Secrets of Academic Success: Character

Hampton Normal and Agricultural institute was only four years old when I walked into it to study Agricultural Science. I presented myself to Miss Mary Mackie, the lady principal for registration and admission, but she hesitated to admit me. And there was no reason for her unwillingness to give me access to the school. However, I hung about the lobby for several hours while she admitted some other students and conducted the school business. Finally, she turned to me and said, "Take the broom and sweep the recitation-room. This was to be your entrance examination." Why would she tell me to sweep for my entrance, while others were not put to the same test?

Nevertheless, I took the broom and swept the room three or four times and dusted it an equal number. When I reported that the room was ready for her inspection, she rushed in, rubbed her handkerchief over the woodwork, tables, benches, and finally, the walls, finding not a speck of dust or dirt, she turned to me and smiled. "I guess we will try you as a student," she said, and I was approved.

Academic work began, and I was determined to achieve outstanding success. Perhaps because of my humility and thoroughness by which I passed the sweeping test, Miss Mackie offered me a position as the school janitor in the academic building as a means of paying part of my tuition and board. I gladly accepted.

During my second year, a new teacher was employed; she was Nathalie Lord. Within few months, she asked me to take care of her boat and go rowing with her whenever she needed help at the oars. I was a student and not a boatman, why would she want me to serve her? However, I accepted to assist her because she was my teacher. We became friends and had long talks about whatever was on our minds. She later told me that my unassuming manner, earnestness and faithfulness won her heart. Miss Nathalie gave me free private lessons in such technical aspects of the speaking art as breathing, emphasis and articulation. She thus opened the door to an exciting career as a campus debater.

At a certain time, the boy's dormitory became so crowded, that the head of the school General Samuel Chapman Armstrong asked for volunteers to sleep in tents. I was one of the volunteers. As the winter was an uncommonly cold one, I suffered severely, but I was proud that I made it possible for additional students to secure education. I was ever willing to obey instructions of all my teachers. My janitorial labours gave me invaluable contact with more teachers and most importantly, with General Armstrong. I learnt the art of pleasing my teachers. Furthermore, I began to study their movements, moods and trains of thought. I understood them all and we became friends.

After three years of study, I graduated as one of the better students. During the graduation ceremonies, General Armstrong handed to me a certificate that I had completed with credit a course of instruction and was competent to teach graded school. I got a teaching job and took to heart the precepts of General Armstrong. I was a dedicated teacher.

Four years after, I got an invitation from General Armstrong to teach at Hampton. I discovered later that I was called upon because the General adored my personality. I was assigned to teach the night class of the Institute. It was difficult task teaching students who worked from seven in the morning until six at night. And it was almost too much to expect them to study from seven till nine at night. Other teachers will rarely accept such responsibility. However, I gladly accepted the offer without grudge. I made the night course so successful that it became a regular feature of the school.             My next position at Hampton was as housefather of the Indian boy's dormitory. These Indians were federal prisoners of war who led an Indian uprising against America. It was not an easy task, but I humbly obeyed the General and accepted the offer.

One day in May 1881, General Armstrong received a letter from George Campbell and two commissioners of a school in Tuskegee Alabama. They asked Armstrong to recommend as a principal one of his teachers or some other white man. Everyone expected the General to recommend a white and well experienced teacher for the place, because no school will accept a black as its Principal. But, General called me into his office and offered to recommend me for the principalship. He said after considering my character and hard work that I was fit for the highly rated job. Armstrong wrote Campbell and other trustees in a characteristic scrawl and with soldier brevity:

The only man I can suggest is one Mr. Booker Washington, a graduate of this institution, a competent capable mulatto, clear headed, modest, sensible, and polite and a thorough teacher. The best man we ever had here. I am satisfied he would not disappoint you. Is his being coloured an objection? We can find first class coloured assistants. I am confident he would not disappoint you. I know no white man who could do better. He has been teaching in this institution the past year, and I am ready to promote him because he richly deserves it

At age 25, I departed to Tuskegee and started my new assignment. Within few years Tuskegee Normal and Industrial Institute became one outstanding Institute in Alabama.

In 1895, the free public speaking lessons, I received from Miss Nathalie paid off. African-Americans were segregated, disenfranchised and sometimes lynched in the Southern States of America. I prepared a speech calling for black progress through education and entrepreneurship as a means of fighting discrimination. Remembering all the technical arts of speaking as I was taught by Miss Nathalie, I delivered a well-articulated speech in Atlanta. Fortunately, that singular speech made me nationally famous.   I became a hero overnight and a leading voice in the African American Civil Rights activism. And In 1901, I became the first African American ever invited to the White House.

Some of us are too big for our teachers; therefore, too big to learn. If you are too big for your teacher, there is no need coming to school because you will learn nothing. We are too proud to be taught or corrected. So many students disrespect their teachers. Democracy is not "demo-crazy". Freedom of speech is not freedom to insult. Freedom of association is not freedom to rebel; freedom of movement is not freedom to walkout of your teacher. We refuse to obey their orders because we feel they are not important.

When you are disciplined rightly by your teacher, you call you parents or report to the school authority. Your parents come to the school and insult the teacher. And because the school proprietor wants to make profit and does not want to lose any student, the teacher would be cautioned. Some students maltreat their teachers because their teachers do not put food on their tables. But they fail to comprehend that teachers give more than food. After all these disrespect, you want him to give you the best; you will never get the best. Some of you even threaten to beat up, harm and even kill your teachers. He would do what you want to save or protect himself, but he will never give you the best academically.

Know that the fear of God is the beginning of wisdom but respect for your teacher is the beginning of knowledge. The secret of every subject is in the hands of your teacher. You must please him to get the keys. Those keys will bring academic success. Our fathers had good education because they had dedicated and hardworking teachers. Their teachers were diligent because they obeyed and respected them. However, this generation is a very proud one.

Most students have been abandoned by their teachers because of their bad character. The worst thing to happen to a student is when he is abandoned by his teacher. Abandoned students are learners who have shown that they are not teachable or correctable; therefore, the teacher does not care about them anymore. Most students are abandoned when they or their parents insult or threaten the teacher.

If you can study your teachers very closely, you will be acquainted with their likes and dislikes and their strengths and weaknesses. A particular teacher might not be jovial, this doesn't make him wicked, he is just unfriendly. Don't treat your unsociable teachers the way you treat the friendly ones, it might lead to misunderstanding. If you successfully understand them, you will certainly get the best out of them.

Furthermore, we are aware that some teachers possess bad characters. Some of them are corrupt, authoritative and severe. However, remember that he will not be your teacher forever. Tolerate his fault for few months and grab the keys to academic success. If you dislike him, you will definitely dislike the subject he teaches, which will lead to academic failure. Abhor his unpleasant behaviour but don't hate him or the subject he teaches.

You must portray a good character even to your fellow student. A student can teach you what your teacher don't know. Therefore, if you keep disrespecting or insulting fellow students, you stand the chance of losing vital knowledge. The truth is that you might meet your teacher or classmate years after school. You might need their assistance or help. He might be your employer or superior. You might need their recommendation someday. General Armstrong recommended Mr. Washington for Principalship because of five qualities in which four were virtues of good character. The General said he is clear headed, modest, sensible and polite.