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The Lion King | 41
In fulfillment of this promise, on
February 28, 2013, the MD of UBA
Foundation led a delegation to
the Crescent College, located in
the highbrow 1004 Estate, Victoria
Island, Lagos in search of AbdulAzeez
Balogun, who is a student of the
school. Ms. Aso informed some staff
of the school of her Foundation’s
quest to reward AbdulAzeez who had
written on a topic titled ‘My Plans for
the Educational Sector in Nigeria’. She
informed them that the Foundation
was delighted to present a Braille
Machine to the visually impaired
student.
The donation, according to her was
in recognition of Balogun’s braveness,
sagacity and sense of purpose, as
exemplified by his commitment to
partake in the essay competition
despite the challenges posed by his
disability. “The Foundation and United
Bank for Africa Plc are encouraged by
the efforts of AbdulAzeez, hence our
resolve to present this gift to him as an
encouragement to wider students”,
she said.
A surprised AbdulAzeez said he has
been further inspired by the good
gesture. He thanked his parents,
the school and UBA Foundation for
providing an opportunity to express
himself and bring out his ability,
saying “As the popular notion goes,
there is ability in disability. This would
further encourage me in my efforts
to dwarf the challenges posed by my
conditions.”
The Vice Principal of Crescent
College, Mr. Mahmud Abdul Ganiy
acknowledged the determination
of AbdulAzeez, in ensuring he
participates in all activities, no matter
how challenging the task is. He said
he was not surprised that Balogun
participated in the competition, as he
is a very brilliant student.
The delighted mother of AbdulAzeez,
Kudirat Balogun, who had been
invited by the School to witness the
presentation, could not hide her joy
and appreciation. “AbdulAzeez is a
good boy and a joy to us as parents.
As attested to by the school, I am not
surprised he resolved to partake in
this competition. He has continuously
raised the bar on challenges posed
by his disability”, AbdulAzeez’s mother
said.
S
tart with what you have, not with what you
don’t have. Opportunity is always where you
are never where you were. To get anywhere
you must launch out for somewhere, or you will get
nowhere. Hamilton Mabie said, “the question for
each man to settle is not what he would do if he
had the means, time, influence, and education
advantages, but what he will do with the things he
has.” God will always give us an ability to create
what we need from something that is already here.
Each person tends to either underrate or overrate
that which they do not posses. Ed Howe said,
“People are always neglecting something they can
do and trying to do something they can’t do.” I
agree with Teddy Roosevelt when he said, “Do what
you can, with what you have, where you are.” The
only way to learn anything thoroughly is by starting
at the bottom (except when learning how to swim).
To be successful do what you can. Ken Keys Jr.
opines, “To be upset over what you don’t have is to
waste what you do have”.
The truth is that many are successful because they
didn’t have advantages others had. Successful
people accomplish more than others because
they make the best of every situation. According to
Epicurus, “Do not spoil what you have by desiring
what you have not; but remember that what you
now have was once among the things only hoped
for”. No improvement is as certain as that which
proceeds from the right and timely use of what you
already have. Mike Murdock believes that “whatever
God has already given to you will create anything
else He has promised to you.” Everyone who has
‘arrived’ has had to begin where they were.
The truth is, you can`t know what you can do or
achieve until you try. The most certain way to
achieve your dream is to start right where you are.
Feature
The Only
Place to Start
is Where
You Are
By Usanga Anthony