Don’t Quit…

A few years ago, I was preparing the kids for school; my husband was also upstairs getting ready for work. As I put the finishing touches on one of my kids’ hair in the dining area below, I heard my hubby call out, letting me know that my results had been released.

So you can guess the next question…so Dear..did I pass?

He kept quiet and briefly shared..you passed one part, but you were a few short of some points on the other. I knew immediately I would have to retake the exam. The exam was a 2-part exam, and one needs to pass both parts to be successful in the exam.

Was I disappointed? Oh Yes…but was I also relieved? Yes, because waiting for the result had triggered so much anxiety in me, and I was somewhat glad the waiting was over.

I remembered the day of the exam. I called my husband afterward and sobbed as I had never done, letting him know that I felt I had just written the most challenging exam for the first time in my life, not because I didn’t prepare enough but because I thought the time was not sufficient.

I also remembered a story my father told us while growing up. He shared about his friend. When they wrote their final exams at the university, my father said that he was far from the university campus when the result came out, and his friend wanted to relay the result to him. In those days.. the early 60’s, the fastest means of communication was to send a telegram, which was expensive, and you paid for it by counting the words to be sent. So, his friend sent him one and wrote.

“Jeje. You passed. I failed. His name.”

My father said he was sad when he received the telegram about his friend’s result; however, his friend did the exam again and passed and graduated a year after.

For me, I had to retake the exam. I did it again..even with four kids and working full time. I studied again and passed both parts to the glory of God. My hubby also saw the result first, but this time around, it was him that was anxious..lol and he asked me to check the result, and when I did…I saw the marks displayed on both parts.

I passed.

Are you perhaps wading through a difficult season? Are you contemplating giving up? Please, don’t. Remember that when you think about not making it through, remember how many times you have persevered and the victories from your past experiences, then forge positively ahead. Never forget that when life throws a stone at you, seize the opportunity to step on it to climb higher. Please, don’t give up.

Written by Ibukun Ogunsina, New Beginnings Barrie, Psychotherapy and Counselling Services. Website: www.newbeginningsbarrie.com
E-mail: inquiry@newbeginningsbarrie.com
Tel: +1 705 241 8456