9 Principles For Academic Excellence

9 PRINCIPLES FOR

ACADEMIC Excellence

Apply yourself to academic success;

it’s your life, your time, and your future.

9 PRINCIPLES FOR

ACADEMIC Excellence

Apply yourself to academic success;

it’s your life, your time, and your future.

FRANK NYIMBILI

Dedication

This book is dedicated to the generation of young people for whom it was written, people who in the very near future – not so long from now - will be handed the torch of leadership in governments and businesses. These are the people who are ready to change the world and whose education will shape our economies and liberate us from the yoke of dependence and usher us into permanent liberty. I specially dedicate this book to my two lovely daughters: Thandie and Annie Taonga.

Copyright © 2017 Frank Nyimbili

First edition 2017

Published by Frank Nyimbili Publishing at Smashwords

Published by Frank Nyimbili using Reach Publishers’ services,

P.O. Box 85, Nata, Botswana

+26773629955

franknyimbili80@gmail.com

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording or any information storage or retrieval system without permission from the copyright holder.

The Author has made every effort to trace and acknowledge sources/resources/individuals. In the event that any images/information have been incorrectly attributed or credited, the Author will be pleased to rectify these omissions at the earliest opportunity.

Edited by Derek Awkins for Reach Publishers

Cover designed by Reach Publishers

Website: www.reachpublishers.co.za

E-mail: reach@webstorm.co.za

Printed and bound by Novus Print Solutions

Acknowledgements

With deepest gratitude, I wish to express my sincere thanks to all those who gave so generously of their time and effort and inspiration during my studies whilst at Chamboli High School in Kitwe, Zambia: Mr. Kombe Mwape, Mr. Goodson Manda, Mr. Mwenya, Mrs. Catherine Namunyola Kunda, Mr. I. D. Indala, Mr. Halubono and Mr. Kaba.

I would also like to acknowledge and express my gratitude to my late uncle Mr. Edwin Musongole for putting me through high school and college, and for giving me a head start in life. Furthermore, I wish to pay homage to all the teachers and friends with whom I interacted and who touched my life and helped me during those years when I was in the ‘dreamhouse’. Last, but not least, I wish to thank my dear family who supported me during my studies when I was doing my MSc in Biomedical Science.

Foreword

The first time I met Frank was at an annual scientific conference and I could tell from the outset that he was thirsty for knowledge. Being a student himself (MSc in Biomedical Science), I believe many students will find it helpful to trade minds with him through the pages of this book. It is important for all stakeholders to realise that we need to think outside the box in order for us to tackle the challenges we are facing today. We need thinkers like Frank Nyimbili who can step up to challenge conventional methods with facts and possibilities; people who are able to defy all odds in order to help fellow young people to move into the world of creativity. Even as he stamps his authority through this book one can tell that the material is coming from a mind that has interacted intensively with knowledge coupled with experience. It is like a mentor working with a protégé; the words of the book are literally audible as they are directed towards individual development. It is definitely a must-read book for all who aspire to climb the ladder of academic greatness. Anybody hoping to cope in this competitive world of academics should consider grabbing a personal copy and literally endeavouring to mull the contents of every principle.

The book is no doubt a wakeup call for all of us; academicians, parents, the community and government leaders. You will agree with me that this book is unique in its category. What makes it different is that it deals with reality on the ground and endeavours to empower all stakeholders with knowledge. Understandably, the world is awash with academic ideas and concepts, but what counts is making these ideas work; that is what this book is all about – making things happen for you. Frank does not leave you hanging, he brings you on board and thinks with you through every idea, principle and concept incorporated in this book. Here he also introduces the concept of making education more than just preparing students for job markets, but rather preparing them for life. He introduces the concept of entrepreneurship as the main driver that will solve the problem of unemployment. What Frank is postulating is a shakedown and a shifting from over-dependence on governments for creation of employment.

‘9 Principles for Academic Excellence’ is a vision for students’ academic betterment. The practical approach of the book towards strengthening of a student’s faculties makes it even more helpful for students who are thirsty for academic success. Frank’s writing will make you rethink everything you know about education. I believe this book will be an asset to anyone who wants to be on top of things. It will also be an indispensable book for millions of students who will come into contact with it. ‘9 Principles for Academic Excellence’ is without doubt a new approach to creative and strategic thinking.

Indeed, as Frank has put it, high school is a dreamhouse and is an incubator for emerging scholars. It is also a place where you can learn the essential skills and strategies necessary to deeply and truly awake the genius in every student. It is within this dreamhouse that your vision, dream, purpose and mission are nurtured. The mere fact that you will come into contact with the contents of this book will make you a candidate for success.

As you go through every principle of this book you will come into contact with concepts that will introduce you to a new way of thinking and shape you into the student that you have always wanted to be. There are also concepts about creating a journey of your own; concepts on how to use your wits and imagination to design the future that you want and forget the past.

This book is bound to change the world’s perception on education. Students who initially thought that they were dull will have the rudest shock of their lives when they discover their strength. It is a great piece of work that will liberate you from your present and past failures and usher you into a new academic domain of knowledge. The concepts discussed in ‘9 Principles for Academic Excellence’ are simple and easy to grasp. Every person who can read and write has an equal chance of benefiting from this book and indeed, an equal chance of academic success.

In short, this is an impressive work of scholarship but it is also topical and readable. I believe that it is going to unlock your mind and get you to the top. It will teach you that you are the architect of your own destiny. You are in charge whether anyone likes it or not and, as such, you will learn much more than the agenda-driven teaching staff could offer you. As Frank has highlighted, secondary school or high school is a dream- house; you either break your dream or have a breakthrough. It is a bridge between a mere dream and the reality. At the end of it all this book will teach you the main ways to your academic success, and it will further show you that you are being prepared to take up the leadership mantle in society, and as such it will endeavour to build and develop your character. I have noted with overwhelming interest the following points which I feel stand out for a book of this nature. The book will help you in the following areas:

• How you can discover the purpose of education and enjoy every moment in school as a student.

• How attending your lectures, laboratory sessions and tutorials can put you in a position to access many learning opportunities and make you understand the mind of the teacher/lecturer pertaining to each course or subject material.

• The importance of approaching lecturers or teachers and asking questions to help you enhance your knowledge. It will take away your shyness because you will have discovered the purpose of education.

• To form a peer study group and its importance and effectiveness to your academic dream. It will further show you that you need to surround yourself with a circle of friends, apart from the teaching staff, to whom you can turn for help.

• It will teach you to be self-organized and disciplined and will further show you how to organize your study time, amongst your other activities.

• It will teach you how you can improve your thinking skills and be on top of the class without necessarily competing negatively against other students.

• You will learn how to choose the right friends who could add value to your academic dream rather than those who could otherwise destroy your dream.

• It will show you that those social credentials you possess have no bearing on academic achievement, and that all students are candidates for academic success.

• It will teach how to identify negative peer pressure and to protect yourself from its effects.

• It will teach you how to study smartly and gain as opposed to the old concept of studying hard but achieving very little.

• It will show you how parents and teachers are an integral part of your academic success by virtue of their position in your life.

• It will show you that when you become educated you will become liberated from every shackle of poverty.

• It will teach you to be a creative student, one who can create his or her own standard by which others will have to measure themselves.

• It will help you through the peaks and troughs of your academic life.

I believe that with the unlimited brain with which you were created, you will be able to achieve anything on which you set your mind. Frank, through this piece of work, ushers you into high oceans of contemporary intellectual domain. He allows you to come into contact with just the idea of academic success. It is up to you to do what is best; get yourself a copy and apply these proven and tested concepts in this book. This book is guaranteed to change your destiny permanently for the best. It is your life, your time and your future.

Professor Ishmael Kasvosve – University of Botswana

Contents

Acknowledgements

Foreword

Introduction

1. The Purpose of Education

2. Set Your Priorities Right

3. Compete Against Yourself Not a Person

4. Establishing an Effective Study Practice

5. Think Positively

6. Parental Involvement and Your Career Choice

7. Choose the Right Friends

8. Build Your Thinking Skills

9. Rise Above Your Limitations

The Ultimate Principle Learn about Money

Titbits on 9 Principles for Academic Excellence

Introduction

"The only purpose of education is to teach the students how to live their lives by developing their minds and equipping them to deal with reality."

Ayn Rand.

What makes one student able to see his or her way through any problem, find his or her path over all the rough spots of academic life to the fulfilment of his or her dreams while another struggler fails, and ends up in the lower ranks of academic life? This book showcases different areas of academics and endeavours to answer most mind-troubling questions concerning academic success. It further provides a tried and proven pathway to academic breakthrough. This book is simply an idea; the idea that is going to provoke you to do more with your education in order for you to become more in life. It is essential to understand that all achievements in life, including academic achievement and all earned riches, have their beginning in an idea and this book is that idea. It will give you the fire-power within to make you achieve your dreams. I believe that what you are holding in your hands right now has power to transform your life permanently.

I have over the years discovered that education as in knowledge is the ultimate key to success whether it is formal or informal. It is the reason why more emphasis is laid on education than on any other thing. However, it is only the relevant knowledge which is going to benefit an individual and society as a whole. It means you need to be educated to become relevant in life and not trained for a specific job vacancy. If you are trained for the latter, it means your relevance will be limited by the availability of that vacancy. That in essence defies the purpose of education. I want to further point out that when the purpose of education is misplaced it gives birth to a situation where masses are trained and not educated. In the end there are so many graduates who end up roaming the streets because there are no slots in the job market for them. Education goes beyond that – it prepares you for life and living with or without formal employment.

Education is an absolute necessity for economic and social development of any nation and its importance, therefore, should not be neglected by any nation. And there is no doubt that in today’s world the role of education has become even more vital. As a matter of fact, the quality of human resource of a nation is measured by the number of people in its population who are educated. If a nation is to aspire to achieve growth and