Some of the things I've learnt is that one should not judge a book by its cover, some times the people you think are nothing or does not amount to anything are actually more than what you're thinking.
Sometime ago we organized a debate competition in the school where I teach so I was selected as the teacher that will guide one of the classes. It was actually a competition between Junior secondary school II versus III, so I was to guide J.S.S II pupils. There are some set of students the former teachers guiding them normally use when it's time for any competition in the class but this time I feel like changing the formation, so I introduced a boy who's not too good according to my observation and his performance in class like the other students that have been doing the debate. Although he's not totally bad but I know within myself that I'm taking a very great risk.
After guiding them oh how to do the debate, I made them present for me what they will do that day prior the day of the event.
To my surprise the boy did well but not exceptional like the other guys. I already have in mind of building him and making him join the team, I made up my mind to use him and rest one of my regular boys.
It got to the main day of the event, When everyone saw the changes they were like maybe we made the wrong selection, so they will use it against us, little did they know that it was a trap, though I was not too sure of him too but I just have it in mind that I'll take whatever comes after my decision, moreover it's not an external competition, it's just internal, so test running is allowed, that's the bright side.
When it was time for the boy to present, I was shocked of how he composed himself, he put in so much energy like his life depends on it, I was so surprised because he didn't do up to that in the rehearsal. After his presentation, everyone clapped for him even more than my chief speaker. Imagine someone you think can't do a particular thing but now doing extra ordinary things, that was his case.
I also had to give him an extra gift for how he present so well.
To the glory of God, we won the debate and it was a very happy time for me and the whole team.
It got to another time for debate, I did not hesitate to select him again, though I did not still use him as the chief speaker because I wanted to be sure if what he did the last time was not just a camouflage. So I still made him one of the speakers, and just like the first time, he performed brilliantly again. The third time that we had a debate, I quickly upgrade his level to the chief speaker, everyone was already telling me about it and so I did, believe me he did not disappoint me but did very well yet again.
This brilliant performances affected his academics in general, from being an average student to being at the top of the class. Now I'm so happy I took that bold step of trying him.
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