NOT ALWAYS ABOUT GRADES AND DEGREES.

When I was growing up, I was constantly told by peers, teachers and parents alike, that our objective in life was to be successful and be financially buoyant stressing the fact that we must have good grade and necessary academic qualification from university to achieve this.

They believed that only people with academic qualifications or degrees are public figures and role models. In schools then, those of us nurtured with such orientation were up and doing, striving to pass our WASSCE (West Africa Secondary School Certificate Examination), gain admission into University of our choice and passed out in flying colour. The competition was so high then. Life as a student was about studying and doing well in School. The equation then and now is; get degree with good grade + get a good job + earn a lot of money = Success and nothing further from the truth. Going by this orientation, I have all necessary academic qualifications.

But on a fateful day, I stumbled on a particular edition of Forbes Magazine which analysed the 400 richest men and women in America. This magazine found out that a person who dropped out of high school and who made it into Forbes 400 was worth, an average, $333 million more than those who had completed college or University. Nothing could be further from the truth. Some of the wealthiest, most successful men and women throughout the world did poorly in school. From there, I learnt that becoming successful, famous, financial buoyant etc does not only depend on degrees but also on exploration of individual potentials, gifts, talents etc and whatever you know you can give to the world at large for success or greatness attainment.

Do we really get educated in schools and colleges? Generally, there is a consensus that some do but most don't. Don't get me wrong, I'm not trying to tell you that no true education in school. We receive a lot of information in school. I have my academic qualifications. But the fact is, we do need broad-based information to be educated. What then is broad-based education? Does academic qualifications give education true meaning? Is achieving greatness all about academic qualification.

You will have answers to all these questions in my next article which will serve as PART 2 of NOT ALWAYS ABOUT GOOD GRADE AND DEGREE. Watch out.