Aspire For The Best, Don Tells Good Shepherd Students

A lecturer in the Department of Arts and Social Sciences Education, Faculty of Education, University of Lagos, UNILAG, Dr. Comfort Akinola, has charged graduating students of Good Shepherd Schools, Ogun State, to aspire to be goal-getters as they move on to higher institution.

Akinola, who was the guest speaker at the 14th Valedictory Service/Prize-Giving Day of Good Shepherd Schools, Ogun State, southwest Nigeria, spoke on the topic: The Cycle of Success.

He said success was being misunderstood by many people as having money, possession, adding that success could not be measured these ways because human wants were insatiable.

“The possession of one thing leads to craving for another. Some view success as being in the social circle of the influential and mighty people. In this context, success is equated to high status attainment.

“I would like to present the cycle of success, using the AIPAI Concept. AIPAI is the acronym for Aspire, Inquire, Perspire, Acquire and Inspire. Success is not a one-off thing. It is on-going and proceeds in gradual steps, with one stage as a springboard for the other,” she said.

According to her, students must aspired to work towards achieving success, saying that such aspiration must not be based on self-made programme but based on the divine master plan for man.

She stated that students could inquire for information through the media, saying that to attain God-giving success, “diligence, hard work and a staying will-power are very essential. On the journey of success, there will certainly be hurdles to jump, depression, discouragement, bleak picture of life and failure. This is not the time to give up but a time to perspire and keep pursuing the God-given picture of success though fainting.”

She added that students could acquire success by having the attitude of a goal-getter and dream-achiever, stressing that students must strive for success in the world of mediocrity, inferiority complex, oppression, anarchy and selfishness.

“Success is not success if it doesn’t affect another person. Successful achievement adds value to lives. I want to specially challenge you to be a beacon of light in the world of darkness spiritually, socially, morally, academically, professionally and in all ramifications,” she challenged the youths.

The Director of the school, Dr. Bayo Oyeyemi, urged the students to strive harder to excel in their future endeavour, saying that “the end of phase one marks the beginning of another one. Don’t sit back, but step forward and as you step forward into the next level, you will never fall.”