LIGHTS OUT.

Everyone has that moment when just one slip-up means its lights out for them. It's natural for someone to feel this pressured; in class on the field, whether soccer or hockey, but mostly rugby or at home; it happens to all of us. But what happens when "this" opportunity feels like it's literally about to go lights out, not just in school, or in sports, but in life, if we screw it up?

Let me tell you what cut! A guy named Ezra Gumbo was doing his 'A' levels at Hillcrest College. He was an only child and, like all who are reading this and, had high hopes and aspirations that he believed he could achieve from the support of his family. However, the first term report came and his parents were not impressed. Not impressed at all. He had never seen such sorrowed faces ever since his grandfather's funeral and at that moment, he thought that he really screwed up in first term.

The next morning, Ezra made a promise to himself (not a deal, a promise), that he will improve in his studies and really get into his books, so that he would be ready for his exams. In the dining room, he started with chemistry (the dragon of all subjects) and his mother, with a sulking face, came in and asked him what he was studying. "Good morning to you too!" he replied as a joke. His mother would've made a smart comment on how he was a smart-ass on etiquette, but she snapped "I'm serious" at him. Not harshly, but he could hear the hostility in her voice. He told her that it was chemistry that he was working on, and she walked away leaving him to study. On Sunday his father was the same way; Ezra was drinking a cup of coffee in the kitchen when all of the sudden his father came in and just stared at him. Ezra asked him what was wrong, and his father asked him, "Do you think that 'A' levels are a joke?" in an angry tone. He just stared at his father for a few seconds before he answered, "Of course not!" He was then dismissed to the dining room to go afterwards to study. This kept going on for almost a full week.

As much as most of us are used to this kind of pressure at home, especially during exam time, this was a different type of pressure he got from his parents. One night, he overheard his parents talking about his report. They said some stuff not so out of the ordinary, as most parents would, until heard his mother sobbing faintly. "I wish I could write his exams..." she said to his father, "because at this point ka, I do not see a future of him passing them!" Hearing what she had just said really cut him deep within his soul; he absolutely felt like a disappointment to his family. If he failed his exam's, knowing that he was the only child of the family, his failure will be the "family-name-legacy" that all their neighbours would remember. And not only would he have embarrassed the family, he thought that it was light's out for him; not just in school, but in life, exactly the way his parent's hope went out before the candle even lit.

The following morning he woke up at 3 A.M to study, and only study. At 6 A.M, his mother saw him studying, with a cup of coffee at his left arm, while he wrote with his right hand. "Good morning," his mother greeted him, and he replied with the same words plainly. Ezra didn't even make eye contact with his mother. She left the room and he carried on studying. That same day, Ezra's father came back from work in the afternoon while he was studying, and his father greeted him with a simple, "Good afternoon,". He looked up to him and replied, "Afternoon Dad," and went back to his books. "You know you can always take a break every once in a while." his father said, but Ezra responded, "I already took a break!" and this time without even looking at him, and like his mother, his father left him to study.

Ezra never looked at his parents ever again, even after his passed his 'A' levels not, because he was mad at them, because all he could see were people he didn't want to disappoint, and he didn't want them looking in the eye of whom he thought they believed was a disappointment, and he lived with that thought for a long time.

We should be grateful of having parents like the ones we have right now. I know how difficult it is to have parents who put a lot on your head, believe me, I'm going through it too, but we need to acknowledge that they always have faith that we will succeed. Their way of succeeding might not be your style, so use your own style. It doesn't mean they don't support you; JUST DON'T LET YOUR OPPORTUNITIES GO LIGHT'S OUT!

If you feel that you are dealing with a similar dilemma as Ezra that this blog is really helping you in any way, please leave a comment below if you can, spread the link on Instagram and get people to follow my account as well as to spread the word; the CUTTER is here.