree to the fact that irrespective of our faith, there is always the Supreme Being who leads us in all we do and we have to acknowledge that.
2.       Being able to Plan Purposefully is also paramount in realizing our dream. As the saying goes ‘when you fail to plan, you plan to fail’. More importantly, you have to see your plan through by taking steps or action.
3.       Being able to Proceed Positively is another. In life to achieve success one has to believe strongly in what one is doing either as a student, teacher or administrator.
4.       Finally, being able to Pursue Persistently. The true mark of great people is that they never give up their dreams no matter what. Thomas Edison wouldn’t have discovered the electric bulb if he had given up. Think about that.
After carefully identifying dream blockers and their catalyst, we are expected to take a leap, simply, by returning to our closet during the long vacation and rediscover ourselves once again steering us back to our dreams. We want to wish you all a happy holiday. And don’t forget to dream big and go for it!

Monday, 15 June 2015

Examination Fever


Anxiety, panic and nervousness before anything one intends to do will surely becloud one’s mind and this can easily lead to a great disaster or failure. Examination fever breeds failure if the student concerned is unable to brace up as quickly as possible. A student’s lack of preparation will make him/her lose confidence when it is required at the battle field. Inability to do what is right during examination can be traced to many reasons that are preventable except health related issues which are not noticeable before entering the hall.
1)      Unpreparedness- This is the act of doing nothing towards set goal(s). It is practically impossible to win without good planning. Proper preparation precedes proper performance; therefore, if all hands are not on desk before the “D” day examination fever is inevitable. Putting your heart together in the following areas will make you avoid draw back.
A)     Reading – You cannot give what you don’t have, so if you treat reading with levity there is no way you can do justice to any examination for then uncontrollable emotions will set in during examination proper. The best way to avoid this is to read and read ahead of time.
B)      Feeding – Try as much as possible to eat something before going into the examination hall even if it is a light food. A hungry stomach has a way of slowing the speed at which a person can recollect facts or point particularly in an exam that will take hours. If you can’t remember at the speed you used to because of an empty belly frustration can set in.
C)      Timing – Don’t be a late comer to any event much more an examination. No matter how prepared you are, when you arrive late to the venue it will put pressure on you. So be time conscious even when you are writing because there is time which you cannot exceed, if this is not observed you will not be pleased at the end.
2)      Environment – These are the surroundings where the examination is taking place, which consists of inside and outside the hall or classroom. Environment consist of man and materials. Take note of anyone that can make you nervous and develop a means of ignoring them so that you concentrate on the job at hand. Never allow your fellow student, invigilator(s) or any other person or things make you apprehensive. Be focused!
3)      Confidence – This is self-assurance, an expression or feeling of certainty that you will give your best in every situation and hope for the best as well, a student must not lack this because there could be an interruption, be calm and calculated. With this you will be far away from examination fever.

Recommended book: Public Speaking by Dale Carnegie