BEYOND ACADMIC EXCELLENCE

By Kolade Malik Ademola
I got to ask a group of students what success is, and behold, I was astounded by their responses; the book types replied, having excellent or outstanding academic grades, while the bling bling types replied, using iPhone 7, driving a Jaguar, and living in a mansion. Weren't they right? Of course they'd defined success base on their exposures. Should we hold them accountable for that? No, there's only need to change their orientation. What orientation?
In real conception, success goes beyond having academic grades or possessing the luxuries you desire to live an affluent live, but success as possession of luxuries isn't the topic for discussion today.
In a broader perspective, (success lies) beyond academic excellence, but apparently these days, the procreative minds of individuals have been tainted with the conjecture that all around academic excellence is where success lies comfortably, but could they be right with this perception?
In the contemporary world of today, the modern world has been bestowed with plethora of lucrative and prospective careers which may bring about immediate success which only those with good academic grades have a non-disjunction access to it. Paradoxically, these careers are built as a place for increasing tolerance, conflict, inter-personal and socio-cultural problems, and a general decline in value, that only those with (personal) life essential skills will overcome the burden, thrive and flourish, not only that they'll be successful but they'll also be able to manage the success.
Ironically, the education system of our time do not focus on this phenomenon, but rather it has been concentrated on only achieving academic and professional skills which may of course be beneficial momentarily. How do we incorporate this into the system again? Then students as individuals need to expunge their minds from the misconception and get involved in the activities which will stimulate these skills in them. What activities?
Psychological survey has shown that people who partake in extra-curricular activities - tend to be more successful than those who don't. What impact do these activities have on them? Foremost, it enhances their time management, decision making, and enables them to be multi-tasking. Also these activities will breed essential (personal) life skills comprising of cognitive, psychometric ability relating to intelligence of individuals, and inter-personal relations which help to develop physiological, psychological and social competencies. These skills in addition to academic and professional skills, lead to outstanding development of individuals' personality.
In conclusion, "academic excellence may help you get into a career but life-skills help you make success of that career and manage personal success better" - V Pradeep Kumar.

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