Some things are difficult to crack. A young man woke up recently
and said he was no longer interested in his course at Makerere
University. He was in his final year; this was his last semester and he
would become the first in his family and among the enviable few in his
village to attain a university degree.
But no amount of cajoling
would make him reconsider. And he is not the son of a tycoon so that he
can fall back to his father’s riches. He was being sponsored by one of
his cousin brothers. The young man’s father and close relatives are
understandably devastated. They feel betrayed by this young man who they
had high hopes in to do better, set an inspirational precedent for his
young siblings and probably help others as he was being helped.
Perhaps the great expectations exerted overwhelming pressure on the young man and precipitated his decision. Perhaps he genuinely feels Makerere is the wrong place for him. He won’t say why he quit, won’t reveal his Plan B either. He chose the course himself, why then wait for three years before dropping the bombshell? Why blow a chance many would have fought to maximize? Why forget all the money spent on you and quit on the cusp of becoming a graduate?
I’m not judging the young man. I’m, just like others, confounded by his decision. If he had been into the fast-lane life of drugs, prostitutes and clubbing, it would have been easy to argue that the demons of retrogression associated with that lifestyle had inflexibly influenced him. But he is a sober, honest, humble, bright, admirable character.
Turns out his father had as well abandoned high school saying he was tired of not having enough pocket money. He had been a very bright child who always topped his class but dreams of a bright future ended when he returned to the village and married. Now history is repeating itself through his son, who rather than learn from his father’s past blunder, is contributing to the vicious circle.
It’s true not everyone who quits lives with regrets. This young man might get successful in other enterprises, but more quitters are never winners. As Thomas Edison said, many of life’s failures are people who did not realise how close they were to success when they gave up.
 |
| My cousin sister Phionah didn't give up. |
Perhaps the great expectations exerted overwhelming pressure on the young man and precipitated his decision. Perhaps he genuinely feels Makerere is the wrong place for him. He won’t say why he quit, won’t reveal his Plan B either. He chose the course himself, why then wait for three years before dropping the bombshell? Why blow a chance many would have fought to maximize? Why forget all the money spent on you and quit on the cusp of becoming a graduate?
I’m not judging the young man. I’m, just like others, confounded by his decision. If he had been into the fast-lane life of drugs, prostitutes and clubbing, it would have been easy to argue that the demons of retrogression associated with that lifestyle had inflexibly influenced him. But he is a sober, honest, humble, bright, admirable character.
Turns out his father had as well abandoned high school saying he was tired of not having enough pocket money. He had been a very bright child who always topped his class but dreams of a bright future ended when he returned to the village and married. Now history is repeating itself through his son, who rather than learn from his father’s past blunder, is contributing to the vicious circle.
It’s true not everyone who quits lives with regrets. This young man might get successful in other enterprises, but more quitters are never winners. As Thomas Edison said, many of life’s failures are people who did not realise how close they were to success when they gave up.
No comments:
Post a Comment