I received my test script on professional ethics today and the score was 'bloody', well below expectation. If this was 2 weeks back, I'd probably lock myself in and cry because I expect the best always. Today was different, I smiled. I smiled more as I suddenly remembered an experience in service year.
#rewind to Abia NYSC camp...
During service year, I belonged to platoon 5 and it wasn't like any platoon, our commander took pleasure in punishing us. I think i suffered the most.
I can't remember my offence, but my punishment was special; all through the 3 weeks in camp, I had to come out before every Corper in the dark of the morning,when sleep is sweetest to mount the National flag and repeat the process by evening.
We (platoon 5 Corpers) were very often punished because our 'morale' was not high enough. So if he shouts 'morale!' ,and our response 'high!' isn't high enough, trouble for us. If perhaps we lost a game and morale was low, double trouble. During the first week, my platoon had regular punishments like kneeling on the parade ground, lying with our mattress in hot afternoon sun in the sandy parade ground and extra laps of jugging while other Corpers were resting.
What did this commander really want from us? No one was prepared to 'die' and he couldn't be bribed. So we dropped our Acada ego, pedigree and whatever you think made you special. We realised we were 'nothing' and helplessly under commander Ali's mercy, so we complied fast and had to do it together.
We began to shout at the slightest command, we primed ourselves before every parade, before every game, 'Morale must be high whether good or bad', commander Ali would say. So we shouted with even more enthusiasm no matter the situation...and then we began to enjoy it.
I remember we lost all games we participated in but our morale was higher than the winners. We would jump around shouting and chanting songs ...commander taught us.
Oh so beautiful! I still see the confusion in the face of spectators and opponents at a loss on what to do when the 'losers' are celebrating instead of sulking. Right now I feel the adrenaline, the joy and pride with which we sang...
'call: platoon 5 show your muscle,
Response :Hey,show your muscle,
Call: platoon 5, good to go
Response: hey good to go...
Response :Hey,show your muscle,
Call: platoon 5, good to go
Response: hey good to go...
Lessons learnt? Oh definitely! Don't let life beat you black and blue and see you sulking. Keep your head up, encourage yourself, rejoice, you can still win, it's in you to win, I think you can. Good or bad, let your morale be high.
Keep away from people who kill your morale. Stay around those you help you improve, sometimes with constructive criticism. You are responsible for your morale. It flows from inside but you must decide on it. Don't focus on challenges,focus on the future full on opportunities.
FT9! Morale! High!
Truly V. C. ,
Beryl Ehondor
You are your own strength and weakness. Decide.
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