Dear SHS graduate,
I congratulate you on how far you’ve come. You’re a special breed and I can’t imagine myself in an exam hall under the circumstances you wrote your final exams. You’re the true definition of a hero or heroine. You were the first batch of the Free SHS Policy, an initiative that saw the nation pump millions of Cedis into ensuring you reach this far.
I received with joy, the news that majority of you performed very well in your exams. Well, if you’re one of those who had all As as people are proudly sharing on social media, congratulations but if you could not make all As, I still congratulate you.
I cannot use a two-and-half hour paper to judge how intelligent you’re because several factors probably accounted for the score.
One important message I want to share with you is that passing is good and something we all wish for in life as it affords us the opportunity to get to the next stage with ease but know that we have a lifetime of opportunities, talent and gifts that must be harnessed. Some of these, the test you wrote could not test. I say this because it is totally up to you to get beyond whatever you got and live the best possibilities life has to offer.
Brooding over the results will do you no good.
Before I talk to your parent, let me tell you that after SHS, overtaking is allowed. You will get ahead of people in some aspects of life, others will equally get ahead of you in some other aspects but more importantly, you get to decide what matters to you and how you shape your life moving forward. I look forward to seeing you on the brighter side of life someday as you soldier on.
Dear father/Mother, I greet you. Don’t look at your son or daughter who probably didn’t get the best grades and assume that’s the end of the world. Don’t ostracise them and begin to compare them with others. Use this opportunity to help your son or daughter truly identify his or her capabilities.
Your WASSCE results are not the absolute determinant of your lifetime achievements.
Shalom!
Nicholas Nambirigya Azebire is a broadcast journalist with Dreanzfm 101.9 FM in Bolgatanga. He is the Communications officer Activista for the Upper East Region.
