Principles of Academic Excellence (2)

Dear Reader,

Welcome to the concluding part of the article. I believe you were blessed by the first part and hope you have started working in excellence. In this edition, I shall continue on the topic of Academic Excellence. 

Academic excellence is the demonstrated ability to perform, achieve, and/or excel in scholastic activities. Academic excellence has been identified with achieving high grades and superior performance. But academic excellence is more than just making good grades. It is the maximum development of your intellectual capacities and skills in service to humanity.

How do you Excel in Your Academics?

• Goal Setting. Without a goal, you become chartless in your daily affairs. Goals are necessary to guide and direct you, but the goals must be specific and attainable. So, you have long-term goals, which can be for a year and short-term goals, which can be for a week or month. 
• Believe in yourself.In the course of executing your laid-out goals and plans, you are bound to face obstacles. So, make a consistent effort by choosing to believe in yourself. Michael Korda says, “To succeed, we must first believe that we can.” 
• Desire and Discipline. It is one thing to set a goal and another to desire it to become a reality. Discipline says I will do what I have to do now to get what I want regardless of what is happening around me. 
• Smart Work. Doing the right thing, the right way, and at the right time equals smart work. What is the use of an axe to cut a tree when the axe is blunt? You may eventually cut the tree, but it will take longer. You may be working hard, but you won’t be working smart. 
• Seek Counsel or Help. It is necessary to learn from the experiences of others rather than experiencing them yourself. To do this, we have to seek counsel by asking the right questions and seeking the opinions of adults and experts in a related field. 

What are the Enemies of Academic Excellence?

• Procrastination. Practice discipline and doing the right things at the right time.
• Misplaced Priorities. Have a to-do list of things you want to achieve. 
• Low self-esteem. Believe you can excel, and you will. Don’t let your experience taint or affect your expectations. Speak positively to yourself for two minutes every day. You can time yourself and write down all you want to say beforehand.
• Pride. Have an open mind towards learning because you can learn from anyone and anything.

Therefore, making these principles your lifestyle makes academic excellence very easy. However, the foundation for this is a life with Christ, thereby making the Holy Spirit available to help you achieve academic excellence. The Word says: But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you (John 14:26). So, if you are not yet born again, please say this prayer of faith: Lord Jesus Christ, I come to You today. I am a sinner, and I cannot help myself. Forgive me of my sins and cleanse me with Your Precious Blood. Deliver me from sin and satan to serve the Living God. From today, Lord Jesus, I accept You as my Lord and Saviour. Thank You Jesus for saving me! Now, I am Born Again.

Congratulations! You are now born again and a child of God. He loves you and will never leave or forsake you. With this, you are guaranteed all-round rest and peace, in Jesus’ name! Please write or call to share your testimonies with me through oyedepofaitha@gmail.com OR 08141320204 and 07026385437.

For more insight, these books, authored by me, are available at the Dominion Bookstores in all Living Faith Churches and other leading Christian Bookstores: Make Your Life Count, The Spirit of Faith, A Living Witness, Overcoming Anxiety, and Ruling Your Word (by Dr David Oyedepo).