4DS OF ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE

By Uncle Philips Babarinde

Many Students are going through their academic pursuit with much difficulty. This is not necessarily because they are not brilliant enough but partly because they are ignorant of certain things that could help them in their studies.

In this paper we shall look at Four Ds of academic success as a way to help student maintain a great academic performance while at the same time growing in the grace of knowing, obeying and serving God.

Divine Mission

Your admission is not a coincidence nor is it by chance. God planned and executed it – thus, you are in school right now by divine ordination, and for a divine mission and assignment. God has a master plan for your life, for which you were born Jer 29:11, Jer 1:5.

Whereas you think you are in school to pursue a certificate, your ultimate purpose however, is to fulfill a divine mission. Living with this sense of divine mission is the key to  everything else that you will be doing – the way you attend to your lectures and assignments, the way you behave, the company you keep, where you go, how you use your time, etc.

Determination

“One reason many students perform poorly in school is that they never made up their minds to succeed in the first place” -Aloy Onyeka

Some reasons for poor Academic performance

That feeling that the first year is meant to enjoy the “campus life” Wrong perception of academic freedom

Inferiority complez.Superiority complex, So do away with all forms of complexes

Excelling in your academics requires deliberate and conscious effort.

One thing that will help you to be deliberate about your studies is to have a goal. Set goals for what you want to by the end of your 3, 4, 5 or 6 years in school. Set goal for what you want to achieve every semester and session. Set goal for the grade you want to obtain in every course. Set goal for how to read, attend classes and do your assignments. Set goals for the way you will live on campus in view of your divine mission.

Diligence

Prov  14: 23; 13:4; 22:29; 10:4 and 6:9 -11

Diligence is a key to success not only in academics but in all areas of life. Diligence simply put is to be hard working or industrious. There is no such thing as cheap success.  God’s favour does not cancel out human responsibilities.  Diligence implies doing the right thing at the right time. It entails effectiveness and efficiency. Diligence is knowing what to avoid and what to do in order to achieve your goals.

Things to avoid

Avoid procrastination: procrastination is the thief of time.

Avoid excessive sleep ( Prov 6: 9 -11).

Avoid unnecessary travelling

Avoid idle discussion

Avoid keeping bad company and involvement in secret cults. ( 1Cor 15:33)

Avoid too many social and spiritual activities

Avoid emotional attachment to the opposite sex

Avoid lack of interest in a course

Avoid developing cold feelings towards a lecturer

Avoid examination malpractices

Things to do

Participate in study group discussions/ tutorials

Seek for help when you don’t understand – from lecturers and mates

Do your assignment and submit at the right time

Use past questions

Write all your test and examinations

Monitor your results and performances: Know how to calculate your GPA and CGPA

Dependence

The physical is controlled by the spiritual. There is a spiritual dimension to your academics. Neglecting the spiritual has caused many the frustration of their academic pursuit in life. Though God want you to succeed, the devil and his cohorts are not going to fold their arms and see you get there so cheaply. The forces contending against us are stronger than we are. Thus we need God to help us fight them (2Cor 10:3-4; Eph 6:12-13) Therefore, in addition to all that has been said you need to depend on God if you truly want to succeed academically.

Praying unceasingly and prevailingly

Pray for general success.

Pray against all the wiles of the devil.

Pray for wisdom and understanding 9 Dan 1:17 -20; Jam 1:5, 17).

Pray while you are reading (Matt 14:26). Pray for difficult courses (Phil 4:13).

Pray for difficult lecturers. Pray before, during and after your exams.

Maintaining your spiritual disciplines

Participate actively in Fellowship activities.

Do your personal quiet time daily.

Determine to please God all time and in all situations (1 Cor 10:31)

Maintaining your spiritual disciplines

Participate actively in Fellowship activities.

Do your personal quiet time daily.

Determine to please God all time and in all situations (1 Cor 10:31)