To begin with, S.W.O.T is an abbreviation of Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats. It is a marvellous model used to ‘measure’ performance in organisations. Its provenance brings Albert Humphrey to our mortal minds.
Therefore, permit me a little latitude: to use the same concept to write to candidates poised to sit for KCSE. Being in the candidate class means that examination bells have blared. Like athletes in long races, candidates are in their homestretch, last lap.
The exam set ahead is important. It has the potency to make or break their lives. Peak performance can open the doors to tertiary institutions. Conversely, poor performance can make the future to look forlorn.
Somehow, to entice peak performance, it behooves every candidate to look at all the examinable subjects. Then, conduct serious assessment with the aim of pointing out strengths and weaknesses, opportunities and threats.
Self-knowledge and self-awareness are key factors that can entice academic excellence. In a colossal sense, strengths are those subjects a candidate can scoop quality grades. In my candid conversation with candidate classes across the country, I do become blunt about it: Calling something less than an A strength, is nothing but mediocrity, average.
Mediocrity is being on top of the bottom. Mediocrity is being the best among the worst or worst among the best. Mediocrity is accepting to be good yet you can be great. In a heroic book titled Beyond Limits, Pepe Minambo postulates powerfully that mediocrity is the anthem of the norm, and the heartbeat of the ordinary.
Mediocrity happens when a candidate accepts to score grade B. Yet, if s/he stretches, that can invite grade A. Mediocrity happens when a candidate shows the symptoms of a patient yet right at the onset, s/he dreamt of becoming a Medical Doctor.
Just for the sake of self-disclosure, I remember fondly, as if it was yesterday. In the recent past, when I was a candidate at Nyamninia Secondary School, in the Gem of Siaya, History and Government, was one of my strengths alongside Geography, English, Biology and Business Studies. I did not settle for less. I believed in making marking schemes in every exam in my areas of strength.
How did I make them true strengths? I focused on content mastery strategies, content review strategies, exam strategies, and built massive powers of memory. Then, strategies for high achievers helped me to have a giant leap to the front-end. I engaged in peer teaching, individual exams, self-evaluation, worked on the Principle of Continuous Improvement (PCI), filled the gaps, focused on the art of exams, and tried more.
Away from that, it is advisable to point out weaknesses, and fix them before they loom large. Every candidate must ascertain areas s/he is weak and sick, low and slow. For even in the medical practice, diagnosis precedes prescription. Those who are weak should start with setting realistic targets. They should take remedial seriously, embrace ability grouping, pair up with high achievers, go through Form One and Two content, identify simple areas they can score free marks, focus on the art of exams, work on the Table of Specification (ToS) and choose not to give up.
Finally, it is important to know that the threats we faced as candidates in the recent past are still real. Being a day school, truancy or absenteeism made many candidates miss more. At a stone-throw distance or do I talk of a spit-throw distance? There was the big boys’ school – St. Mary’s School, Yala. I am cock-sure, fellow candidates that eventually touched their dream careers managed to conquer existential threats such as idleness, indolence, indiscipline, inaction, procrastination, complacency, disorganisation, past thinking, unhealthy relationships, defeatist attitude and mediocrity.
For us, being a day school, we went through chilling challenges. Personally, I used to trek for close to 3 kilometres; commuting to and from school. By the time I reached school, I used to be dog-tired, sweating profusely at the rate of a leaking pot. Sometimes, getting a meal at home was a tall order. In all these problems, I focused on the positive side of life. I did not lose sight for the big goal. Then, somewhere I read, when life gives you lemon, you do not ask for oranges, but make lemonade.
Just as we did in our days of humble beginnings, candidates, both in day and boarding schools, should see, and seize infinite spectra of opportunities. This could be, being in a boarding school, having food to eat, wealth of health, ability to read and write, presence of a well-stocked library, best academic practices, legendary leadership of the school, more teachers, ubiquity of examiners, encouragement and good guidance offered by guest speakers.
© Victor Ochieng’
The writer is an editor, author, trainer and peripatetic public speaker.
vochieng.90@gmail.com. 0704420232
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