They had a good command of English, they could read fluently, and they were sharp in grasping things but there I was struggling with almost everything.
Meanwhile, I was like a local Champion in my primary school before coming here, and the whole thing became frustrating to me.
There was a guy named Fredrick, he attended one of the best primary schools in my town back then. He was the smartest in class, and every teacher was talking about him.
Being someone who wants to step up anywhere I find myself, I decided to be friends with him.
I discovered a few things from him. He doesn't play like other students, and he told me he studies his notes every day.
So, I picked a challenge from there, and I began giving it a shot a step at a time.
I allowed his performance to be a source of motivation for me. Gradually, I started picking up and I was becoming known through my performance too.
Sometimes, after we write a test, we show each other our scores, and if his score is above mine, I double up my efforts, study more, and ensure I either beat him next time or we get equal marks and he did likewise.
That was how it went until I became unbeatable. The following term I came first position in class and it continued steady until I graduated from junior secondary school.
Competition is meant to trigger us to grow. It's funny how a lot of people have misconceptions about it, probably due to what they have been hearing about it and a wrong approach to it.
Therefore they became relaxed, they allowed themselves to become average and use the word “contentment” to cage themselves.
Without competition, it will be just us in the picture and when it is just us, we won't see the need to go further. A friend once told me that, “it is a very dangerous thing to be in a place where you are the champion.”
The reason is that others will look up to you to measure up but you won't have anyone to challenge you. To show you that where you are is not where it ends.
This is why I love to have friends who are above me, people who have something I have not yet acquired, and people who are ahead of me so that their lives can spur me to measure up.
However, I am not ignorant of the fact that competition can be detrimental but it depends on motives.
It amazes me how some people become restless and sick when they are around someone who is better than they are. Anything superior to them is perceived as a threat. Something that is supposed to be an opportunity for them to learn and grow.
There are things people call “competition” that I don't seem to agree with, for instance buying a $1000 wristwatch simply because your friend bought one for $800.
Buying expensive clothes to prove to your company that you are not left behind too. Things like this can not help you grow but kill you.
True competition is supposed to make you grow, it is supposed to make you wise and tough and not foolish.
When you compare yourself to others for the wrong reasons it will hurt you if you are unable to measure up.
At the end of the day, you may end up envying or hating the person for no reason.
A healthy competition should make you compare, learn and adjust. You are not trying to become the person but you are using the person as an example to grow.
Once a competition starts making you restless, envious, and creating hate then know that you are no longer on the positive page.
We must know that we can't be like others, we can only become ourselves, all these unnecessary comparisons to prove a point and for a show off are uncalled for.
The bad side to it is that instead of making you grow, it will shatter your relationship with people and take away your peace because whether you like it or not you can only be the best version of yourself and nothing more.
All fingers are not equal, you don't know the kind of sacrifices others have been making, and you don't know their foundation.
Make a comparison to see where you are missing it and build yourself and not to prove a point, anything outside of this is an Unhealthy Competition and it should be avoided.