Courage, patience, self-control, humility, honesty are all but few examples of virtues everyone should cultivate in order to live one's life to the full because it takes virtues to overcome vices in the same way it takes light to overcome darkness.
The cultivation of virtues however is not cheap. For example, though it pays to be honest, it definitely cost to be honest as my personal experiences seem to confirm over and over again. Let me share a few of those experiences with you.
I taught in a secondary school immediately after my graduation from college and I quite enjoy teaching although I was not what an educationist will refer to as a trained teacher. I've always have fair for teaching and one of my life's goal was to become a successful lecturer in a university.
Well, I was on my way to fulfilling one of my life's ambition by teaching in a secondary school at that point in my life. In fact, while I was there, I received several commendations from both students and staff that encouraged me in my pursuit.
My experience at my first job however took a new twist when I was confronted with the choice of being true to my personal belief or conforming to the mold of my employer.
Here's what happened. At the end of the term, students were graded as the school system dictated. And as usual some of the students failed while others passed not just in my class but in every teacher's class.
To my surprise, the proprietor insisted upon our manipulation of student's report card so that every student end up passing. As a newbie, I was shocked at the instruction. My colleagues seem to have no difficulty in complying.
Since I have always been in the proprietor's good books, I pressed him for the reason for his instruction concerning the manipulation of student's report card. He explained that from past experiences, some of the parents of students who failed their examinations end up withdrawing them from his school to other private schools where they hope to get better returns for the school fees that they paid.
I tried in vain to explain to him that if he took a stand that is fair and just to all the parties concerned- himself, the teachers, the students and their parents- in the long run, he would make a name for himself that will more than repay any lost he might have suffered in the course of doing the right thing.
Since it didn't make any sense to me that students should pass regardless of the effort they put into their studies just so that the school can continue to receive the fees to pay my salary, and I was also unable to persuade the proprietor to see the issue from my perspective, I resigned from the school without even a promise of another job and with no plan in place to weather the consequences of my decision.
I went through some economic hard times in the months that followed. That was the price I had to pay to be true to myself.
In the process of time, I got a contract job as an ad hoc staff for my country's electoral body. My country was preparing for her general election at that time and I had been employed to function as a presiding officer at one of the remote polling units.
I was trained for the job by my new employer in the company of other presiding officers. Our parting charge as we were dispatched for our duty was:
one man, one vote
On getting to my post of duty, loyalist of some of the political gladiators made advances to me to the end that I might compromise the standing rule, when I turned down the offer, they connived with thugs to beat me to submission and no one could stop them.
I did a quick rethinking and obliged them, knowing full well that I have the privilege of writing a report of what transpired at my polling unit to the collation officer. That was how I escaped premature death on that fateful day.
I submitted a true report of the day's happenings as required though some individuals employed every conceivable tactics including the promise of a job, to dissuade me from doing so.
The report was verified by the collation officer and the election at my polling unit was cancelled but till this day I never cease to wonder about what took place at the other neighboring polling units. Why was I the odd man out? To the best of my knowledge, I followed the instructions that were given to us during our training.
These experiences leave a bitter taste in the mouth, no doubt but I have resolved that they may be the price I've got to pay to be true to myself.
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