We spent years and years in school, soaking up information, memorizing dates and words, formulas, hypothesis and theories. But after all that time spent , did anyone really teach us what success truly means or how it's obtained? Not the textbook version. Not the grades or accolades. But the raw, personal, real-world kind of success that shapes who we become.
Let think about it, if success was just about scoring high mark and getting a fancy and good certificate, then why do so many straight A students feel lost once they step out into the real world?
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Why do people with average or merit academic records go on to build empires, lead fulfilling lives, or change the world? Could it be that school left out the most important lessons from us? Think about it
We were told to avoid failure at all costs. Study hard, get it right the first time but never the second, third or fouth, and don’t mess up. But out here, failure is a rite of passage. The people we look up to the creators, the dreamers, the leaders, the founders, the personnel....they’ve all failed, probably more times than they can ever count. And not just small failures, big, gut wrenching, soul shaking failures. But they kept going after and after. They learned, they adapted, and they grew. Why didn’t anyone tell us that failure wasn’t the end of it all, but often the beginning of a new chapter?
I'm sure If you grew up in an African home( Not all though), you probably heard phrases like “I want to see all As,” or “Education is the key to success,” over and over again. Grades were treated like the ultimate goal. But in reality, it’s the relationships we build, the people we connect with, the way we treat others....that’s what opens doors and opportunities . A conversation can lead to an opportunity that no exam ever could. Emotional intelligence, communication, and collaboration turn out to be far more powerful than a perfect report card. This are all facts.
And what about personal growth? School gave us knowledge, yes, but did it really teach us how to invest in ourselves? How to manage our emotions, take risks, believe in our own potential, or step into discomfort to grow? Success comes from constantly evolving, from being willing to learn long after the school bell stops ringing.
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Time another thing we thought we understood. We were taught to meet deadlines, but were we taught how to manage our time, how to prioritize what truly matters, how to make space for our dreams in the chaos of everyday life? Out here, time is your most valuable currency. And how you spend it determines how far you go and how far you can accomplish.
There’s also this lie we bought into about perfection. The need to get everything right, to make no mistakes. But real success is messy and tiring. It’s about showing up even when you're unsure, pushing through resistance, doing the work consistently, not flawlessly. Nobody tells you that the ones who “make it” are usually the ones who just didn’t give up.
And maybe the most important lesson school never taught us... mental and emotional health.
Success isn't worth much if you're constantly drained, anxious, or burnt out. We were taught to strive, to hustle, to achieve. But we weren’t taught to rest. We weren’t taught that your peace, your joy, your well-being, are part of success too. Maybe even the biggest part.
So here we are, outside the classroom, piecing it all together on our own. Trying to redefine what success looks like for us. And maybe that’s the real secret....there’s no one way to get there. No perfect formula. No universal answer. Success is a journey you craft, shaped by your values, your growth, your resilience.
And the real question is: are you ready to unlearn what they taught you, and chase the kind of success that actually matters to you?
Thank you for your time and I hope you enjoyed reading the post