adminShame Isaki
Whenever a good thing happens it’s not all or everyone who celebrates for one reason or the other. It’s generally accepted that in life you cannot please everyone and people are better advised never to try to do that because the end result will always be disappointment.
When you have done your best and are satisfied with your performance or achievement the starting point is to celebrate yourself, yes, be proud of yourself and acknowledge your performance lest no one ever comes to congratulate you. If they do come then celebrate with them and thank them for acknowledging you.
However don’t forget that there are those who will not be happy about your success, it could be relatives, neighbours, classmates, or competitors. Their resentment of your achievements must not put you down but instead should actually give you reason to even aim higher. One of Zimbabwe’s musical giants, the late Tongai ‘Dhewa’ Moyo penned this powerful song whose lyrics go like this ‘Ndimi munotipawo manyawi, ndimi munotipawo shungu idzo negodo renyu…….’ It’s true, jealous, criticism and envy inspires achievers. When you are unnecessarily ridiculed it becomes fuel for you to drive further ahead.
Manicaland once again has excelled academically with nearly a quarter of its schools making their way into the nation’s top 100 performing schools for the 2014 exams. Not only does Manicaland have such a huge number of top performers in the top 100 but we also have managed to scoop first and second position in the top 100. This is no mean achievement. Zvakangonakawo kutenda kana vamwe vaita zvakanaka.
It has almost become a tradition that Manicaland outperforms other provinces academically and the unfortunate thing though about these achievements is that there is nothing really to show for it in the province in terms of development and upliftment. While Nyanga High must be applauded for coming second nationally it is the consistency of St Faith Mission school that should be commended and encouraged.
St Faith has set such a high standard for themselves that it is going to be hard for them to accept mediocrity within their ranks. While this success cannot be guaranteed for ever for various reasons among them, management changes, operational dynamics and environmental changes, look at St Augustines, it used to rule the roost but now is lagging far behind, the foreseeable future belongs to St Faith if only they stay focused.
Those who are questioning St Faith’s achievements and trying to come up with different conspiracy theories are better off accepting reality and the reality is that St Faith are operating at another level, they have raised the standard and others better follow. Operating in the same country under the same economic conditions they still do manage to excel. While other schools are complaining about one thing after the other, St Faith is producing exceptional results and to show that they are not just doing things randomly they actually know why they are posting such good results. The Headmaster Mr Mukoyi had this to say “St Faith is currently enjoying what I shall term ‘an institutionalized momentum of success experience.’ This is an overarching passion for achievement that has become deeply rooted in the consciousness of staff, students and cascaded down to parents as well.
That hunger for academic success is a powerful motivator that inspires the school’s vision and shapes that practical implementation of every facet of school operations. It has been institutionalized to a culture, a traditional, a way of life such that a form one entrant at St Faith talks 15 points six years down the line even as novices to secondary school work”.
There we go. One of St Faith’s top achievers Masimba Munetsi who came out with 17 points majoring in Sciences had this to say and I quote, “Everything said and done one thing usually goes unmentioned about St Faith’s High.
The St. Faith students are prayer warriors, the boys pray! My school head boy Samuel Ngwarai as our leader always reminded us that all good things come from the Lord.
We had a prayer group as form 6s and we would meet regularly at church to pray. We would fast for several days as we knew the battle was not only about reading and working but, also for the good Lord to intervene….” What a powerful statement and testimony from a student. Put together all these things and you realize why St Faith is the best. Congratulations Manicaland, Congratulations St Faith, You are the best!
Shame Isaki is a preacher, business consultant and socio-political commentator. Can be contacted on 08644105117.
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