Proven Path To Academic Excellence :- Success In Exam
Here we will be putting into
consideration some measures, activities, qualities or actions intended to
achieve outstanding or extremely good academic success / results. The application of this teaching, notwithstanding, is not limited to success in your academic examinations only but also other aspects of your life including your career.
What is Academic Excellence?
Performing beyond the previous
academic limit; it is an attitude that prevails, an attitude of performing at
your peak. “Whatever is worth doing at
all is worth doing well and what is not worth doing well is not worth doing at
all.” Ecclesiastics 9:10 states, “Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do,
do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor
knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest.”
Excellence is an attitude you
deliberately develop and not something you luckily stumble at. It is a quality
appreciated by people, a quality of being truly best at something, a quality
valued and rewarded by authorities; no wonder Proverbs 22: 29 says “Seest thou
a man diligent in his business? he shall stand before kings; he shall not stand
before mean men.” (kjv). The NIV puts it this way, “Do you see someone skilled
in their work? They will serve before kings; they will not serve before
officials of low rank.” It is a result brought about by true diligence.
Deuteronomy 28:13 says, “And
the Lord shall make thee the head, and not the tail; and thou shalt
be above only, and thou shalt not be beneath; if that thou hearken unto the
commandments of the Lord thy God, which I command thee this day, to
observe and to do them:” But take note of the latter part of this verse: There are
conditions to be met before one can achieve academic excellence and this will
be our focus in the course of this seminar.
Criteria/conditions for Achieving Academic Excellence:
1. Have a positive mental attitude:
Believe in yourself, believe in the ability God has deposited in you to
succeed! You may have experienced failure in time past but then refuse to look
down on yourself! Refuse to admit defeat. Though Job found himself in a
humiliating circumstance he kept a positive mental status when he said, “What
ye know, the same do I know also: I am not inferior unto you.” Job 13:2. No
matter what your past may have been academically, you say to yourself, “This is
not my end, I was made in the image of God and I am a born success therefore I
must excel! “For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he…” Proverbs 23:7. So no
1: Have a positive attitude!
2. Know yourself: Have an understanding of
your nature. It is not surprising that many do not know themselves, they live
after the manner of others and so they become shadows, but you know what? Shadows
don’t excel! Jesus knew himself and this was why when he asked, “Who do men say
that I the son of man is?” and Peter said, “Thou art the Christ, the Son of the
living God”, He knew it was correct and said,” Flesh and blood hath not
revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.” Matthew 16:15-17. Do
you know yourself? Do you know in what best environment you assimilate the
most? Do you know what best condition you concentrate on reading the most? Do
you know what best time you can read and easily retain the most? Please know yourself!
3. Have a Goal: Without a purpose abuse is
unavoidable and without a purpose misuse is inevitable. God had a goal at the
beginning when He said, “Let us make man, ‘not any how’”, “Let us make man,
‘not anyway it forms’” But, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness:
and let them have dominion…” Genesis 1:26. What is your goal? What are you
aspiring after? Is it an F? Or a C? Or an A? What are your expectations? “For
surely there is an end; and thine expectation shall not be cut off.” Proverbs
23:18. Have a goal clearly stated down. Do not limit your potentials! Have a
goal.
I see men flying. I see you
soaring to greater heights. But remember,” If that thou wouldest harken to the
commandments of the Lord your God which I command you this day to observe
and to do them.” Deuteronomy 28:13.
4. Work while it is day: Jesus
said, “I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night
cometh, when no man can work.” John 9:4. The day is the period, that time frame
before the exam; the night is the time of writing the exam. Do not be
lazy, do your assignments at the right time, read, study hard ahead of time, do
not wait for the exams to come and then you start dusting your notes. Follow “the
example of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and do not be negligent! 2Peter
1:12ai states this, “wherefore I will not be negligent” {everyone one should
say this}.
5. Have
a Living plan and learn to be consistent about it: “To everything there is
a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven… I said in mine heart,
God shall judge the righteous and the wicked: for there is a time there for
every purpose and for every work.” Ecclesiastics 3:1, 17. Your time of
studying in the university should not be a time to live haphazardly, it should
be a period of purposeful living. You should learn to organize your time and
organize your life. Have a Plan!
a.
Have all your regular courses, engagements and
activities clearly stated out in your planner.
b.
Have blocked out time, a time dedicated for
studying your academic materials every week. This may be as small as two hours
or preferably four hours a day studying time and try to keep this study time
around the same time of the day every week.
c.
Have a relaxation time when you put all reading
materials away every day and most especially an hour before every exam.
d.
Also have a plan for healthy feeding during all
of these activities.
e.
And lastly, keep consistent on your outlined
plans, “Unstable as water, thou shalt not excel…” Gen 49:4. Refuse to be
unstable, you will excel in Jesus name.
f.
Study with proven studying methods: Studying by
the use of various proven methods will help you achieve deeper understanding of
your materials and will also keep things interesting. Job 5: 27 says,” Lo this,
we have searched it, so it is; hear it and know thou it for thy good.” There
are some proven methods of studying:
a.
Creating an outline: … make sure you write it in
your own words so you are actually learning the material and not just repeating
it mindlessly.
b.
Use flashcards: … you can buy small sticky notes
and write terms you intend to memorize and then plaster them on your wall or
table.
c.
Use mnemonic devices: such as in case of BODMAS
– Bracket, Of, Division, Multiplication, Addition and Subtraction. They help to
remember list of complicated terms.
d.
Re-write your notes.
e. Take practice Exams.
6. Pray
and Keep faith Alive in GOD: “And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have
faith in God. 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. Therefore, I say unto
you, what things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them,
and ye shall have them.” Mark 11:22-24.
a.
Prayer and Faith in God keeps you from satanic assaults
that takes delight in wasting the efforts of men. “The horse is prepared
against the day of battle: but safety is of the Lord.” Proverbs 21:31.
b.
Prayer and Faith in God indicates to God that
you acknowledge Him in your academics and moves Him to direct your path to
academic excellence. “In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy
paths.” Proverbs 3:6.
c.
Lastly, Prayer and Faith in God insures you by divine
ability from shame. “As it is written, Behold, I lay in Sion a stumbling stone
and rock of offence: and whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.”
Romans 9:33, Isaiah 49:23.
“They looked unto him, and were lightened: and their faces were not ashamed.” Psalms 34:5.
Now rise to our feet and pray in what you have just read. God bless you, Amen.
Article written by Ifeoluwa Animashaun
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