Exam Fuel For Students!

I want my fellow young people to know that they matter, that they belong. Don’t be afraid, you hear me? Be focused. Be determined. Be hopeful.

Empower yourselves with a good education. Get out there, use that education and build a country worthy of your boundless promise. Lead by example with hope, never fear.

Many of you have already encountered obstacles. When you are struggling and you start thinking about giving up, I want you to remember the power of hope and faith.

There is a belief that something better is always possible if you are willing to fight for it. Our hope is that if we work hard enough and believe in ourselves, we can be whatever we dream of, regardless of the limitations that others may place on us.

The hope is that when people see us for who we truly are, maybe they will be inspired to rise to their best possible selves. You need to prepare yourselves to be informed, and that means getting the best education possible so you can think critically, express yourself clearly, get a good job and support yourself and your family.

Our greatness has never come from sitting back and feeling entitled to what we have. It never came from folks who climbed the ladder of success or folks who happened to be born near the top and pulled the ladder up after themselves. No!

Our greatness has always come from people who expect nothing and don’t take things for granted or people who work hard for what they have, then reach back and help others after them.

Success isn’t about how your life looks to others, it’s about how it feels to you. Being successful isn’t about being impressive, it’s about being inspired and that’s what it means to be your true self!

Look inside of yourself and be honest about what you truly enjoy doing because young people, I can promise you that you will never be happy plodding through someone else’s idea of success. Success is only meaningful and enjoyable if it feels like your own.

You should never view your challenges as a disadvantage, instead it’s important for you to understand that your experience facing and overcoming adversity and opposition is actually one of your biggest advantages. I know that because I’ve seen it myself.

As a student, I’ve encountered those who had every advantage. Their parents paid their full tuition, they lived in beautiful campus dorms, and had every possession a college student could want: Cars, computers and spending money. But when some of them got their first bad grade, they fell apart. They lost it all because they were ill-equipped to handle their first encounter of disappointment or falling short.

Life will put many obstacles in your path that are far worse than a bad grade: You will have unreasonable bosses, and difficult clients and patients. You will experience illnesses, losses, crises and setbacks that will come out of nowhere and knock you off your feet. Unlike other young people, you have already developed the resilience and maturity you need to pick yourself up and dust yourself off! Keeping moving forward!

We all feel lost and have some kind of emptiness we’re searching to fill. And often, it is only through serving others that we find what’s been missing in our lives. Like so many of you, through service, I was able to find what I need and carve a path for my life that truly felt like my own.

Shipena Mateus is a first-year student at the University of Namibia at Ongwediva, majoring in metallurgical

engineering. Mateus likes writing, being a motivational speaker and activism. Email him at mshipena79@gmail.com

or follow him on Instagram @ cbk_scofield or on Facebook as ‘Shipena Scofield Mateus’.

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