FOREWORD BY FALABAKE ABIODUN MICHAEL

THE PRICE FOR ACADEMIC SUCCESS

 DEDICATION
I dedicate this book to my Grandma, Deaconess
Ogunleye, and to all students who are aspiring to be
academically successful.
 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
Firstly, I wish to express my profound gratitude and
appreciation to the Almighty God, the giver of
knowledge, wisdom and understanding for granting
me the inspiration and insights for writing this book.
He has been my greatest source of resources ever since
I gave my life to him.
I also want to express my gratitude to my parent
(Mr&Mrs ORIMAYE), and my pastor (pastor Alade
Michael) for their love, care and support. They are indeed
wonderful.
It is often said that one is a product of one’s environment.
It is on this note that I would like to specially
acknowledge my lovely and wonderful family at school:
Adegun Temitope, Amosun Oluwafemi, Adeleye
Blessing, Popoola opeyemi and Fatokun Phebe. They are
my wonderful family at school. My success in writing this
book is highly indebted to them.
My appreciation would be incomplete if I failed to
acknowledge my wonderful spiritual brother, Adebiosu
Tobi the general coordinator of my fellowship,{ Deeper
life campus fellowship, fuoye( Ikole campus)},and my
wonderful room mate, in person of Michael Olutayo O.
(CEO of MSOD CONSULT, 08100440278) a brother, a
friend, and indeed a mentor, whose fatherly advice,
brotherly love and support have been of great help to me.
Also, I like to thank my other friends: olufunmiwa,
bolarinde tobi, olukunle oluwatobi, and my wonderful .
I thank you all. God bless you so much.
 CONTENT
Foreword
Preface
Introduction
The Spiritual Cost
The Intellectual Cost
Diligence
The Power of Mindset
Quotable Quotes on academic success
 FOREWORD
Our relationships most time affect our focus, character
and progress. Those who spend quality time with
pessimists usually focus on obstacles and tend to settle for
less than the best. We therefore can live to the maximum
of the kind of people God wants us to be if we take to His
directions, also take directions from good inspirational
books, authors and academic literatures.
To a very good and reasonable extent, men have been
able to influence his fellow men with his acts of
commitment, value and way of life.
Like the popular adage, two heads are better than one.
This book has brought together several men and ideas
with large minds, the author himself (Olakunle.O.Paul)
and others to explain in details important and vital prices
to be paid to be successful academically.
The book tagged ―Price for academic success‖ contains
various sections such as the spiritual cost that explains the
number one factor, the intellectual cost that tells about
different experiences, exposures to working environment,
diligence and the powerful inner mind factor.
Everyone born into this world naturally and selfishly
thirsts for academic success. This success is well
celebrated in the environment that teaches how to read
and write. For everyone that wants to be successful
academically, his/her inner mind should showcase and
express success and condemn failure.
Like it was earlier said, several persons with large
intellectual minds have brought various ideas from
experience, exposure, personal relationships to preparing
this book to save the dying souls and revive them to live
again. People shouldn’t just come together for any sake
than to share experiences, important information that will
prepare and project man into a successful, sustaining and
safe future.
Price for academic success is costly but when paid, it is
rewarding.
FALABAKE Abiodun Michael
Education Consultant
Nigeria
 PREFACE
It is a well known fact that every students’ ultimate goal
and desire is to have academic success. After all, their
primary assignment in school – for those who really
understands – is academics. So, achieving remarkable
success in academics, as a student, should not be an
option but a necessity.
However, you need to understand that as highly good and
desirable academic success is, it has a price. Those who
have had it did not just come by it. No! They worked for
it. Of course, you know that nothing worthwhile comes
without a price tag. For every good, great and wonderful
things of life, there are prices to pay. Bishop David
Oyedepo of the living Faith Church remarked, “some
people think I’m just lucky. If you are as worky as I am,
you will be as lucky as I am”. This man was trying to say
that his success today, to the glory of God, was a function
of the prices he has paid. When we look at some great and
successful people, we tend to admire their success and
achievements but little do we take time to consider the
journey they went through before they achieved. Someone
wisely observed, “if you think success is a luck, ask any
failure” which means: if you believe that those who are
successful are just lucky and favored, then you have just
told yourself a Big lie. Listen to anyone that has, in one
way or other, failed, then you will understand that
achieving success in life is not a matter of luck; it is a
matter of cause and effect. You don’t just walk into it.
Rather you work your way into it. The room of success,
they say – and which I so much believe – is the largest
room in the world, but few people get there. What an
irony! This is because only few people are ready to pay
the price to get there. Many only remain at the beginning
of the road – of success – where they desire and aspire,
but never take any step to acquire.
This book is computed mainly to enable you understand
the fundamental prices which are crucially needed to be
paid, for you to be academically successful. It contains
some quotes from several wise men, which can inspire
and motivate you for success. Actually, God laid it in my
heart to write this book for the primary purpose of
enlightening students – basically at the undergraduate
level – as to the things that are very pivotal to being
successful in academics with regards to the prices that
need to be paid and sacrifices to be made. However, the
scope of this book is not limited to students at the
undergraduate level alone. It is equally of great advantage
to students at other lower level of education who wants to
excel in their academic pursuits.
 INTRODUCTION
“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant
man, seeking goodly pearls: Who, when he had found
one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had,
and bought it.”
– Matt. 13:45-46.
Jesus, in this short parable told of a merchant man who
went about seeking goodly pearls. He eventually found
one, but it was of a great price. Then, in a desperate
attempt to get these pearls, which he had so much desired
to have, he sold all that he had, and went to bought it.
Note that the Bible calls it goodly pearls. This is telling us
that every good and precious things of this life comes
with a price. Anything that is worthwhile and valuable
must have a price tag. The price, as dictated by the seller,
based on the nature of the treasure, must be paid for you
to get it. This man sold ALL he had. If he had not offered
to pay the price, he wouldn’t have acquired the goodly
pearls.
Academic success, which is of course to a student, a
goodly Pearl, comes with a price. Actually, it is very
good to have the desire to be successful academically. All
you have to know is that there is a costly price you have
to pay. Aristotle remarked, “The fruits of education are
sweet but the root is bitter”. Fact! The prize of academic
success is good but there is always a bitter ransom to pay.
And like I said in one of my quotes, “The one who gets to
the top of the mountain pays the highest price in
climbing”. Those who make it to the top in their
academics are those who are ready to pay the required
price, like that merchant man. If you are not ready to pay
the price, then you are yet not ready to get the prize. Some
times ago, speaking with a very good brother and mentor
of mine, who happened to be the best graduating student
of his faculty in the year he graduated – Faculty of
Agriculture, Federal University Oye Ekiti, to be precise –
and he was sharing with me, how he made it to the top
academically. He said that merit has a reward, but you
have to work for it. He continued by saying while he was
in school, he was so much addicted to vigorous reading
and studying. In fact, he said that he would enter into the
examination hall with 101% confidence. Look at that! He
was never afraid of any examination, because he knew he
had prepared adequately – paying the price. Of course, if
you ask so many so called ―gurus‖ of our day, they will
all have one or two things to tell you about the price they
paid for their success. Academic success, actually, is not a
difficult thing to achieve. In fact, it is very easy to acquire
as a student. But you have to determine within yourself
(Body, Soul and Spirit) to pay the price for it. The bridge
between you desiring it and you acquiring it is the price
that needs to be paid. Though, it may not be easy, but
trust me you will enjoy the reward when it comes. It is
always good to be successful as a student.
Continue with me as we journey together along, the road
to being successful academically. I like to take you
through some things that you need to understand, and
some basic prices you will need to pay if you must be
academically successful as a student in school.
 CHAPTER ONE
THE SPIRITUAL COST
“According as his divine power hath given unto us all
things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the
knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and
virtue”
– 2 Pet. 1:3
From the above scriptural verse, we understand that God
has given all things – academic success inclusive – unto
us. But, those things, the Bible says, can only be assessed
through the knowledge of him that has called you into
glory and virtue. Who is that person? God! That means,
you need to know, have and believe in God if you really
want to achieve academic success as a student. You need
to be connected to your spiritual root – God – in order to
bear much fruits of academic success.
You see, the truth is that: the first and the most crucial
price you will need to pay for you to be academically
successful is the spiritual price. I like you to understand
that life, itself, is spiritual. And for you to really achieve
anything – academic success inclusive – in life, you have
to be spiritual. There are some levels you can never, by
your own ability, get to if you are not spiritual. It is not
everything that can be logically and psychologically
explained. There are so many things that even you,
yourself, will not understand how they happen. You will
just discover that they happen. It is one thing to put in
your very best and efforts. It is another thing for those
efforts of yours to be fruitful. There are some students
who failed some courses or got some grades that were far
below what they could have got – based on their level of
preparation – for some unexplainable reasons. It is not
that they didn’t study hard or prepare adequately, but one
way or the other, they just realized that they got below
expectations. This is where the spiritual comes to play.
You know what? Life, like I said earlier, is spiritual.
Unless you are spiritually prepared with God, you may
find it difficult to be academically successful.
Hear what the Bible says, “Then he answered and spake
unto me, saying, This is the word of the Lord unto
Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by
my spirit, saith the Lord of hosts.” – Zech. 4:6. It is not
just a matter of your efforts in reading and vigorous
studying. No! It’s beyond that. It is a matter of getting
into partnership with God, and having a relationship with
him. As that scripture says; it is by the spirit of God.
There is always a spiritual price to pay in the course of
one’s destiny.
THE GOD FACTOR
Listen, to achieve success in school is not what you can
simply do on your own. No! You need the help of God.
Without God, the race will be very much difficult and
tedious. If you want to be successful, the God factor is not
just an option; it is a necessity. This is because success – I
mean genuine success – comes from God only. It is only
with God on your side that you can be successful
academically. Hear what the Bible says in Psalm. 75:6,
“For promotion cometh neither from the east, nor from
the west, nor from the south”.Where then does it come
from? “For by thee I have run through a troop: by my
God have I leaped over a wall” – 2 Sam. 22:30. It
definitely comes from God. As you can see, the psalmist
acknowledged the fact that all his victories were made
possible by God “by thee”. There is rarely anything you
can achieve in school without having God’s support.
Jesus Christ, himself, said, “….for without me, ye can do
nothing” – John. 15:3. It is a fact: you can hardly do
anything worthwhile academically without God.
There were a group of young men, Daniel, Hananiah
(Shadrach), Mishael (Meshach) and Azariah (Abednego)
by name, in the scriptures who happened to be exiles in a
strange country called Babylon. Actually, they, together
with their people – the jews – were taken captive by the
then king of Babylon – Nebuchadnezzar. They were
however academically distinguished among, not only
their people, but also the Babylonians. The Bible has this
to say of them, “And in all matters of wisdom and
understanding, that the king enquired of them, he found
them ten times better than all the magicians and
astrologers that were in all his realm.”– Dan. 1:20. Did
you see that? The scripture says they were ten times
better. They were so much distinguished academically
that not even the astrologers, magicians and other great
intellectuals of their day could meet up with their level of
academic success. But wait. These people did not just
become what they became. They paid the spiritual price.
They had a relationship with God, and they never allowed
anything to affect the relationship. “As for these four
children, God gave them knowledge and skill in all
learning and wisdom… ” – Dan. 1:17.
So, you see that it was God that gave them the spectacular
knowledge and skill which outsmart that of their
colleagues. If they had not been in a relationship with
God, they wouldn’t have had a hedge over their mates as
much as that. In fact, one of them – Daniel – would later
defend his faith against the decree of the king in spite of
the death penalty – to be thrown into a lion’s den – that
was attached. He preferred to lose his life rathaer than
lose his faith. He was as serious with God as that!
Without you having a relationship with God, I’m afraid
you may never achieve success in your academics. This is
because he is the only one that can help you. Sometimes,
your lecturers may just decide to favor everybody because
of you. Where others are having one difficulty or the
other like: missing of script, errors in marking, computer
technicalities, mass failure, etc., you will not be affected,
because you are not the only one; God is solidly with you.
If you are yet to have a relationship with God, I’ll advise
you do that now. There is absolutely nothing as important
as that. In fact, every other thing we shall be looking at in
this book is hinged on this factor – relationship with God.
Now is the best time for you to get your ways right with
God, for you can hardly do anything without having
God’s backing. Hear this: “Except the Lord build the
house, they labour in vain that build it: except the Lord
keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain.”–
Psalms. 127:1. Except God works with you, things may
not work. Hence, the need for you to establish a
relationship with God through his son, and he will help
you in your academics. Interestingly, this relationship was
actually initiated by God himself. He sought for you
earlier and he paid the price for you to know him on the
cross. “We love him, because he first loved us” – 1 John
4:19. Would like you to respond to this love of God so
that you can establish a relationship with him? Then you
have to surrender your life to Jesus. He is not one of the
ways; but the only way! He is all you have got to enter
into a relationship with God. Surrender yourself to him,
and receive his life into your life. Would you like to do
that now? Then say these words of prayers:
Lord Jesus, I come to you today. I realize am a
sinner, doomed for eternal damnation and
condemnation. I receive your love into my heart
today as I accept you as my Lord and personal
Savior. I believe in my heart that you came to this
world to die for my sins and that you rose up on the
third day. Lord Jesus, I confess you today as my
Lord and Savior. Cleanse my sins and forgive my
iniquities. Thank you for saving my soul. In Jesus
name I pray Amen.

If you have successfully done that, congratulations!

You have entered into a new life. Your relationship
with God is established. Get closer to God, forsake
your sins, and find a Bible believing and living
church to begin to attend in order to grow in the
relationship. Success is yours in Jesus name.
THE NECCESITY OF PRAYER
Having entered into a relationship with God, which is the
first and the most crucial price in acquiring academic
success, there is yet another thing which is very much
indispensable. It is prayer!
It commonly said that to pray as if you never read, and to
read as if you never prayed is one of the keys to passing
any examination. That is nothing but the truth! The
significance of prayer – which is a means of
communicating with God – in being successful
academically, cannot be overemphasized. Prayer makes
things work even when it seems impossible. Prayer moves
the hand of God into your academic life. When you
become addicted to prayer, you will be flowing in the
realm of success in your academics. Prayer shows your
dependability on God, and not on yourself. And do you
know what? That’s the key – depending on God! The
Bible says, “And they that know thy name will put their
trust in thee: for thou, Lord, hast not forsaken them that
seek thee” – Psalm. 9:10. When you put your trust in
God, and you seek him in prayers, he will never forsake
you in your academics. God also says, “But let all those
that put their trust in thee rejoice: let them ever shout
for joy, because thou defendest them: let them also that
love thy name be joyful in thee.” You see that. All who
put their trust in God in prayers – not those whose trust is
in themselves alone – will forever shout for joy because
the Lord will always defend them. Even when others are
failing, you will never be part of them. Jesus Christ told
his disciples, “And in that day, ye shall ask me nothing.
Verily, verily I say unto you, whatsoever ye shall ask the
father in my name, he will give it to you” – John. 16:23.
Note the word ―whatsoever‖ do you want academic
success? Then ask God in faith and purity. Again He said,
“Therefore I say unto you, what things soever ye desire,
when ye PRAY, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall
have them”.– Mark. 11:24. The key word there is
―prayer‖.
However, note that prayer does not remove hard work. It
only brings God’s involvement. It makes you to be in
partnership with God. And when you are in partnership
with God, success is inevitable. Prayer is the key to
unlock the supernatural in your academics. Create an
atmosphere of prayer for yourself, and you will see
yourself walking in academic success.
 CHAPTER TWO
THE INTELLECTUAL COST
The second most vital important price to pay in gaining
success in your academics is the intellectual cost. This has
to do with both intensive and extensive studying. Like I
said earlier, the spiritual cost does not remove the hard
work, neither does it mean that you should not study. It
only helps to bring God’s involvement into your efforts.
There is absolutely no question about the fact that
studying is indispensably required for you to be
academically successful. Nothing else can take the place
of studying hard. After all, what you are primarily in
school for is your academics. So you have to be very
much serious with your studies in school. Never allow
anything, whatsoever, to get you distracted. Of course,
you will encounter quite a lot of distractions but your
determination to succeed will enable you to ignore and
pay no attention to them.
To be successful academically, you have to study hard.
Read as if your life depends only on it. Never joke with
assignments, classwork, miscellaneous exercises which
you will be given to by your lecturers. Don’t ever ignore
them, for they count greatly. Though, it will cost you your
time, comfort and some other pleasurable things on
campus, it is actually worth it. Put in your best effort in
reading and studying. As soon as you are getting relevant
materials, make sure you read and study them extensively.
It takes serious and vigorous reading to secure a glorious
academic destiny. Go and ask any First Class Grade
student, and you will discover the First Class investments
in their studies places them in a first class rating in class.
They read and study! You cannot afford to do less if you
want to be rated among the excellent also. Apostle Paul
while admonishing the young Timothy said, ―Study to
shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that
needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of
truth”. For him to be approved, he had to study. The
apostle made him to realize that, as a young preacher,
studying was needed for him to be successful in his
calling. Though he had the spiritual requirement, the
intellectual cost was equally necessary. Study is the
command if you want to be approved. Here are some few
tips you need to know about effective and productive
studying:
1. Read Strategically
It is one thing to read hard, it is another thing to read
smart. You don’t just read. Your reading and studying
must be strategically planned if you want them to be
productive. It is advisable you have a very good reading
plan. Try and develop a working personal time table. It
gives you focus and direction. Strategize and plan how
you study depending on the number of courses you take.
Some of those courses carry higher units than the rest.
Dedicate much attention to those ones which have higher
units because they have greater effect on your cumulative
grade point average (CGPA). Take them very serious,
though not at the expense of other courses with lesser
units. Strategic reading is needed if your reading must be
productive.
2. Read Systematically
Your reading must be carried out in a planned and
ordered manner. Don’t just read haphazardly. Let your
reading be systematic. Follow laid out plans and order
while reading. Develop a good personal study time table
for yourself. This will enable your studying to be ordered
and well planned. Also, while studying, ensure you are in
concordance with your courses outlines, which are the list
of the topics you will be treating in those courses. Try and
make sure you are consistent with the lectures in class.
Never miss them, for they count greatly. This is what can
make your reading effective.
3. Evaluate your readings
As you are reading, it is important for you to constantly
evaluate and assess yourself. Many students fail, not
because they don’t read, but they don’t evaluate their
comprehension of what they read. Evaluation is done by
treating relevant questions. Past questions are very much
useful, as they help you to understand the mode of asking
questions, and also make you understand the questions
which are likely to be asked in examinations. Solve
problems on what you read for easy comprehension.
These are some few things that can make your study
effective. Intellectual cost is highly indispensable if you
want to be academically successful.
 CHAPTER THREE
DISCIPLINE
One of the most crucial price you must pay for you to be
successful academically is discipline. Discipline is doing
what is right at the expense of what you like. It is an act
of subjecting yourself to some set of self-imposed rules
and standards in order to achieve a goal. Note: discipline
without a goal is nothing but self punishment. You must
have a goal in mind – short-term or long-term, general or
specific, personal or collective, etc. As a student, if your
primary and ultimate goal is to achieve success in your
academics, discipline, then, is not an option but a
necessity. You seriously need discipline to get to your
destination. An athlete – especially one who is leading –
running on a track will of course be tempted to look at the
spectators and his fans to just wave them, but discipline
will keep his heart and mind totally fixed at the
destination. You can hardly make good grades in your
academics if you are not a disciplined fellow. It is a price
you must pay. In school – tertiary institutions particularly
– there are so many distractions. So many things will
actually come your way to distract you and get you off
track. But, you must, in discipline, take your stand, and
refuse to give them attention.
 The significance of discipline in being successful cannot
be overemphasized. So many successful people today
who have become great celebrities understand the
indispensability of discipline in being successful. Apostle
Paul while speaking to the Corinthian church said, “And
every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in
all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown;
but we an incorruptible. But I keep under my body, and
bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I
have preached to others, I myself should be a
castaway.”– 1Cor. 9:25, 27. Note: everyone who striveth
for the MASTERY (excellence and success) is
TEMPERATE (disciplined). If you are really striving for
excellence, then you must indeed be disciplined.
Everyone is actually in the race for excellence but only
those who subject themselves to serious discipline will get
the crown – of glory, excellence and success. He (Apostle
Paul), himself, said he kept his body under subjection.
That is discipline. Our bodies naturally gravitate towards
a thing that bring pleasure and involves less stress. But,
excellence can never be achieved if your body is not
tamed in discipline. Discipline it or else it will deal with
you in future. He continued by saying, “….after he had
preached to others, he himself should not be a cast
away”. Imagine how tragic it would be if he did not
eventually get to the very place – heaven – for which he
spent his whole life turning people to. He was so much
conscious of his ending that he really disciplined himself.
No wonder he said at the end of his life, “For I am now
ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at
hand. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my
course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid
up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the
righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me
only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.” – 2
Timothy 4:6-8. It was indeed a fight for him. He fought
for it with his whole life and joyfully he said of the crown
that awaited him.
The truth is that academic success is not what you can just
fold your hands and get. No! You have to fight and strive
to get it so that you too may joyfully receive the crown of
success that will be rewarded. The period of discipline
might be painful actually, as it will restrict you from so
many things you would feel like doing. But, hear what the
scripture says, “For our light affliction, which is but for
a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and
eternal weight of glory” – 2Cor.4:17. There is an eternal
glory of success that awaits you. Let your focus be on the
goal. s a student whose goal is academic success, these
are some of the areas where you will need to apply
discipline:
1. SOCIAL MEDIA
It is a well known fact one of the major distractions to
students in this contemporary world is the social media.
It has so much influenced the lives of the youth that
many have become so much addicted to it. Yes! I mean
addicted. Actually, there is nothing wrong with the use
of the social media. It is a welcome development in this
computer age. And it, of course, tends to confer some
social advantages and benefits on the individual. The
social media is a very good medium through which you
communicate effectively with people, meet new people,
get in touch with old friends, see what is happening
around the world, getting informed and staying
informed, etc. However, as good as it may be, it has
some dangerous implications if you are not disciplined
in using it. It can distract your attention and waste your
precious time. So many students find it difficult to read
and study their books for hours, but they would have
the time to chat and lose focus for hours, wasting their
precious time on the altar of sociality. You need to
discipline yourself on your use of the social media.
Don’t get too much addicted to it that you now neglect
your primary assignment.
2. PLACES YOU VISIT
You also need to discipline yourself in visiting places.
You don’t just go anywhere anytime. Going to places
like parties dinner nights, clubs, unnecessary birthday
parties while on campus will not only make your dream
of being academically successful an illusion, but will
also adversely affect your performances. Unnecessary
visitations waste time. It makes you lose concentration
and focus. In fact, it even predisposes you to dangers
especially night parties. Other than classes, church, and
some other necessary places, your going out to other
places must be genuinely purposeful. Do not be so
irresponsible that you will now neglect your primary
aim in school. There are lot of assignments to do, books
to read and new things to learn. So, why the
unnecessary visitation. Be wise!
3. THE USE OF YOUR TIME
You must carefully planned how to judiciously use your
time. Be disciplined enough to make wise use of your
most valuable commodity – time. Time, they say, waits
for no man. Whatever you invest into it determines
what becomes of you. If you are a kind that waste time
or you just live your life spontaneously – living by the
demands of the day – without plans as to how to use
your time, academic success is far from you. Have you
ever taken note of the fact that your entire stay in
school has been time tabled. Yes, your life is already
time tabled! Either you like it or not, you will, one day,
leave the school. Whatever you now do with your time,
how disciplined you are in its use will determine your
outcome in school – success or failure. Those who are
success minded know the preciousness and
pricelessness of time. They don’t just waste it doing
irrelevant things. Rather, they spend it on the relevant
ones. This is what you also need to be academically
successful. Be disciplined in your use of time, because,
as a student, your time is your life.
These and some other areas are where discipline is
greatly needed if you really want to be academically
successful.
 CHAPTER FOUR
DILLIGENCE
One of the most essential ingredients of success in all
spheres of life is diligence. This is a character that can not
be found lacking in the lives of those who are highly
successful especially in academics. The fact is that it is so
indispensable and critical to your success in academics.
You cannot just do without it, if you really want to be
academically successful. Diligence is the desire to commit
your efforts, time, energy and resources into doing
something well. It is that inward urge that drives and
motivates you towards putting in your best in any
endeavor of life. It is very much pivotal to one’s success
in academics. To be diligent is to be conscientious,
determined, prudent, meticulous, etc.
The Bible speaking says, “ Whatsoever thy hand findeth
to do, do it with thy might…” – Eccl.9:10. Even the
scripture recognizes the significance of diligence. What
your hands have found to do, as a student, is your
academics. So, do it with all your might. Put in great
effort, because, for you to be the best, you have to input
your best. Diligence is required for you to make real and
outstanding marks in your academics. You cannot just do
without it. Without diligence, success is nothing but an
illusion. Whenever I sit down, and think of those who
made outstanding records in various academic endeavors,
I discover that one thing that is denominational to them is
diligence – the thirst, hunger and the desire to do well in
their chosen fields of endeavor. If you must be successful
academically also, you need to be diligent. Hear what the
scriptures says again, “Seest thou a man diligent in his
business? he shall stand before kings; he shall not stand
before mean men” – Prov. 22:29. For you to stand before
kings, dignitaries, men of honor and influential
personalities, you must be diligent. When you are diligent
in your academics, you are sure to be successful in your
academics.
As discussed in the first chapter that God is the highest
determining factor in one’s academic success. It is,
however, not an excuse for you not to put in your own
best, and work hard. In fact the Blessing of God only
comes on the work of your hands. “And the Lord thy God
will make thee plenteous in every WORK of thine hand,
in the fruit of thy body, and in the fruit of thy cattle, and
in the fruit of thy land, for good: for the Lord will again
rejoice over thee for good, as he rejoiced over thy
fathers” – Deut. 28:9. Note that the Lord will only make
you plenteous in every work of thine hand. That means,
without the work, the blessing of success is not
guaranteed. And besides, you can only be successful in
what you do not what you don’t do. So, you have a role to
play. And you need to be diligent in it. Here are some few
things that can enable you to be diligent in your academic
endeavor:
DETERMINATION
Determination is a very critical factor you need to put into
consideration for you to be successful academically. It is
an essential ingredient of success, and without it, you
cannot be diligent. It is the personal resolution to achieve
an aim or a goal. Determination is what sets you in
motion towards a desired destination. It is what energizes
you to follow through, to the end, what you have started
in the beginning. Diligence in academics is a function of
determination. Whatever you are not determined to do or
achieve, you cannot be diligent in it. In fact, you will not
take it serious. When I look at some students who are not
serious with their life and their academics there is one
thing I see in them; it is lack of determination to succeed.
If they are really determined to succeed, nobody will need
to force them to do the needful. You first have to be
vehemently determined to achieve success. This is what
will enable you to put in your efforts and your very best,
and you are sure to achieve success.
During my 100 level second semester period, I took a
course, by name, MTH 102 – which was all about
calculus (differentiation and integration) – a topic in
further mathematics. This was a topic I had no
background knowledge of because I didn’t offer further
mathematics in secondary school. However, I had a strong
determination within me that I would pass the course with
distinction. This led to me putting my very best and effort
in knowing it. I studied it personally, listened very
attentively in class, engaged in so many miscellaneous
exercises, all in a bid to understand it. And do you know
what? I understood it even to the extent that I became a
tutor for my colleagues. Eventually, with every sense of
humility, and to the glory of God, I had an A in the
course. This is the result of determination and diligence.

PERSEVERANCE
Another thing I would like you to understand about
diligence – a requirement for academic success – is this:
there might be discouragement. In fact, there will be times
when you will feel like quitting or just settling for
average. This is when you hear most students say, ―the
course is just too tasking‖, ―if only I can just have a C‖, ―I
can’t just kill myself jare, I should just have a D and do
away with the course‖. Do not join them in making such
statements of failure and contentment with average. In
moments, like this, what you need is to persevere. This is
what keeps you putting your efforts regardless of the
pains and discouragement. No matter what happens, just
keep your focus on your goal. Do not give up. You will
definitely make it. The fact that nobody has ever passed
the course excellently does not mean that you can’t pass
it. Be diligent in your studies, and you will achieve
success.

SET LARGE GOALS

One other thing that you need to do in order to be diligent
is to set large goals for yourself. The intensity of your
goals determines the gravity of your diligence and
preparation. When you have large goals, and you really
want to achieve them, you will have no choice than to be
diligent. It is better to aim high and miss than to aim low
and hit. The higher you aim, the more diligent you
become. Something that is not strong enough to wake you
up from sleep is not a goal. Study your courses very well.
Set the grades you want for each of them. Write it out and
keep it where you will be daily reminded. Let it become
part of you. Keep thinking it every time. And, before you
know anything, you will become so much conscious of
them that you would want to do your best in order to
achieve the goals.
Diligence, as we have discussed is an indispensable
requirement for academic success. You need it for you to
stand out and take the lead. It is a price you must pay.
 CHAPTER FIVE
THE POWER OF MINDSET
Having gone through the following factors,
aforementioned above, that are necessary for you to
achieve academic success, there is yet another one which
is very necessary and fundamental. It is your mindset.
Success, as I have discovered, is more of the mind than
physical. Your mindset is a strong determining factor,
because it makes up your attitude and it directs your
action. If you want to be successful, you must be success-
full. That is you must be full of success, in the sense that,
your mindset must be centered on success. If it is not
conceivable, it cannot be achievable. Your mindset is very
powerful, as it controls everything you do. Hear what the
scripture says, “For as he thinketh in his heart, so is
he….” – prov. 23:7. The Bible affirms that what you
think is what you are. The way you see yourself
determines the principles you live by. If you see yourself
as a first class student, you will begin to live by the
principles of being a first class student.
One of the fundamental reasons – as I have so far
discovered – why many students fail is that they have a
wrong mindset. The kind of mindset they have of their
courses is very bad. In fact, they have already failed in
their heart before they go into examination hall. If you
must be successful, it has to start from your mind. There
is need for you to understand this so that the seeds of your
efforts and sacrifices will find a good ground – right
mindset – to grow. No matter how much price you pay in
being academically successful, if you don’t have the right
mindset, you may not achieve success. You need to have
a proper mindset if you want to be successful.
“Thy servant slew both the lion and the bear: and this
uncircumcised Philistine shall be as one of them, seeing
he hath defiled the armies of the living God.” –
1Sam.17:36. This was David’s response to King Saul,
when he (Saul) was anxious of what would become of
David if he went to face Goliath. David had the mindset
of victory before going to the battle. He already defeated
Goliath in his heart before he went into the combat with
him. He was never concerned about the superiority of
Goliath’s martial dexterity, neither, was he discouraged
with his own lack of open combat experience with the
supposed best warrior of the day – Goliath. He just
believed in God, and he had the right kind of mindset.
When he later got into the battle field with Goliath, you
too know what happened. The rest is history.
The power of mindset is very much crucial in whatever
you do in life. Academic success must first be conceived
in your mind before it can be actualized. This is because
whatever your mindset is, about anything, is what you
naturally gravitate towards. If your mindset is failure, you
will see yourself failing. Truly, others may be
complaining and lamenting about that course, but do not
join them. Rather, develop the right mindset for it, and
begin to make positive confessions. What you believe is
what become your attitude, your habits, your life style and
your actions. I can never imagine myself not reading and
studying adequately and effectively before any test or
exams. This is because I have set my mind to succeed,
and, so I expect nothing less than success. Therefore, I
will do the needful – pay the price, as discussed so far –
so that what I have set my mind to can be actualized.
Your mind is your life. Set your mind to success, and you
will see yourself achieving it.
 CHAPTER SIX
QUOTABLE QUOTES ON ACADEMIC SUCCESS
The greatest barrier to success is the fear of failure.
– Sven Goran Erickson
Success means having the courage, the determination, and
the will to become the person you believe you were meant
to be
– George Sheehan
Be satisfied with nothing but your best
– Edward Roland Sill
Success is a state of mind. If you want success, start
thinking of yourself as a success
– Dr. Brothers
Productivity is never an accident. It is always the result of
a commitment to excellence, intelligence and focused
effort
– Paul J. Meyer
Desire is the key to motivate, but it is determination and
commitment to an unrelenting pursuit of your goal – a
commitment to excellence – that will enable you to attain
the success you seek
– Marlo Andretti
Success is not the key to happiness. Happiness is the key
to success. If you love what you are doing, you will be
successful
– Herman Cain
Success is not final, failure is not fatal; it is the courage to
continue that counts
– Winston Churchill
I have failed over and over again in my life, and that is
why I succeeded
– Michael Jordan
Action is the foundational key to all success
– Pablo Picasso
I couldn’t wait for success, so I went ahead without it
– Jonathan Winters
Success seems to be largely of hanging on after others
have let go
– William Feather
You have to learn the rules of the game. And then, you
have to play better than anyone else
– Albert Einstein
Excellence is not a singular act, but a habit. You are what
you repeatedly do
– Shaquille Oneal
Success is simple. Do what is right, the right way, at the
right time
– Arnold H Glasgow
Success is focusing the full power of all you are on what
you have a burning desire to achieve
– Wilfred Peterson
To succeed in life, you need two things: ignorance and
confidence
– Mark Twain
Striving for success without hard work is like trying to
harvest where you have not planted
– David Bly
To succeed, you need to find something to hold on to,
something to motivate you, something to inspire you
– Tony Dorsetter
Anyone who has ever made anything of importance was
disciplined
– Andrew Hendrix Son
What you get by achieving your goals is not as important
as what you get by becoming your goals
– Henry David Thoreau
Things work out best for those who make the best of how
things work out.
— John Wooden
Genius is 1% inspiration, 99% perspiration.
— Thomas Edison
When your desires are strong enough, you will appear to
possess superhuman powers to achieve.
― Napoleon Hill
When you set your mind to achieve something, you must
allow yourself the opportunity to get it done.
― Tasha Hoggatt
Only those who attempt the absurd can achieve the
impossible.
― Albert Einstein
The will to win, the desire to succeed, the urge to reach
your full potential. These are the keys that will unlock the
door to personal excellence.
— Eddie Robinson
If you must be successful you have to be success-full
(possess a success mindset)
– Olakunle Paul
The key to becoming your best is doing beyond your best
– Olakunle Paul
The fundamental key in being the best is believing in
yourself
– Olakunle Paul
It doesn’t matter where or who you are, you can make a
difference
– Olakunle Paul
You are not categorized a success until failure becomes a
success through you
– Falabake Michael
Successful people see success as an opportunity while
unsuccessful people see failure as an historical family rite
– Falabake Michael

I am of the strong belief that you have, so far, been

properly oriented as to the prices that are needed to be
paid for one to be academically successful in school. Like
I said earlier, the joy of learning in school is to achieve
academic success. We have so far discussed how this can
be possible. Reading and having this book is good, but
that is not all. Applying the principles therein is what
makes your effort in reading the book productive and
effective. With all sense of humility, these are the things
I, myself, practiced during my 100level days and it
worked for me to the glory of God. Now, I am in my 2nd
year, and it is still working for me. I believe very strongly
that it will also work for you if you can diligently apply
them. I pray the almighty God will grant you academic
success in Jesus name. May you be successful in all areas
of your academic life. It is also my prayer that the Lord
will help you to be academically distinguished. Thank
you so much for reading. God bless you.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Olakunle Paul Orimaye is an
undergraduate student of the
Federal University Oye Ekiti,
Department of Hospitality and
Tourism Management, Faculty of
Agriculture. He is a writer and a
dedicated lover of God. He has
written some write ups among
which are: success begins with
your mindset, deciding your eternal destiny, creating
your future, trusting God for your future,
procrastination, your most precious commodity. Visit
his website @ www.olakunlepaul.blogspot.com.ng to read
many of his write ups.
For more enquiries: +2348100624927
Email: olakunleorimaye@gmail.com
Facebook: Orimaye olakunle
Twitter: @Orimayepaul7
Watch out for ― LIVING A LIFE OF PURPOSE‖