By: Toriola Dayo

It is amazing to see the enormous power vested in our choices. All day and all night, decisions that shape destiny are being made. Some decisions are minute, like deciding what to eat for breakfast but others can be life-changing, ranging from choosing the right career path, the right friend, or finding the right life partner.

Regardless of how big or small they may seem, every choice shapes lives in ways we may or may not even immediately realize. Therefore, it is expedient that as students in a Nigerian university we understand the power of choice, how they are inevitably key to building the future we all have dreamt of.

Let’s go on an imaginary journey. Picture Tunde, a 300 level Veterinary Medicine student. Tunde, has an 8 a.m lecture and the alarm rings at 6:30 a.m. Frostiness filled the air, and so he hits the snooze button which led him to waking up late, skipping breakfast, and rushing to class unprepared. Tunde unfortunately got there late and had missed an important test. (If you know Nigerian lecturers well), and in that states of confusion and agitation, thought his life was over and started reclining even more into his shell. Albeit, in contrast, his friend, Bolu, chooses to wake up early (although it wasn’t all easy), made a quick run through his notes, and perform excellently in that same test, which encouraged him to press more. Now you can see how that simple morning choice sets the tone for their day—and possibly their semester or even their lives. You might think, “but it’s just one decision.” True, but one decision often leads to another, then another that would eventually lead to another. Missing one lecture could lead to skipping more, which might lead to failing a course. Small choices add up, just like they say “droplets from an ocean”.

Similarly, I would also like to inform you that making good choices isn’t always easy. Sometimes, sheer peer influence can get in the way and make you make a very costly mistake. As a student, you’ve probably faced situations where your friends pushed you to that fresher’s this or welcome that before an exam or test or made you spend your allowance on unnecessary things. You see, that fear of being left out or judged as “old-school” often make us follow the crowd, even when we know it’s the wrong thing to do, while at other times, we act on impulse. Your mum just sent you 15k and that is when your eyes opened to see that delicious delivery package your friend has being posting in her status, yes, that one with different assorted meats and even a bottle of coke “just for 5k” and immediately you ordered for it thinking you’ll sort it out later. But like you can relate, later never comes, and you’re left with regrets, courageously drinking you gaarrrriiii!. You must come to terms with the fact that impulsive decisions often feel good in the moment but create problems later, just like our Good Book says “ Wise people think before they act”(Pro 13: 16a – NLT).

So how do you make quality decisions? It’s simple. Before making any decision, consciously ask yourself, “How will this choice affect me in the next hour, next year, or even in five years?” For example, skipping a class might feel harmless now, but what happens when exam comes and you can’t even make a head or toe of the contents in the course material? In fact, thinking long-term is one of the very first step to making better decisions as it helps you see the bigger picture.

Also, endeavour to weigh the consequences of each choice you make. The consequences to some certain decisions are immediate, while others show up later, but either ways, to save yourself from a whole lot of headache, before making that decision, list the possible outcomes. For instance, if you’re tempted to cheat in an exam, ask yourself, “what if I get caught?”, “is it worth it if all the years and money I have spent in school up till this time go to waste in the twinkling of an eye?”, “what will happen to my parent/ guardian expectations of me?”. If you can put this in practice in all your decisions and give yourself an honest answer, trust me, you are on your way to making life-advancing decisions.

Also, personally, I’ve seen this play out over and over again: “birds of a feather flock together”, i.e. your circle of friends influences your choices whether you will like to admit it or not. If you have studious friends, you will also be encouraged to focus on your studies, work hard, and avoid shortcuts. On the other hand, if you have reckless friends, be rest assured that sooner or later, you will also be pushed towards reckless behaviors, therefore, check your circle well, and if there be tares among your wheat, boldly begin to reshuffle your circle.

In the same vein, you must know that the journey towards making quality decisions might not be a rollercoaster. No one is perfect. You will make mistakes, but what matters is how you respond. Instead of dwelling on the past, use your mistakes as lessons. If you failed a course because you didn’t study, take it as a wake-up call to plan better next time; if you had just squandered the keep-up fund they sent you last week and have now been relegated to the realm of garri, instead of feeling bad for so long, take it as a vital lesson that equips you to know how to properly manage your funds next time.

Also, seek guidance. You see, sometimes, the best way to make a good choice is to ask for advice from “qualified” persons. Talk to a mentor, a lecturer, or even a trusted family member or friend. They’ve probably faced similar situations and can offer wisdom to help you decide, thereby limiting your chances of making mistakes and having to learn bitter lessons.

In summary you must remember, you’re not just a student; but the architect of your future. Life doesn’t reward us by our potentials but by the quality of our decisions. You can have all the talent in the world, but trust me, they will al go to waste if you don’t make disciplined decisions that would harness your potentials and make you a wonder to the our nation and the world at large, keeping in mind that learning goes beyond the four walls of that lecture room, it embodies skill acquisition, networking, courage and strategic planning.