The Power of Determination

Hillary was a first year student of zoology in the University of Abuja. He got admission after several unsuccessful attempts to pass the entrance exam to read medicine in three different universities. He was mocked severally by not only his people but friends for not passing the entrance exams.

It was the matriculation day. Everyone was adorned in their matriculation outfit. To tell you how bad it was, his parents did not attend. They sent Hillary's younger sister who was a third year student of pharmacy in the same university to represent them. But Hillary counted it all joy. He was unhappy but determined.

In the occasion, while other people were busy eating rice and cutting cakes, Hillary had none to offer few friends he had made in the campus since arrival. The parents simply did not make any provision for that. They were disappointed at their son. They had spent a lot to see how they could make him pass exams to read medicine all to no avail, so they simply gave up on him.

None of these stopped Hillary from being positive. He continued to persevere in the face of obvious adversity from life. Most of his mates were already graduates at this time. Hillary did not give up. He believed in himself and God.

Hillary struggled to study Zoology for four years with little support from his parents and relatives. He would create time to do some menial jobs while in school to support himself as the assistance from his parents where grossly inadequate. All these while, Hillary had vowed that he must be a doctor. If not for anything, he needed to prove to himself, and not necessarily his parents, that he was not a failure.

Eventually, Hillary graduated to be a zoologist. He got a job in the University Zoo to manage the Zoo. He took the job because he did not want to lose sight of his dream of becoming a medical doctor. He managed the zoo so well that the dean of the faculty recognized him and made him his friend. One day, while they were talking, he told him of his desire to be a doctor. The dean encouraged him and left.

Hillary applied to read medicine through direct entry as there was an option for that for graduates of Zoology and Botany in the same University. In his application, he stated his achievements and what he was doing. The Dean of Medical Sciences was impressed by the young man's application and he put a call to the Dean of Biological Sciences who was now a personal friend of Hillary. The man spoke so well of Hillary and that eventually led to his offer of admission to read medicine in the same university with a scholarship.

Hillary did not know the details of the discussion of the Deans until on his convocation day as a medical doctor, where they made it public. His parents attended this one with friends and family. He graduated as the best medical student in the school. The Dean of Medical Sciences eulogized him before dignitaries who graced the occasion including the Minister Of Health and Minister Of FCT, Abuja. Hillary was the cynosure of the occasion. Everyone celebrated him. Right there, the Honorable Minister of Health offered Hillary a Job and Scholarship for his Residency program in the University of Abuja Teaching Hospital.

Determination is a very important tool for success. I have seen the impact of this on successful people. It was Hillary's share determination and divine providence that elevated him from an object of mockery to celebration.

Life does not always smile on everyone. Some people have it so easy while others struggle to make it. In all these, one important lesson is the simple story of determination and the power of positive thinking.

These key tools are very important for navigating the turbulent waters of life. Determination informs your spirit that success is certain. Positive thinking makes your journey of determination easier. There will always come a time when your determination will be challenged, you need the power of positive thinking to overcome the forces of negativity at those periods. These two tools must be used together to break the boundaries of limits set by our minds.

I want to encourage you today to dare to achieve those things you hitherto consider impossible or difficult. The only limit is from your mind. If only you can overcome it, you will be amazed at how close you have always been to success without knowing it.

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