The election and inauguration of Barak Obama as the 44th US President shows one thing: Dreams can be achieved.
It brings back an episode in my life while at university. One of my classmates, Aruna J. Budulai, from Freetown, Sierra Leone, West Africa, entered the same class when he was over age 30. He had wanted to be an architect from young. He preferred we called him John.
Poverty was, and still is a reality for the great majority of Africa's populace. Sierra Leone was no exception, even though the country got its independence from the UK in 1961 and has mineral and other resources like diamond.
John was already married when he was given a Rotary Club sponsorship for the 5 year B. Arch course. He was determined to make it. But he found the course tough, due to long layoff from studies. Theory of structures, a major subject, gave him a lot of sleepless night.
He devised a way to remind himself that he must make the grade, at all cost. If he failed, his life would be consigned to poverty. This he did by singing to himself, every now and then these lines from a song by Jimmy Cliff
You can get it if you really want
Really want
Really want
You can get it if you really want
Really want
Really want
These lines have really got into my sub-conscious mind. Every time I meet some kind of difficulty in life, I would softly sing to myself. It's a reminder that mission can be accomplished, if one remains committed
John eventually got his B.Arch degree. It was just unfortunate that a few years after his achieving it, his country was embroiled in a brutal civil war. I received a letter from him a few years late, when I chanced to visit the house I previously stayed in. I wrote back but I have not heard from him since. I really prayed that he and his family are fine, whatever happened to his home at 24 Charlotte Street, Freetown.
There appears to be a few versions of the song lyrics from the net. This is one of them :-
You Can Get It If You Really Want
Jimmy Cliff
You can get it if you really want
You can get it if you really want
You can get it if you really want
But you must try, try and try
Try and try, you'll succeed at last
Look here
Persecution you must bear
Win or lose you've got to get your share
Got your mind set on a dream
You can get it, though harder they seem now
You can get it if you really want
You can get it if you really want
You can get it if you really want
But you must try, try and try
Try and try, you'll succeed at last
I know it, listen
Rome was not built in a day
Opposition will come your way
But the hotter the battle you see
It's the sweeter the victory, now
You can get it if you really want
You can get it if you really want
You can get it if you really want
But you must try, try and try
Try and try, you'll succeed at last
You can get it if you really want
You can get it if you really want
You can get it if you really want
But you must try, try and try
Try and try, you'll succeed at last
You can get it if you really want
(I know it)
You can get it if you really want
(Don't I show it?)
You can get it if you really want
(So don't give up now)
You can get it if you really want
(Keep on trying)
It brings back an episode in my life while at university. One of my classmates, Aruna J. Budulai, from Freetown, Sierra Leone, West Africa, entered the same class when he was over age 30. He had wanted to be an architect from young. He preferred we called him John.
Poverty was, and still is a reality for the great majority of Africa's populace. Sierra Leone was no exception, even though the country got its independence from the UK in 1961 and has mineral and other resources like diamond.
John was already married when he was given a Rotary Club sponsorship for the 5 year B. Arch course. He was determined to make it. But he found the course tough, due to long layoff from studies. Theory of structures, a major subject, gave him a lot of sleepless night.
He devised a way to remind himself that he must make the grade, at all cost. If he failed, his life would be consigned to poverty. This he did by singing to himself, every now and then these lines from a song by Jimmy Cliff
You can get it if you really want
Really want
Really want
You can get it if you really want
Really want
Really want
These lines have really got into my sub-conscious mind. Every time I meet some kind of difficulty in life, I would softly sing to myself. It's a reminder that mission can be accomplished, if one remains committed
John eventually got his B.Arch degree. It was just unfortunate that a few years after his achieving it, his country was embroiled in a brutal civil war. I received a letter from him a few years late, when I chanced to visit the house I previously stayed in. I wrote back but I have not heard from him since. I really prayed that he and his family are fine, whatever happened to his home at 24 Charlotte Street, Freetown.
There appears to be a few versions of the song lyrics from the net. This is one of them :-
You Can Get It If You Really Want
Jimmy Cliff
You can get it if you really want
You can get it if you really want
You can get it if you really want
But you must try, try and try
Try and try, you'll succeed at last
Look here
Persecution you must bear
Win or lose you've got to get your share
Got your mind set on a dream
You can get it, though harder they seem now
You can get it if you really want
You can get it if you really want
You can get it if you really want
But you must try, try and try
Try and try, you'll succeed at last
I know it, listen
Rome was not built in a day
Opposition will come your way
But the hotter the battle you see
It's the sweeter the victory, now
You can get it if you really want
You can get it if you really want
You can get it if you really want
But you must try, try and try
Try and try, you'll succeed at last
You can get it if you really want
You can get it if you really want
You can get it if you really want
But you must try, try and try
Try and try, you'll succeed at last
You can get it if you really want
(I know it)
You can get it if you really want
(Don't I show it?)
You can get it if you really want
(So don't give up now)
You can get it if you really want
(Keep on trying)
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