Persevearance

Perseverance

Perseverance is an important factor to being successful in life. It is the ability to continue in the earnest pursuit of a noble venture in spite of difficulties and opposition. It is tenacity of purpose evident and expressed in unbeatable determination, unflinching consecration and unrepentant pertinacity in striving for excellence.

In fact, the history of great men and women the world over is an express expression of the exploits of perseverance. Abraham Lincoln wanted to be a president. He started off running round a vicious circle of failure. He became a published and accomplished failure. Abbey could not even succeed in his contention for inferior positions. After about thirteen successive failures, he had a single consolatory-guess what it was? He became the 16th president of the USA. It was because he understood that quitters don't win and winners don't quit.

Thomas Edison, the great inventor of the electric bulb was said to have failed for a thousand times. When asked what kept him going despite his phenomenal failures, he simply laughed and said: 'I did not fail for 1,000 times, it was only that each attempt brought me closer to my final result because I learnt never to make the mistake again'

Gentlemen corps members, we cannot achieve anything worthwhile in life without this great virtue called perseverance. Our aspirations, passions and visions are bound to pass through the crucible of affliction and persecutions. But our conviction in the success of this vision will make us persevere till it comes to fruition. However, in the course of persevering, necessary sacrifices will be made. We may lose friends, relationships, comfort and may even pay the ultimate price of our lives. Somebody rightly remarked that it is better to die for something than live for nothing. If we don’t give up, we won’t go up.

For us, the pursuit of a better Nigeria devoid of ethnic consideration, religious collision and myopic concessions is worth pursuing. The test begins from here in Ebonyi State. I therefore urge all of us to embrace perseverance. Never say never! Don't give up! Insist, persist, resist, don't desist until Nigeria consist all we list. Don't meander in the maze of mediocrity or pander in the pool of popularity and comfortability. When the going gets rough, be tough; when the road gets dusty and frosty, become lusty. And when it becomes crystal clear, totally obvious and discernable even to the greatest of optimist that you have no chance of survival since your arrival in this arena, refire, dont retire. Someone said: 'Perspire to acquire your desire which you admire and never retire but refire. But if it backfires, rewire for God's fire'

Believe you can make a difference even if beset by temporary obstacles. Ebonyi is a virgin land, ripe for annexation, eager for cultivation but waiting for visionary and enterprising youths like us who will see beyond the thick and threatening forest of problems and impossibilities to explore its prospects and immense possibilities. And if scared by snake stories and unfounded fables, i urge you to align with your God. Because when a man and his God confront a mountain, impossibilities disappear, never to reappear. To therefore seek redeployment is to disembark from this historic train of glorious patriots.

I'll end with Winston Churchill, one of the greatest statesmen Britain has ever had. He had been called to deliver an address to a group of students who had eagerly anticipated the opportunity of listening to his famed eloquence. And then Mr. Churchill mounted the dais.
There was dead silence on the assembly. Everyone held their breath; afraid to interrupt the sacred hallow hanging in the air. And he looked at them with a sharp gaze and shot: 'Never, never, never give up!' and that was all and he took his seat. Hasn't the point been made already? Like Churchill, I charge you fellow comrades, in spite of our challenges, weaknesses and failures as individuals and as a nation under the siege of intractable tribal conflicts, political instability, electoral violence, militancy, Boko Haram, kidnapping and killing of our colleagues, Never, never, never give up! It's always darkest before the dawn.

Finally remember; please don't forget, that even in this NYSC phase of our existence, only perseverance determines our clearance, severance or continuance.

Thank you

Delivered by Folarin Samson
Of Platoon 5, Macgregor Camp, Ebonyi State
Today, 15th July,2011.

NYSC: the re-orientation of a patriot

NYSC: the re-orientation of a patriot
by Folarin Samson

Few months ago, there was a raging debate on what should be the fate of the NYSC scheme consequent on the Bauchi mayhem in which ten corps members were slain and myriads injured. Many prospective corps members understandably called for the immediate scrapping of the scheme to avert further waste of our intellectual resources. As an intending corps member then, I tried hard to avoid being bitter but my apprehension was legible.However, after the first three weeks which was the orientation session, I am beginning to have a better perspective on the initiative.

Only three weeks with corps members from other states of the federation and I have seen and learnt a lot. The regimented nature of the camp mirrored my unchecked excesses. For instance, we were expected to be up from bed as early as 4:00am. Prior to the camp, I was waking up at 9am since I had nothing to do. But the camp prunned this flabbiness. Again, the instruction was to obey the last command. This means no room for complaining or excuse making which is good for discipline and productivity.

Aside this is relating with people from other parts of the country. During a particular session, we were asked to sit in threes and interact. When the young man next to me introduced himself as coming from Bauchi, my heart-beat increased by reflex. I was literally disturbed and fear seized me. But I later discovered he was a fine gentleman and my fright and suspicion gave way to mutual affection.

But most importantly, in the course of group interaction, I discovered certificates and institutions are not true measure of academic ingenuity. University graduates are no better than their counterparts in the polytechnics and colleges of
education. In fact, institutions don't make students, but students make institutions. This became much evident in the weight, thoughtfulness and articulation of contributions during various fora. Hence, the discrepancies and baseless preference of degree holders over HND certificate holders is not only unjust but detrimental to the health of our nation.

And we had memorable moments with the no-nonsense soldiers. The early morning jugging, drilling, field exercises, the man o war citizenship and leadership fitness stunts of walking on ropes, climbing trees, mounting tall structures all made the camp fun. And yes, we had our unique
refrains with which the soldiers talk to us: 'If you are walking, you're wrong; are you doubting me?' Then we'll all erupt in laughter as we scuttle to escape arrest.

On another interesting side, I think the NYSC is achieving its purpose. I see here some inter-tribal romantic relationships burgeoning subtly but swiftly. The under the shade discussions, selective isolations, 'platoonic' associations are all strong indicators of something being in the offing despite the taunting of our soldier friends that 'if corpers marry corpers den go born mumu'

The highpoint of the camp came when it was announced that Mr. President has officially approved the upward review of our allowance from 9,700 to 19,800. The corps members were overwhelmed with excitement. Some banged tables, others carried chairs as the frenzy matured. Dust swirled around, the walls echoed back the din. It was celebration time.

I wish to say to fellow Nigerian students who are fearful of the NYSC scheme that the one year of service to fatherland is something to look forward to. It offers a golden opportunity to explore the diversity of the country and meet with fellow countrymen distanced by geographical delineation. It should be embraced, enjoyed and encouraged.The presence of overage corps members who create laughable scenes as they try hard to roll back the hand of time, mouth parade chants, jug with tired feet is a study in patrotism to lazy youths.

In the spirit of discipline, diligence, passion that have been infused into our blood stream in these twenty one days full-course rigorous mental, physical and emotional training, we charge into our places of primary assignment. Ready to beam our illuminating candles of knowledge where there is ignorance, give hope to the unknown and forgotten, put smiles on some sick and shrinking faces that have been torn by dejection and rejection. We will not be intimidated by the thick and threatening forests of impossibilities. We will not die in our pursuit of a better Nigeria devoid of ethnic consideration, religious collision and myopic concessions.

Today, we stand before our governor, doffing our caps to signal our readiness to take on the enormous challenges of the state and pledging to faithfully serve with patriotic dispatch. We will persist, insist, resist until Nigeria consist all we list. No backing out! I can hear the resonating chorus of our anthem on the vibrating lips of fellow corps members as we obey the clarion call to lift our nation high. Under the sun or in the rain, with dedication and selflessness because Nigeria's ours, it is Nigeria we serve.

By Folarin Samson
A graduate of mass comm, Unilag
and a serving Batch B corps member
In Ebonyi State
08030572852, childofdkingdom@yahoo.com