Happy International Youth’s Day!
What transforming Education Really Means…
Do you remember the story of Jabez? Yes, Jabez in the Bible. Do you realized that the name Jabez only appear three times in the whole of scriptures? Yet, it is one name that easily comes to mind from the Bible when you think of a man who turned his life around, from zero to a hero, despite the sorrowful condition he was born in.
Before I continue the story of Jabez, with illustration that will blow your mind! Let’s see this;
This year’s 2019 International Youth’s Day focused on the theme; “Transforming Education” here is what came to my mind when I first saw that.
What exactly is education, especially as it relates to this age and century. According to Alvin Toffler:
“The illiterate of the 21st century will not be those who cannot read and write, but those who cannot learn, unlearn, and relearn.”
An illiterate today is not one without formal education, but one whose mind is closed to learning and growing.
The United Nations this year’s Sustainable Development Goal, SDG, among sixteen others centred around promoting formal, quality education among young people across the globe. While this is beautiful, do you also know that as long as this age is concern and the future of work, formal education is only a means to an end, and never an end.
And let me quickly establish a fact! Today’s formal education has nothing to do with a regimented schooling system locked up in the four walls of a classroom or school building.
See what one of my great mentors, Strive Masiyiwa has to say about this;
“Never before in history have people of all ages across Africa and the world been able to study and acquire cutting edge skills of the future from world class educator, without having to fly to distant lands. Young people like some of you may not realize how truly amazing this is.”
All around you are opportunities to be soundly and highly educated with little or no cash. All around you are opportunities to change your story and craft your place amongst royalty.
Now, here is to all young Africans, back to the story of Jabez, Jabez had every excuse to live complacently, to accept his fate, never discover purpose and die unfulfilled. The circumstance surrounding his birth already defined that. People, even his mother called him sorrowful, born into a deprived background, with little or nothing he could do to change things, or, so it seemed.
Jabez realised he didn’t have to accept all that. Yes, like Bill Gates said, it was not his fault that he was born poor, but did he had to die poor, would that eventually not be his fault?
Dear Africa Millennial Youth, I know there is so much fear, so much uncertainty, so much deprivations, not even some encouragement like the basic facilities, if only we had constant power supply, if only we had access to internet, if only we had an enabling environment, if only we had more privileges.. We could go on and on. I once had all that thought too, but I have trained myself to do better for me.. And you know;
Jabez had a change of story, and all he did was taking the first step, very simple step that transformed his entire life.
He realized he didn’t want to remain where he was, he wanted more. He realized things could change, things could be better. Trust me, it all starts from the mind. Some revealing transformation. Nothing can stop or hold back the power of a transformed mind.
He asked God for an enlargement, and God gladly grant him.
What have you asked God?
Can I shock you?
Did you know you could enlarge your territory, network, income, and influence? just as Jabez asked for, by taking the right steps in the right direction. Forget all those alibis, stop making excuses, work against the procrastination, fight that laziness.
Have a shift of mindset!
I don’t have too many reasons why I had to use the story of Jabez to illustrate this post, but one thing stands tall, the Africa plight is just as heartbreaking as the sorrowful background of Jabez. But, just like Jabez
Are you going to arise and create/craft a new course for yourself.
Jabez wasn’t the only one born into such horror and sorrow, but I guess majority of the numbers accepted their plight, lived with it, and died in it, if you ask me; “That was the real sorrow”
Why accept an unpleasant situation if you can change it, and yes! YOU CAN CHANGE IT.
Scripture didn’t record what steps Jabez took next after he had poured out his desires and request to God, but I am certain, it didn’t end there. It didn’t end with just a desire, but it all starts there.
What’s your desire? And
What are you going to do about it?
I saw an Infographic recently by the famous Tony Robbins and it reads; “America, another name for Opportunity” Ralph Waldo Emerson. Well, while that is very true, this is Mercy Omoregie saying;
“Africa, the land of Opportunity!”
What says you?
What do you see?
Transforming Education, A global goal, Sustainable Development Goal, SDG. United Nations. SDG for Africa.
Once more, Happy International Youth’s Day. Great You(th)!
To your transforming shift of mindset. Path to greatness and global impact…
Mercy Omoregie
Writer, Content Creator, Blogger
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