IS SCHOOL REALLY A SCAM?
“Listen, the fact that you made first class does not mean you will make it in life,” Jide heard his friend Tolu, telling that to another student.
When Jide heard that, he paid closer attention to listen more to what Tolu was saying.
“School is a scam. After you suffer and go to school and graduate, you still won’t get work. My uncle graduated fifteen years ago, and has not gotten work till now…”
At this point, Jide felt tempted to cover himself with the blood of Jesus.
Anyway, he kept listening as Tolu continued.
“… See, there are no jobs in this Nigeria. The only way to get a job now is if you have connection. And the rest, you have to bribe someone. Just imagine that Nigeria graduates more than 1 million people every year. Where do you want to get jobs for them? School is a scam and first class is a waste of time.”
With that, Tolu left the person he was talking to, and returned back to the lecture hall they were both in.
You see, Jide and Tolu have always been friends from their secondary school days, with Jide being the more intelligent one, and Tolu being the one who failed at certain subjects at different times.
That trend continued to their university days, with Jide being on first class, and Tolu being on lower second class with a few carry overs.
As Jide heard what Tolu was saying, Jide became a bit bothered.
Jide did not come from a rich family, and one of the things he was hoping on was getting a first class degree, so he could get a good job to better his life.
Now that he heard what his best friend said, he became worried, trying to think of whether his approach to life was valid, or not.
Of course, Jide didn’t say anything to Tolu, but still kept their friendship going.
The next week, a public speaker came to their campus to host a seminar.
Jide and Tolu both attended the seminar.
At the seminar, Jide remembered the Public Speaker saying that your degree cannot take you anywhere, and if you want to succeed in life, you must start your own business.
This got Jide confused, and Jide began to panic. It even started affecting his studies, as he started reading with double mind.
One day, after classes, Jide went to the office of one of his professors to get counselling.
“Something has been bothering me,” said Jide.
“I heard people say school is a scam, and that there are no jobs, and having a first class does not mean I will succeed in life. I want to succeed in life, that is why I am pushing for a first class. If the first class won’t help me succeed, then what should I do?”
The professor laughed wholeheartedly, remembering that when he was in school, someone also told him something like that.
Then the professor replied, “Jide, you know you are like a son to me.”
“Yes sir, said Jide.”
“And you, Olajide, knows that I will not like to hide the truth from you!” The professor continued.
“Yes sir.”
“Okay now, listen to me. When I was in school at your age, I was a first class student too. Some of my colleagues told me that success is not by first class, and that first class will take me no where.
“I simply ignored them and focused on my studies. I graduated in flying colours and got an international scholarship for my masters from an international organization, as a result of my first class.
” Because I did very well in my masters, I got another scholarship for my PhD, and that was how I became a doctorate degree holder.
“Jide after coming back, I was employed as an associate professor in this institution. Apart from that, I became an international researcher, and international organizations pay me to conduct research for them.
“As of now Jide, even as a professor, I run five businesses. I have several people working for me in those businesses.
” So just ignore them, focus on your studies, and graduate well.
“Now, to the issue of succeeding in life, I have known from my life experience that those who go out to work for themselves succeed more than those who work for others. But that success comes only if they succeed.
” Whether you are first class, or third class, if you work for yourself, and you succeed at building your own business, and you make it grow big, you will succeed more than your fellow classmates who work for other people.
“But this does not mean you should not get your first class, because even first class students build successful businesses too. I’m a professor and I run five different business, which are all of good sizes, so your first class does not take away that part of you.”
Jide thanked the professor, and left.
After that, Jide redefined his priorities, giving attention to his schooling, and also giving attention to other things he had neglected purely for the purpose of focusing on school.
He began to work on his gifts and skills alongside his pursuit of his first class.
