"Never give in. Never give in. Never, never, never, never — in nothing, great or small, large or petty — never give in, except to convictions of honor and good sense." Winston Churchill, 1941
Winston Churchill repeated a grade during elementary school and, when he entered Harrow, was placed in the lowest division of the lowest class. Later, he failed the entrance exam twice to the Royal Military Academy at Sandhurst. He was defeated in his first effort to serve in Parliament. He became Prime Minister at the age of 62. He later proclaimed to the students of Harrow School {his alma mata), after becoming the Prime Minister the above speech.
No leader in history, perhaps, matched Churchill's capacity for blurring the lines between speech and battle cry. This is one of his best. It's an urban legend that the "Never give in" exhortation comprised the totality of his address; Churchill went on for several more paragraphs. But there's no question that this, far and away, was what Harrow's students remembered.
What lessons can we learn from Winston Churchill's speech to the students. Remember he had become a leader at the time of this speech.
- Firstly, every child has the potential to be someone great whether they are topping the class or not.
- Secondly, he was persistent and was positive until he became successful. Here, I speak directly to the parents who think their children are not doing great in school. Be persistent and patient, do not give up, keep working with your child and ensure that they bring the best of their ability. You are sure to raise an accomplished child in the future.
- Lastly, Churchill was a leader who cared about the perceptions and character of the students. Our eyes are collectively filled with tears, begging and seeking for leaders who will take Nigeria to the next level. Your words (leaders), if pronounced passionately with sustainable intent will change Nigeria.
And guess where 'change' will start from? THE SCHOOLS.
Give them your voice and support. Therein lies the magic!
