By: Torsaa Emmauel Oryiman

Stepping into the university as a fresh undergraduate was both exciting and terrifying. From the moment I gained admission through JAMB, my mind was filled with dreams of academic excellence. I had made a firm decision to make my parents proud by graduating with a first-class degree. It wasn’t just about the degree; it was about fulfilling the sacrifices my parents had made.

My father, a man of few words but endless sacrifices, had laboured tirelessly to ensure I had the best education possible. My mother, who always put my needs before her own, had prayed fervently for my success. I owed it to them to excel. Their struggles were my motivation, and I promised myself that I wouldn’t let them down.

However, whispers and rumours about the university soon began to shake my confidence.

The Fear of the Unknown

I heard stories about how some lecturers deliberately failed students, about courses where no one ever got an ‘A,’ and about how some departments didn’t even bother marking exam scripts properly. Instead, they would assign grades as they pleased. The fear in me grew stronger. If these rumours were true, how was I going to succeed? I had worked so hard to get admitted, but would I be able to survive the academic hurdles ahead?

Determined to make the best of my time in school, I completed my registration and began attending lectures. Some lecturers were friendly and approachable, while others were strict and unyielding. Their attitudes further reinforced the warnings I had received from older students.

Time flew by, and soon, our first tests were conducted. I had put in my best effort, yet when my results were released, I was devastated. I had scored only two out of ten. My hands trembled as I held my test script. My heart pounded violently in my chest. I felt like the ground beneath me had crumbled.

At that moment, I almost lost all hope. How could I succeed if my best efforts yielded such poor results? I began asking older students how they managed to navigate through school. Everyone had different advice to offer, but nothing seemed to help.

The Search for Answers

It wasn’t until I confided in a friend from church that I was given what seemed like a golden secret.

“It’s all about prayers,” he assured me. “Pray, read, and trust God. That’s the key to success in this school.”

His words renewed my faith. I started praying more than ever before. I read diligently and even fasted regularly, believing that my breakthrough would come soon. But to my surprise, my situation didn’t improve. Instead, things got worse. Despite my efforts, I continued struggling in my tests and assignments.

One fateful evening, as I sat alone in my hostel, drowning in self-doubt, I met a final-year student who revealed a new secret to me.

“You need a magic pen to pass exams here,” he said, his voice filled with certainty.

“Magic pen?” I asked curiously.

“Yes,” he continued. “It’s a special pen that has been blessed. Once you use it, your success is guaranteed. But you have to be careful. Don’t talk too much about what you study. There are students here who can use charms to take away your knowledge. And most of them wear strange rings with supernatural powers.”

His words filled me with curiosity and fear. I had noticed some students wearing peculiar rings, but I had never thought much of it. Was it true that people could steal knowledge using magical powers?

When I pressed further about how to obtain the magic pen, he explained that the pen was distributed once every semester during a special night vigil organized by the school’s Christian fellowship. According to him, students were required to come with a pen and their course registration printouts for special prayers. Pastors, apostles, and ministers would be invited to anoint the pens, making them ‘magical’ and capable of helping students pass exams effortlessly.

The Illusion of Hope

The thought of possessing such a pen filled me with hope. If the pen truly worked, then my academic struggles would be over. I wouldn’t have to worry about failing again. I wouldn’t even need to study hard.

The day of the vigil finally arrived. I fasted as instructed and brought all the required items, a new pen and my examination slip. The vigil began at exactly 9:00 P.M, and the atmosphere was electrifying. People sang, prayed, and worshipped with deep passion. I felt something powerful in the air, something that convinced me my breakthrough was near.

At midnight, the moment we had all been waiting for came. The prophet stood on the pulpit and asked us to raise our pens and registration slips. He made a series of declarations over them, chanting words that I couldn’t understand. Then, he looked at us and said firmly, “It is done. Your pens are now magic pens.”

A wave of relief and excitement washed over me. I had finally acquired the magical tool I needed to succeed. I walked back to my hostel that night feeling invincible, convinced that my days of struggling were over.

The Bitter Truth

The examination period arrived, and for the first time, I wasn’t worried. I was convinced that my magic pen would guide me. I reduced my study time, believing that the pen would automatically help me recall all the answers. When I stepped into the examination hall, I was filled with confidence. However, my excitement was short-lived.

The moment I saw the questions, my heart sank. I had no clue how to answer most of them. I clutched my magic pen, expecting it to miraculously start writing the answers for me. But nothing happened. The pen remained just an ordinary pen. Reality struck me hard; I had wasted valuable time relying on an illusion.

At the end of the exams, the results were released, and I was crushed. I had failed several courses, earning multiple carryovers. The bitter truth dawned on me, there was no such thing as a magic pen. There was no shortcut to academic excellence. Success was not about supernatural interventions but hard work and dedication.

Rising from the Ashes

I felt like a failure. The shame of returning home with my results weighed heavily on me. My parents had sacrificed so much to put me through school, yet I had let them down. I could hardly look my mother in the eyes when she asked about my grades. The disappointment in my father’s voice was unbearable. That night, as I lay on my bed staring at the ceiling, I realized that I had been searching for an easy way out instead of embracing the struggle that leads to true success.

From that moment on, I made a decision to turn my life around. I abandoned all superstitions and focused on what truly mattered. I attended classes regularly, took notes, studied diligently, and sought help when needed. I cried, I fought, and I pushed myself beyond my limits. I sacrificed sleep, fun, and distractions, all in pursuit of academic excellence. The journey was painful, but the growth was worth it.

In the following semesters, my results improved drastically. I saw the fruits of my Labor manifest in ways that no ‘magic’ could have ever achieved. My self-confidence grew, and so did my belief in my own abilities. I learned that true success isn’t given, it is earned.

A Lesson for Life

Looking back at my experience, I realized that there was an important lesson to be learned, success in academics or in any aspect of life requires effort and discipline. No number of prayers or magical rituals can replace hard work. If you want to achieve outstanding results, you must be willing to put in the work thereafter, you add prayers unto it.

To every student out there hoping for a miraculous shortcut to success, let my story be a lesson. There are no manipulations or magic tricks that can replace genuine effort. If you want to pass, study hard. If you want to excel, put in the work. And if you want to make your parents proud, earn your grades through diligence, not deception.

In the end, true success comes to those who are willing to pay the price through commitment, perseverance, and relentless effort. And when you finally succeed, the victory will be yours alone, pure and well-deserved. Both the parent and students have a price to pay for academic excellence, your pay paid the school fees, are to pay attention.

Success is not given; it is earned.

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Torsaa Emmauel Oryiman is a passionate writer who explores themes of perseverance, self-discovery, and the triumph of the human spirit. Drawing inspiration from real-life struggles and societal expectations, he crafts stories that speak to the heart. When not writing, he enjoys reading, mentoring young students, and reflecting on life’s many lessons.