During my second semester at the university, It was time to write the Mathematics test, Mth102 was the course code. I was among my colleagues to sit for the test. A day before the test I did all I could do to at least understand two topics, even cram some examples but it just didn't go, I managed to understand one topic with few examples partly.


I recall vividly, It was a battle for me before I passed maths101, during the first-semester examination. During classes, the more the maths lecturer lectured the more I got confused, and yet I still stayed in class throughout hoping I could understand even a little. It was more of an exercise in futility.


This is not new because during my primary school days, though I was an intelligent student; I maintained the first to third position in class and I was a very student but I have always had this issue - Mathematics.


Mathematics has always been my issue, just anything that involves calculation. Back Then in primary school results, there's a grading system they use A- Excellence, B - Very Good, C - Good, D-Fair & Fail, even If I took the first position in class the rating of my mathematics will be “fair”, which is the Same Thing as “pass” in the university.


After queuing I finally sat amongst my departmental students for the test, I entered the hall a defeated young man. It was more like I knew I would fail but let me just go and fail. Finally, I received the question paper; I was frustrated and I kept saying within myself, “What on earth will a microbiologist be doing with Mathematics “.


The questions were not as tough as I expected but I had already failed from my mind even before entering the class. I know I can't afford to fail because it will be the last semester for me to offer Mathematics as a course.


After the scripts were marked and returned to us, guess what I scored?.......1/30, funny right? But I knew I was going to fail though I was expecting at least 10 or 8 over 30. Funny enough I even fasted before the test but I still failed.


I failed that test not because I have no knowledge about it completely but because I allowed myself to be defeated right from my mind. Like I said above, the questions were not completely strange but because I considered my antecedents in that subject and the confusion I had during classes, I ended up inducing fear and it was a case of self-defeat. I failed the test even before I sat for it.


Do you know why the Lion is feared and also considered one of the strongest of all the animal kingdom? I was reading about Lion’s mindset and I found out something interesting about the king of the jungle; The Lion is not the biggest of all animals or the strongest of them all but it wins virtually all it fights and that is because the Lion has the orientation that he is the king of the jungle and the king doesn't concede defeat from his subjects so once the Lion comes to fight, it comes with an “I must win” kind of mindset.


Regardless of the animal standing before the Lion, it has to win because it has already won from the mind. Because he has won right from his mind, it can go to just any extent to win in real terms, he aligns with his thoughts- Winning starts from the mind and I failed that test simply because I was defeated right in my mind.


For those who have had their share of youthful lust, you will agree with me that when you look at someone you are sexually attracted to, before the physical manifestation of lust, you must have imagined something in your mind, and in no time, your body reacts to your thoughts.


The mind is the most powerful tool that humans are blessed with; do not let failure corrupt it.


I later learned the Mathematics course from a colleague, sat for the second test and exams and I had an “A” at the end of the semester. That was when I said to myself “Affos, you need to pass this course” and I envisaged myself winning.


Do you have a project you are about to embark on? or you have an interview you want to attend?

Probably you want to approach someone you like or admire. Yours might not be mentioned here but whatever it may be like the Lion, program your mind that you will win and in that way, you will strategize on how you will win.


Know that you can win, you will win only if you see yourself winning right from your mind.


Musa Affos (Rhapsodi ) Is a Blogger & Social Media Activist.


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