The Sunday News
The environment plays an important role in shaping the way of life of a learner. It influences the direction that a learner takes. In an environment that early child marriages take place, there are high chances that learners in that particular area don’t take their school work seriously.
Such learners will focus on getting married soon after or before completing their O-level. Similarly, in an environment where mining activities takes place, chances are high that learners would drop out of school.
People will be making quick money through mining and selling of gold and this attracts several learners.
It is therefore important for a learner to guard against being negatively affected by the environment. A learner should strive to get educated. Education is the only tool that can do away with poverty and bring positive reforms in an individual.
Education in an area also empowers individuals and changes the mindset of people and communities. If a child is educated his/her mind is opened and won’t get married early.
The girl child is also empowered to make proper and rightful decisions. Education equips an individual to reach the highest goals. An educated child is an asset to the family, community and the country as a whole.
The environment that you are in does not define what you will be in the future. This can only be possible through education. Take Education seriously, use available resources and work hard.
Remain consistent and preserve reading your books. Don’t be discouraged by your environment. Don’t define yourself with what you are seeing now, instead feel encouraged, work hard. It is very possible to drive your own car in the future, to live in an expensive house or fly around the globe, it’s only in the mind, change your mindset.
While others are playing, you are studying, while others are doubting, you are believing. Pursue your vision, create a positive mindset and conquer.
Some learners are ashamed of themselves, this is because of what people say about them. It might be because of their family, skin or body structure. Don’t be ashamed of yourself, no one is a mistake, you are the person and let no thought define you.
Be bold and confident and declare yourself a champion. Remove fear and doubt, and build self-confidence. Look on all positive things that you have done and this shows that you are a great person. Rather than wasting your time on worrying that you are not good enough, devote your energy to your good deeds.
Avoid association with bad people who always say bad things about you. These people don’t bring anything good to you, instead choose friends who value you and appreciate your strength.
These are friends that are going to make you comfortable and confident. Stop comparing yourself with others. Comparison isn’t healthy. Learners who compare themselves to others experience envy and the more envy they experience the worse they feel about themselves.
This will make you lose confidence. If you are envious of someone else’s life remind yourself of your strengths and successes. Everyone is running their own race and life isn’t a comparison.
Your name and surname don’t define you. The same applies to nicknames. At school learners give each other nicknames. If not taken carefully these nicknames might drift a learner from school work.
Some learners also think that having a certain name or specific surname means a curse. All this is not correct. Success is only guaranteed through hard work.
The name of a person doesn’t define what that person could become in the future so don’t worry about the name that you were given by your parents or nickname that you were given by your fellow learners at school. Work hard and concentrate on your school work. Guard against negative factors that can affect you in your learning.
These negative factors hinder your success. Refuse negativity and believe in yourself, have the power and ability to remain focused on your school work. Inside of you there’s greatness and excellency!
Extracts from the Novel The Right Steps Written by Manners Msongelwa. Manners Msongelwa is the president of History Teachers of Zimbabwe and a Teacher at Camelot College in Kwekwe.
