The “Stayability Quotient”
Enrolling in Samoei High School marked my first time at a boarding school, bringing forth the promise of new experiences and adventures away from the area I had called home all my life.
Arriving at 1 pm, we were greeted by a sunny day with a clear skyline, typical of January weather around the tropics. The temperature was approximately 73 degrees F, and I was dressed in new uniform from head to toe: a new shirt, sweater, shoes, trousers, socks, and tie. I carried a new box and a four-inch mattress, just like any other form 1 student.
My parents were acquainted with the school’s Deputy Principal, and we met with him soon after our arrival. While my parents went to the DP’s office, I joined the admission queue. Once the admission procedures were complete, which involved verifying that I had everything required in the admission checklist, getting an ID number, taking a picture, and being assigned a dorm, the DP summoned one of the most respected school prefects. The prefect was instructed to accompany me to the dormitory and ensure that I was settled and ready for dinner at 6:00 pm. This act would prove to be a great privilege soon after.
With a goodbye wave to my parents, I walked into the unknown territory.
The prefect made certain that I received a spring bed, an uncommon bed but exceedingly comfortable one compared to wooden or iron beds. Additionally, he ensured that no one harassed me. It was beneficial to have a connection with someone in a position of authority. Furthermore, he was an accomplished student, regularly appearing on the top ten list. He helped me get a footing and adapt to the boarding school culture.
Later in the evening, I observed several older students confiscating mattresses and uniforms from the first-year students. One boy attempted to retrieve his possessions and was told, “If you desire your things back, endeavor to capture darkness in your hands and bring it to me.” Another student poured water on the floor and instructed the form-one to swim in the puddle.
There were various approaches to dealing with bullying, including paying an older student for protection, transferring to another dormitory, engaging in physical altercations, or negotiating with the bullies.
Fortunately, bullying often subsided after a week once everyone became preoccupied with schoolwork. Furthermore, some bullies were expelled from school, and the habit eventually vanished.
Life is fraught with challenges, often manifesting as bullies that hinder progress. These bullies could take various forms, such as academic hurdles, financial constraints, bad habits, shame, abusive relationships, difficult people, and debts, among others. Standing up to these bullies can be arduous, but it often yields the most significant rewards.
Imagine a bully as a colossal tree with a five-meter radius, and you have a machete in your hand. Striking the tree once or even a hundred times will not bring it down. It requires persistent effort in the right direction.
To overcome life’s bullies, we must cultivate the right habits and develop our persistence. By doing so, we build our stayability quotient, which is the measure of our ability to stay the course we have set for ourselves. Our success is often determined by our stayability quotient, where a higher quotient translates to higher success levels.
NB, success in this case is the realization of a predetermined goal.