PRINCIPLES OF ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE (1)
Dear Reader,
Happy New Month! I welcome you into the eleventh month of the year. I pray that it shall be a month with loads of blessings and testimonies for you and your family in Jesus name. This month we shall be considering a dynamic topic: Academic Excellence.
And the Lord shall make thee the head, and not the tail; and thou shalt be above only, and thou shalt not be beneath; (Deuteronomy 28:13)
WHAT IS ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE?
For better understanding and easier comprehension, I will define the terms, academic and excellence independently. “Academic” is used to describe activities pertaining to or characteristic of a school, academy or other institute of learning; while “Excellence” describes the possession of good qualities in an eminent degree. To be excellent is to be exceptionally good at something.
Academic Excellence therefore means, being exceptionally good in one’s learning or scholarly endeavour. It is a consistent attitude of exceptional achievement in learning, discovery, creativity and educational engagement. A student is said to be academically excellent at a particular level when he/she has “mastered” the basic skills needed to progress to the next level academically.
God has created you and me in His own image and likeness, and in the beginning when God created the heavens and the earth, at the end God saw everything he created and said it was good. So, if God our heavenly father works in excellence and we have been created in his image and likeness, we are to manifest excellence as well.
Some teenagers already have preconceived ideas that:
- Academic excellence is reserved for a selected few
- If their parents are not educated, they cannot be excellent academically
- The capacity for academic excellence is hereditary, hence, it’s not for everyone
- They have never topped any class assessment exercise, therefore, they can never be excellent academically
These concepts are very wrong and can limit one’s potential.
PRINCIPLES OF ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE
- ASSOCIATION AND SYNERGY
He who walks with the wise shall be wise; but a companion of fools shall be destroyed (Proverb 13:20). The association you keep can either make or mar you. Synergy is the benefit that arises from the coming together of a group of persons. The truth is, the association you keep always tells on your academics and virtually all aspect of life. You can’t have a friend who is an academic guru and not have his or her habit of studying rob off on you, if truly that person is your friend. In the same way, if you keep company with one who is unserious with his or her academics, you will be negatively influenced. So, when you make friends in school or other social gathering, it should be with the purpose of adding value. Learning from your friend, as well as having good qualities to share with him or her! Receive the grace to choice your friends wisely in the name of Jesus Christ!
2. BELIEF SYSTEM
The Bible says: As a man thinketh in his heart so is he (Proverb 23:7). If you believe you can achieve excellent in your academics and all areas of life, then you can achieve it. Excellence begins from your mind, as long as you win the battle from your mind, excellence is in view. So, set your heart towards excellence, if you must achieve it.
3. CONFESSION, CONFIDENCE, AND CHOICE
It is written: For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith (Mark 11:23).
You can’t only just think it; you have to say it. You have to constantly affirm yourself and demonstrate an attitude of excellence. You must determine within yourself to choose academic excellence and settle for nothing less.
4. DILIGENCE, HARDWORK AND SMARTWORK
The hand of the diligent shall bear rule: but the slothful shall be under tribute (Proverbs 12:24).
Diligence describes focused determination towards achieving a set goal; it is a conscious and conscientious (thorough) effort towards achieving one’s target. Hard work helps to climb the stairs of success. It is the art of tirelessly committing a great deal of effort and endurance to a task with the hope of achieving a desired result.
Although smart work is related to hard work in its commitment to achieving desired results, smart work finds the most strategic and efficient method of achieving it.
If you make all this principle your lifestyle, academic excellence becomes very easy. However, the wisdom for academic excellence is only made possible through the help of the Holy Spirit. The Bible 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 14:24).
You can’t have the Holy Spirit without being born again. If you are not yet born again and you desire to do so right now, please pray this prayer with faith in your heart: Lord Jesus, I come to You today. I believe You died for me and rose again for my sake. Forgive me my sins, take over my life, make me Your child and let Your wisdom be at work in my life. Thank you for saving me. Now I know I am born again!
Congratulations, you are now born again! He loves you and will never leave you. Read your Bible daily, obey God’s Word and seek Christian fellowship (John 14:21) I believe that you will begin to experience the reality of the price that Jesus paid for your sins at Calvary. All-round rest and peace are guaranteed you, in Jesus’ Name! Call or write, and share your testimonies with me through contact@faithoyedepo.org OR call 07026385437 and 08141320204.
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 authored by me and Ruling your Word authored by Dr. David Oyedepo
