"Dreams are just dreams, and ultimately they fuel disappointments, for, without commitment, you'd never start, and without consistency, you will never finish" Denzel Washington

To be honest, I've never fully grasped the significance of those words; perhaps I've never made a decision that required a lifelong commitment until I decided to pursue a career in Tech rather than language, which I studied at the university.

This year, Obafemi Awolowo University awarded me a B.A. in German. “Hallo!” That’s to demonstrate my linguistic proficiency, haha. Pursuing a career as a software developer seemed like the best thing I could do for myself as a young man trying to make it through life after school, keeping up with the expectations and pressure of family members while also battling depression. But little did I know that grit was perhaps the most important of all the prerequisites and requirements.
The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines "grit" as “firmness of mind or spirit: unrelenting perseverance in the face of adversity or danger” in the context of action. After giving a TED talk that has been seen well over a million times, Angela Duckworth has been propelled to the top of the field. She discussed how, throughout the years, as a psychologist, she had worked with various organizations, including schools and commercial businesses, identifying which teachers, students, and employees would stand out despite their living circumstances.

"We studied rookie teachers working in really tough neighbourhoods, …we partnered with private companies, asking, which of the salesman is going to keep their jobs? In all those very different contexts, one characteristic emerged as a significant predictor of success. It was not social intelligence, good looks, or physical health; it was not IQ. It was grit! "

The adage "the race is never won by the swift, but by the consistent" has been proven time and again.

Never forget that you are a pilgrim and this is your journey. alone, and yours alone.

In the words of "Kwaku, The Traveller"

Soja Soja Soja Soja
They dey come
They dey come
They dey come
No make them catch you off-guard