SUCCESS COMES THROUGH PROVOCATION

Journal.

When things are not moving well for you, sit back and think. Go back to the chessboard and redraft your mission. If I have achieved any damn thing in my life, that's my key. Life has dearly left me with some lessons. When you fail and continue to fail, sit back and ask yourself some critical questions. Where have I gotten it wrong? Why am I failing? Am I repeating same failed procedures? What can I do to move on?

My friend wrote his first Jamb examination when I was in Ss3 and scored 200. So poor for someone aspiring to study in University of Nigeria. He failed the second time and it was as if he had offended the gods of success. Same year he failed, I gained entry into the the prestigious university of Nigeria that he dreamed of. It was a one way thing for me; not really hard as people said. Thanks be to God.

 He wrote the third time and still failed. Each time he called me, he ended up saying 'you are lucky Ben. I wish I can have your kind of future'.

So bad, I always told him. Who knows each other future. After all some people who actually started first often ends last. Smiles...I will reach in time. Amen.

 Truly, I don't see myself as someone who have achieved anything. After all what I'm studying is never what I bargained for yet I'm happy with it now because it's interesting. I have crush for Law.

When it became obvious that he won't be getting admission on the third attempt, he began to get worried about my dull attitude towards him.

I have one lifestyle that annoys most people who doesn't understand me. I'm more of myself, so restraint that I hardly think of what others feel about me. often it look like indifference. I'm not a call type; I prefer text.

He accused me of showing
him levels of life and I truly was touched. I hardly return calls, and often taking calls gives me some fears I couldn't explain. I like face to face talk to phone calls.

 After I dialed his number and hung up thrice, I made up my mind. I finally placed him on call.

I was calm as he leveled fresh accusations on me. Truly, admission could change PEOPLE'S life. When you have it, People think you have made it even when unemployment is almost inevitable with the current situation of Nigeria😅. When you didn't
 gain entry into an institution, you feel the world is against you. Such is the irony of life. How is it that those who shout school na scam are all in school? Don't be carried away when you hear the man inside a moving bus telling you that is outside to avoid the bus. Even when he tells you that he made mistakes and would be correcting it, join him and start correcting yours. Don't be carried away. My friend listen to such People and when I posted pictures that has school background, he comment 'I am coming soon'. Truly, theories doesn't brew success unless you have a long leg. Praticals is the soul of every succes. Don't claim to be a native of badluck because nativity is primitivity.

"Should I tell you the truth, Ezioyi?"

"Ben, tell me"

"You won't gain admission with this your mindset and dull preparations. Mark it, you will continue to fail. In fact, remove your...." I couldn't finish and he cut the call. All the while, I had been painting words for him and I knew I wasn't doing the best for him. Often, we risk huge things to say the truth that might help.

Two days later, he sent me a text calling me the most ungrateful man. He also said, he would prove me wrong and I was happy to hear that. I achieved what I wanted already even without elaborate explanation.

My friends circle is so small but strong. Standing for people is always hard for me but when I do, nothing could be equal to them in value. Even when you've done the wrong thing, I would have no option than to defend you. That could be a weakness!

It was three months already and I was checking on him, through texts. Truly, the sister said she studied every night. He typed set my name boldly and pasted it on his room. "I must prove you Wrong, Animal. I Must, mpama Ben".

Each sunday, I texted him and encouraged him to start going for jamb lessons. I also criticized him. Often I purchased books and sent it from Nsukka to Nnewi through Romchi mass transit. Even though he never rejected the books, he still never said thanks. Smiles, I purchased them with my little pocket money and this ingrate wouldn't appreciate that. 💔💔

Wicked boy. I even had to send him my past questions and answers.

Two weeks to his jamb Examination, I placed him on call and he picked.

"Baba, we are not fighting for anything. Make sure you solve problems from 1999 to 2018 in the four past questions oh. Remember I said you can't enter school and I mean it. You're not serious at all"

"I don't know if you are helping me or Killing me this guy. It's painful. I don't believe you can be such cruel. Why are you sending the books to me since you don't wish me well? I cried for days...I didn't expect such from you"

I hanged on before he could finish. I was happy because I was achieving my plans. I heard he began to go to church as well. Wonderful😅

'Proving someone wrong doesn't come only by prayer oh. There must be complementarity between hard-work and prayers. Yours sincerely, Ben' I texted him.

I never got reply from him until a few days to the Exam.

On the morning of his exam, I texted and wished him well. I made him know that I actually can't wish him bad. He called and said:

"I will prove you Green snake, Wrong"

Lolz. Amen oh.

I always have his reg numbers in my possession. Jamb delayed 2019 result and when it was finally released, I was marveled. He was able to pull 289.

I was expecting him to call and continue his childish cries, but he never did so.

He texted after we had talked much on phone.

For long he had been chasing after easy money, hoping to gain admission with natural intelligence. Also he trusted an Aunt who work in the university. Before now, I gave him sympathy in the cause of his failures. I was afraid to speak truth because I mighy lose him. I knew he never would pass jamb without seriousness and I could only come up with one thing which I did. It have worked for me in the past. Most of what I could call my success came through provocation. One thing must provoke me and challenge is the best way to take any success in life.

"I love you Ben. You're truly a friend. I understand...you truly provoked me to start working hard. I wasn't working hard until now. The books are okay, especially that English texbook: Ashade Dele ' invisible Teacher'. It's as if the whole questions came from there. I didn't believe the performances when I check oh. I love you".

I was the happiest person. I never expected it to be such successful. I think we should not always show sympathy to our friends who failed as a result of no hard-working.

He beat the cut off Mark expected for his course. Probably, he only need to get above 246 in post utme and If the gods of succes smile on his efforts, he would stop writing. I was able to tell him truth, because I never  felt pressure being my self with him. I wish him well.

With my 1365 words, I hope i have triggered someone to be better today. Best wishes.

I will end with chimamanda Ngozi Adichie's note.

"Gravitate towards people to whom you never felt that pressure to perform or to be what you are not"

In this long race Dear, I shall be counting on you for we all know that success is sacrosanct.

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