This will help you get back strong any time you fail 👇

 

Saturday was going to be the d-day and I prepared 'so hard' in my little way for it; my dad had bought for me a compilation of past questions in Mathematics, English and General knowledge and I didn't want to miss my chance. I read and even burned the mid-night candle as a child in preparation for the entrance examination.

 The school was certainly my dream school at that time, my school friends and I really wanted to be admitted into the school. Hence that bright saturday, I took my pen, mathematical set, and travelled with my parents a few kilometers  to write the entrance examination. 

We got into the long hall, were seated and in a short while the examination was being administered to us. If you asked my mum and dad they believed so well that I will pass the examination, they were that confident in me and I never wanted to disappoint them.

The scripts were marked, results compiled, the list of students that got the admission was ready and everyone both parents and wards were brought into the school hall...

Here was the deciding moment and my ears were wide open, listening attentively to the call of my name.  The school administrator started reading out the names of those qualified and admitted. Number 1, Grace John this; 2, Elizabeth this that; the students were identified with their First, middle and Last name, Number 3 was called, Number 4, 5, 10, 20... I listened attentively till the last name was mentioned and none sounded like my name, my parents too were all out, eager to hear my name and listened attentively but nothing, they heard nothing that sounded like their daughter's name and there was nothing they could do about it... I had failed!

The painful part of that failure was that I had to go back in the same car with my parents, that silence that accompanied the journey and aura of unexpressed disappointment was what I had to cope with plus the thought that going back to school that monday, my school mates who passed would be coming around to ask if I also heard my name... as much as I can remember, that was the first time I practically had to deal with failure and all it brings.

At such moments you do not need any one to mistakenly ask you how the exam went and whether you passed or failed, you will forbid it, that's how hard failure can be.

Some  weeks later daddy got a notification about an entrance examination that was set to happen that weekend, it was for a notable unity school in the country and this time around students seeking admission from different states in the country will be writing. I prepared, went in for the exams and when the results came out, I had been shortlisted to participate in the next level of screening exercise... 

This process was of course tougher , I had to travel outside my state for the examination and finally the day of announcing came...

I could hear my name stated clearly from the radio as one of the people in my state who qualified for admission into the notable Command Secondary School Abakaliki  at that time. My parents were so proud and couldn't help but spread the goodnews around.

I was doing something this morning when the Lord brought this event that happened about 15 years ago into my heart.

I don't know if you have ever worked so hard for something yet  still failed at it.

You may have pressed hard, prayed so long or even worked your self out but had 'nothing' to show for it.You failed!

 It's even more painful  when everyone thinks you never gave in your best, they think you were lazying around but you know you sweated, you know you gave in all but still failed. 

Those situations are really painful. I know they are yet, keep in mind that:

1. The situation  may be part of a process to get you something higher and far better than what you've lost.

2. It may be part of the preparation process to be more equipped for the grand reward.

There is much more we can aim for, a lot more we can get, so don't mourn over a situation even if you have failed at it over and over again. 

Put your self together because surely the grand award is ahead and guess what?

Years later, I am grateful to God, I was not admitted into that school, the experiences I had moving to a different state to school, meeting with new people and interacting with different cultures was worthwhile...I hold it dear. 

So look at what's ahead of you and go for it and I promise you that in God, you will make it , Certainly!

©Esther Archibong