SCHOOL

Do you like schooling? I’m sure some readers are rolling their eyes like school. four walls of a classroom; teachers; lecturers; books??? No! Tolu No! 🙂

I would love to admit that I love schooling because I get to learn new things. But growing up schooling and learning were tiring and stressful, sighs! Hence, I’m amazed at how much I now love schooling.

In retrospect, high school was the bane for me. Ask me to pick between the stages of schooling from kindergarten to my master’s degree. I would tell you high school was the bane, it didn’t make me a huge fan of schooling. Fast forward to the university I attended for my first degree, I decided this was a fresh start to go through a fresh system. Also, let’s just ace the right grades for the parents. Looking back now I wish I was more immersed in the system. Honestly, I just did what I had to do to get by. Although thinking about it now, at the institution where I earned my first degree, one of the reasons I did not want to be fully immersed in the system was because the authority of the institution had policies which did not encourage innovation and freedom of multiple expressions. This was their means of keeping students focused solely on the degree they came to acquire. 

However, with a heart of gratitude, I would like to state that the high point of my four years in school was the relationships that it brought my way. Strong relationships I never knew I could have; a strong spiritual community especially my discipleship classes and being a member of the school choir. I still regret joining the school choir late because, for the short time I was with that community, I had the best time of my life so far. I can still hear the glorious classical we sung to the heavenly.

I hope my memories help you reminisce on your schooling experience too – that is if you are a graduate.

Moving on, after the four walls of academic school came the school of life. Yes, the school of life. Nothing, I mean nothing prepared me for this 😭. I’m sure some of us can relate to this phase. But, one thing that I have learnt consistently over the past five years since I bagged my first degree is that there is no graduating from the school of life. It is one life and there is no time to let it slip away by doing only the things that would make you get by and get the best grades as I did in the first higher institution of academic learning. Nope! There is no graduation from this school where learning occurs as long as you have the Creator’s breathe in you. Hence, your pursuit of good grades is continuous and this also means that learning never stops.

Oh well! So in this school of life, I have painstakingly – I use painstakingly because it has been a roller-coaster ride, learnt the following:

1. Growth is essential and can only be achieved through intentionality
2. You need the right teachers
3. You need the right course materials 
4. This school has an Authority- the Almighty – with the right policies that would help you navigate through. Even better, the policies give you the ability to fully express your gifting and be innovative.

So in your journey here on earth, I hope that you commit to a life of learning and acing the best grades in every area requiring growth. This may be within the four walls of an institution of academic learning, or virtually, or through people, processes, organizations, communities, resources and all the ways learning comes to you. More importantly, I hope that you watch yourself bloom all the way 💙💜💙💜

P.S: Viva La Vida