Well… Yes, it is expected that any individual going into an institution of higher learning, does so with the expectation of graduating with the best grades.

While this is what it should be, several factors contribute to the inability of students to achieve the expected or desired goal of bagging a 1st or 2nd class grade.

You might have had challenges getting along with your course because:

• it wasn’t what you wanted to study,
• the school environment wasn’t conducive for learning,
• you were distracted by peer influence and social engagements,
• you were sexually harassed by your lecturers or
• you were distracted by family/marital/financial challenges and you finally graduated with a 3rd class degree or a pass.

The most important thing in all of these is, regardless of the circumstances, now you are wiser in retrospect.

Graduating with a 3rd or a Pass is not the end of the world; it’s not enough for you to give up on your big dreams. You can still live your dreams if you choose not to give up on yourself just because of a poor grade.

Remember that education is more than a degree, it’s the sum total of what you’ve learnt in and outside the classroom. Someone reading this might be asking “Do I really stand a chance?” Yes You do!

History has repeatedly proven with the likes of Wole Soyinka, Bill Gates, Steve Jobs, Steve Harris and lots more, that your degree doesn’t determine how successful you will be in future.

How do I go about this? You ask.

Purge your mind of every negativity:

Such negativity including self-pity, inferiority complex and regrets. You need to understand that your journey to success starts in your mind.

You are what you think you are, so if you thing you are a failure, inferior or smart, that is exactly what you are because what your mind thinks will surely show outwardly.

No one can make you feel inferior without your permission, so friend, snap out of the negativity syndrome and begin to see a brighter future. Live your dreams…

Know yourself: 

Do a self-assessment to ascertain your interests, skills, personality type, things you would love to do if your grades were not a challenge.

Discover your potentials, take up a voluntary job in a place of interest if possible and explore…

Develop yourself:

Study study study… read books, articles and other materials relating to your areas of interest in order to gain more knowledge because investment in knowledge is a lifetime investment in your future.

You can also learn vocational skills, attend employability trainings, or get some career counseling/advice. Getting an additional degree/professional qualification and joining industry associations in your field of interest will also enhance your employability and expand your network.

Start a business if it’s your dream: 

If you desire to be an entrepreneur, this might be a good time to consider starting up a business. Contrary to the belief that one must have huge capital to start up a business, there are several businesses you can start without capital.

I know this because I started my business by rendering free services to friends and acquaintances, all I had was a computer at the time. So if you have a business idea, start small, every great business today started with an idea…

Friends, your destiny is in your hands, create the future you want to see, don’t wait for things to happen..

Make Things Happen!