Comprehension: The Fruit of Perseverance

Perseverance is a quality which anybody who intends to succeed in any venture must possess. Indeed, lack of this great asset has been responsible for the failure of many people. A lot of things can be achieved through perseverance.

What is perseverance? It is the determination to endure all types of situations so as to achieve the desired objective. When, in spite of obstacles in one’s way, one determines to succeed, the person then perseveres. The consequence of such determination is success.

A farmer who cannot persevere cannot reap a bountiful harvest. Apart from preparing the land, he has to plant the crops, weed the farm, prunePruning is the practice of selectively removing specific parts of a tree or shrub, such as buds, branches, or roots. It is a maintenance procedure and the goal is to improve... More the plants if need be, toil day and night to take care of the plants. If it is a cash crop like cocoa which takes a longer time before it matures, the farmer has to wait for a long time before the harvest can come. Ultimately what he gets is a bountiful harvest.

Similarly, a student who wants to excel must possess the quality of perseverance. He has to obey the instructions of his teachers, do all assignments, be all ears in the classroom. He has to burn the midnight oil. He has to overcome all obstacles on his way. As a result of his relentless efforts he performs brilliantly in his examination. A lazy student is not willing to persevere. He comes to school irregularly. He ‘stabs’ lessons. He doesn’t pay much attention to his teachers’ instructions. While his mates are reading in the night, he is snoring. When examination comes he will be looking for a way of cheating so as to pass. He will want to use the ‘giraffe’ method, he will want to smuggle books into the examination hall, he may write some notes on his palms or thighs to be used in the examination hall. What happens eventually is that he will be caught. He is fortunate if he is asked to repeat the class, for he may be expelled from the school. While his mates who persevere are rejoicing, he will be sorrowing and full of regrets.

Any businessman who gives up after some setbacks cannot make it. There is bound to be obstacles or setbacks in any venture, it is when the difficulties are overcome that a person can become rich or wealthy.

So, the individual has to make up his mind to persevere. Look at the example of Abraham Lincoln. He failed at everything he tried his hand at – law, business, even politics. Undiscouraged, he tried the presidency. Apart from winning, he is today among America’s best-known figures. If he had not persevered, nobody would have known him.

I have discovered the reason why many people are poor. They have not learnt to persevere. They try a venture and when there are initial failures or setbacks, they give up. So, they contract the disease called poverty.

Don’t give up, persevere.