BEN CARSON/ IBIFIRI MOBOLAJI-KAMSON

Hello everyone I am so excited about my last post, a lot of encouraging comments. Do keep them coming, very encouraging I must say.

To my new followers: thank you very much for making my weekend. I love to see the followership pile up and what's more active followers at that. Thank you very much. You actually keep me posting.

Now back to the topic of today...

P.S. I am hoping this will bring a lot more comments, text messages and phone calls, like the sat one did...loll..

Anyways I was reading this book by BEN CARSON " GIFTED HANDS".

P.S. "For where to get it in Lagos you can check with Laterna bookshop on Oko Awo street, Victoria Island. Their books are good and affordable.

"This book is a story about BEN CARSON's life. He said he was the class dummy. Whenever they will call the test scores everybody knew he will score zero. So they teased him endlessly. What struck me was the determination his mother had. She always told him that he could do it, and he could be the best at whatever he decided to do. She never compared him to other kids, but she made him buckle up. He ended up being the best in his class. Despite all the hardship, he realized that nobody was to blame for whatever decisions he made, only him. Going through summer jobs, no money and tough times, etc today he is one of the best neurosurgeon in the world.

His story reminds me a lot about me...Mind you I am not yet the best at what I do, but I am getting there by the grace of God...

Back in the days I wanted to be a doctor. When I got into SS1 I just couldn't handle the sciences, so I switched over to the Arts. It was determined that I will make a good lawyer since I loved to read novels. After I had written JAMB i.e. (Jamb is equivalent to SAT/ TOFEL/ exams that enables you gain admission into higher institutions, in Nigeria), 3 times and it was looking like I could use the scores to gain admission into the LAW program, I had to look for other alternatives. The other alternative was FRENCH. (In fact my dad told me that i may have to go to the Polytechnic since I wanted to study french). I didn't like it, but I had no choice cos if I didn't get into school I was going to watch my younger ones get into the University before me and I knew I was going to hear for a long time the story of Esau and Jacob.... (I hope you know that story.. of how Esau sold his birthright).

I just stayed in the class hoping to change to another Uni and start another course. It didn't work out so I was stuck with french in the University of Port Harcourt.

I am ashamed to say it but I was the class dummy too. Anytime they asked me questions the whole class will laugh cos they knew there was no way I was every going to get the answer right. This went on for 2 years, and my CGPA had dropped to a 3rd class. I never failed a course but I just had D's and some C's.

When I realized this... I decided that I had to do this right.

I wasn't stupid, that I knew and I could be better. So I started studying. Every time, day,minute I struggled to speak, read, and understand french. It wasn't easy. At first it was like I was just wasting my time. But I can tell you today, that I am very good in french. Can speak, read and write it properly. I read best sellers in french: "starting one tomorrow". I can speak with a Parisian accent not a francophone accent, which always surprise everyone. I didn't graduate with a 3rd class. I had an A in my project. I am D.E.F.L & D.A.F.L. certified. (That's like one of the highest professional certified courses in the french language and not easy at all).

Today like BEN CARSON instead of my classmates teasing me, they are proud of me. They want to know what I know. (Please I hope they don't read this post.. They may get angry..loll)..

Anyways the moral of the story.. You can do anything you want to do". This and many more. Only just believe in yourself.

Do have a nice day and a lovely week.