Ora et lahora; work and pray

18 May, 2014 - 00:05 0 Views

The Sunday Mail

These were the three small words that the old girls from generations back lived by in that small, serene, Catholic-run institution by the name of Monte Cassino High School. And they are the very same words that the current students still live by – the school motto that motivates, pushes and encourages all who live and work at the school.

A number of dedicated teachers who have stood the test of time and served the school for decades, as well as representatives of the Precious Blood Sisters who run the school, were part of the guests at a dinner held in honour of the hard work that the school continues to do, year after year, in the moulding of the girl child. It was indeed a beautiful evening as lady after lady stood on the podium to explain the depth of her gratitude for the years she spent at Monte Cassino, a school par excellence.

One very touching scene for this writer, who also happens to be a former Monte girl, was when the oldest girl present, a 1971 student, beamed with pride as three current students stood up to be introduced – it was evident in her eyes that she saw herself in them, that she saw etiquette, grooming, courtesy, humility, prudence and excellence personified.

The ex-Monte ladies present at the occasion, and indeed every other student, every other girl especially, that happens to be reading this article right at this very moment, are the exact people that a touching, deep, speech made by the former Headmaster, Mr Johannes Chingonzoh, was aimed at.

He articulately explained how at the end of it all, every human being sought goodness in everything that their lives revolved around. A good education, good accommodation, good results, good food, good weather, good relationships and so on, are everybody’s ultimate wish.

And unfortunately, the achievement of such is never going to come with no effort from the particular individual. Some kind of effort has to be put in in order that any positive outcomes are achieved.

Monte Cassino has maintained top spots in terms of nationwide O and A level results for years without number, and of late the Zimbabwe Republic Police High School has been following very closely behind. It is absolutely no coincidence that Mr Chingonzoh, who was the school’s head from the 80s, has been the headmaster at ZRP School for the past few years. The trend being set is no rocket science.

The elegance with which every lady carried herself, told of a story of success. Success through hard work – intensive night study routines, daily lessons ending at 5pm, a healthy and well-rounded diet, productive work in the school grounds and farm, thorough cleaning sessions of hostels, ablution blocks and classrooms and, above all else, a strong Christian background based on Catholicism, were all strict values and principles that were no easy feat but they all ensured that the end product was an accomplished woman ready to conquer the world. All one needed to survive in the institution was determination, perseverance and a heart and mind open to receiving knowledge.

And so my humble advice to you today, dear scholar, is: always aim for perfection in your academic career.
Never settle for less, work very hard and be satisfied only with the highest, best possible mark. You might be attending lessons from under a tree — maybe even hot-seating because of a shortage or complete lack of classrooms at your school.

You might be waking up an hour earlier just to ensure that you warm your bathwater using a fire which you have to make yourself.
You might have to share your Geography textbook with the girl who lives three roads away, a girl who maybe always loans you her book reluctantly and takes it back before you are done. You might be facing one difficulty or another.

Your trials, toils and tests of character and patience all do not matter in the bigger picture, dear scholar. What matters in the end is your results.

Listen all you can from under that tree and store it in your mind under lock and key for future use, sleep earlier so you don’t feel the punch of waking up early, read and take notes all you can from the borrowed book; make hay whilst the sun still shines. Work and pray; ora et labora.
As Mr Chingonzoh aptly concluded in his speech, on that honourable night, “In all things, always seek goodness.”
The writer, Prudie Natsai Muganiwah, is a former Monte Cassino High student. Scholars, send your articles, pictures, poetry, art . . . to Charles Mushinga at [email protected] or [email protected] or follow Charles Mushinga on Facebook or @charlesmushinga on Twitter. You can also post articles to The Sunday Mail Bridge, PO Box 396, Harare or call 0772936678.

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