David’s charitable act may seem minor, but it empowered me to go forward in the face of adversity. While adjusting to college life is a common challenge, taking exams is one of the most stressful challenges students face. Recently, BOMCA Academy students took their annual WAEC exam, a national exam required for entry to universities in Nigeria.
Just as David went the extra mile to help me adjust to life at college, so did the teachers of BOMCA help our students prepare for their exams. During the weeks-long preparation, the teachers actually lived on school premises with the students to tutor them in exam subjects like mathematics, civic education, and literature!
“My teachers made a lot of extra time to guide us on how to answer the exam questions correctly, and also taught us best practices to employ during the examinations,” said student Madu Prince-David. The teachers’ dedication and attention to the students certainly paid off. “The results of the WAEC exams were excellent,” said BOMCA principal Maria Ndulor. “In mathematics, for example, all our students had distinctions.”
In addition to rigorous preparation and study of the exam subjects, instilling confidence played a big role in the students’ achievement. “We paid attention not only to the academics of the students, but also made sure they were confident enough in themselves to believe they could succeed,” principal Ndulor explained.
What BOMCA’s teachers did for their students for this exam reminds me of how my college friend David reached out and gave me the courage to go forward. Granted, a senior helping a freshman get acclimated to college isn’t the same as teachers preparing students for exams. But, our students were just as blessed through their teachers’ selfless service as I was through David’s.
They not only mastered the academics necessary to ace the WAEC exams, but also learned a key lesson in Servant Leadership (Mt. 20:26). “I have learned that being a leader means being able to serve others and I will never forget this and apply it in all aspects of my life”, Madu Prince-David says.
I’m sure you’ve had a teacher or just a friend like David really bless you at some point in your life, as a student or otherwise. Please MAKE A GIFT in that person’s honor to HEAL, so we can continue forming Servant Leaders after the Heart of Jesus!