By Victor Ochieng’
Indeed, a vice is a bad deed. For example, avarice – greed. Conversely, a virtue is a good deed. For instance, fortitude. On this, I dote on athletics. For Form Four candidates can glean life lessons from Olympic Games. More so, the triumphant tale of John Stephen Akhwari. It is a true testament of how Olympian fortitude can assist Form Four candidates to succeed while preparing to sit and write KCSE exams.
Taking a mental flight back to the distant past, we dwarf distance in time, and put years in chains, my pen writes about the great athlete who participated in the 1968 Olympic Games in Mexico. It was a 42-kilometre race with 75 participants. Unfortunately, as they were doing the 19th kilometre: Jostling, wrestling, pushing and shoving to bag the big prize, John Stephen was knocked. He fell in a thud. He injured his knee. But through fortitude, he did not dare to stay down. He did not dither. He did not succumb to defeat. Instead, he was able to repair despair.
Haply, inspired by the wise words, do not cry, try. So, he collected himself with great grit and grace. So, he rose, he ran, he finished. As usual, a legion of journalists crowded around him like a swarm of safari ants. In the bid to cure their curiosity streak, they enquired, “Now that you fell down, what inspired you to keep running.” He responded, “When my country sent me 5,000 miles from Tanzania to Mexico, they did not send me here to start a race. In lieu, they sent me to finish the race.”
Actually, the response of the great athlete is an encouragement to all Form Four candidates preparing to sit and write KCSE exams. Finishing the race matters more than winning. Despite every change and challenge, they should brace up for thrills and hills ahead. In Gem at Yala, we talk of jiw dendi. They should develop thick skins. They should be made of some sterner stuff. They should put their best foot forward. They should clench their fists. They should grit their teeth. Tighten the belts. As they toil and moil. For no tears, no cheers. No pain, no gain. No sweat, no sweet. No price, no prize.
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So, when Form Four candidates are done with the syllabus, most schools focus on riveting revision and review strategies. This is in strict adherence to best academic practices and programmes that lead to peak performance in KCSE exams. Now, as I sit to ideate and write, there are tintinnabulation of bells signaling homestretch – last lap. Form Four candidates can stretch their necks and see the finishing line. As a peripatetic speaker in schools in over 40 counties, my sufficient experience tells me that Form Four candidates need Olympian fortitude to succeed in KCSE preparations.
Somewhat, being a Form Four candidate is not a walk in the park. Instead, it is a Herculean task. In Greek Mythology, the hero Hercules, son of the god Zeus was famous for his super-human strength. As penance for a madness-induced murder spree, he was forced to perform some 12 enormously difficult tasks or “labours”. Splendid indeed, the great feats he accomplished explain how Herculean in the 16th Century came to be used for any work or task that is extremely difficult or calls for enormous strength.
Back to the gist of this writ, in serious schools Form Four Class is regarded as “a school within a school.” They sit in class for long. Programmes are tight. Stress and tension takes a toll on them. Pressure is palpable. And we all know, pressure can break pipes as water welters with rage. But Form Four candidates can seek solace and peace in this: Precious things are products of pressure, not pleasure.
Through it all, with Olympian fortitude, Form Four candidates can manage to emerge victorious. To bring you to the basis of this thesis, Olympian fortitude is the exceptional mental strength and resilience displayed by elite athletes. Ideally, it encompasses the ability to withstand intense pressure, as well as seeing advantage in every adversity. It is maintaining FOCUS – Following One Course Until Successful. It is the great grit throughout the demanding journey to, and during, the Olympic Games. This includes: Handling setbacks, tackling tension and pressure, managing performance anxiety, and maintaining positive mental attitude (PMA) amidst high expectations and stiff completion. This is applicable to Form Four candidates because towards KCSE some of them are on pins and needles.
In Success Through a Positive Mental Attitude, one of the heroic books I am reading in this month of June, the two putative authors, Napoleon Hill and W. Clement Stone, mention fortitude alongside other 6 cardinal virtues. One, is prudence or wisdom, which is the ability to govern and discipline yourself through reason. Two, temperance or moderation, which is the habitual regulation in the indulgence of appetites and passions. Three, justice or fairness, which is the principle or ideal of just dealing or right action. It also encompasses integrity, honesty and truthfulness.
Four, is faith, which is complete trust in God Almighty. Five, is hope, which is the burning desire with expectation of obtaining the desired goal. Or the deep belief that whatever the mind can conceive, and believe, it can achieve. Six, is charity, which is the magnanimous – love and kindness towards humankind. The bonhomie anchors on benevolence and goodwill in giving in the broad understanding of others with soft skills of tact and tolerance. Then, seven, is fortitude, which is the strength of mind that enables people to confront every challenge and danger. Through the valuable virtue of fortitude, people turn pain to gain, obstacles to miracles. By the same token, they see advantage in every adversity. So, fortitude leads to triumph worth trumpeting.
Therefore, before I conclude, I do dote on Pauline’s epistles, which Form Four candidates can reflect on as they run last lap with virtue of fortitude. Paraphrasing 1 Corinthians 9:24-26, he writes that in every race, all the athletes run, but only one is poised to receive the prize. In Olympics, we have prizes such as gold, silver and bronze. For Form Four candidates, they have grades to scoop. The pig picture should be to score more. All grades count, but they do not attract same opportunities up for grabs after high school. In the scripture I have quoted, Apostle Paul mentions the crown. He mentions that competitors in any game must go through strict and tough training.
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Meaning, great athletes know, showing up for Olympics takes 90% preparation, and 10% winning. Plenty of practice is the top tip in any trip. No wonder, Form Four candidates should now know, strict training takes diligence and discipline. Overcoming laziness, lassitude, hebetude and attitude of finitude. Strict training takes discipline: the disciple toeing a line. In 2 Timothy 2:5, Paul the apostle makes it plain, and if anyone competes as an athlete, he is not crowned unless he competes according to the raft of rules. Discipline is also accepting pain preceding gain; again and again. For after school, life presents two types of pain: the pain of discipline and the pain of regret. The choice is clear like crystal.
Sad indeed, the pain of regret comes with expensive, pensive and painful words: “I wish I knew”. I wish I knew; I would have avoided wayward friends. I wish I knew; I would have been a diligent student. I wish I knew; I would have focused on books more than looks. I wish I knew; I would have listened more to teachers and preachers. I wish I knew; I would have said no to stupid solidarity and stupid pride. I wish I knew; I would not have participated in school strikes, unrests and fanning of flames of fire. For Hebrews 2:1 warns, “Take heed of what you are told so that you do not drift away from the way.”
Victor Ochieng’ rolls out academic talks in schools. He speaks to Form Four candidates on Study Skills, Revision Techniques & Exam Preparation Strategies. vochieng.90@gmail.com. 0704420232
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