By DAYO ADESULU

Students, Parents and well wishers stood still for Paul Brume last Saturday when he was called out by the Director, Corona Schools, Mrs Folashade Adefisayo during their graduation and valedictory service 2011 to receive various awards as the best teenage boy who broke the all time academic records of the school.

He was discovered to be outstanding student with a perfectly balanced combination of academic excellence, sporting talents and a high sense of responsibility, dignity and personal conduct. Brumen wore his school academic tie for his consistently high grades as he made perfect scores (100%) in Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry and Physics among other subjects with a total tally of 6A*s and an A in Further Mathematics where he scored 85% amongst seven subjects he sat for.

According to the Director, Brume was the 2010/2011 President of the Chess Club which is one of the top teams at the International Schools Chess League saying the club remains the all-conquering team as proven at the International Chess Competition held in May 2011 in Ghana.

He currently holds the 100rnetres and 200meteres records. He won as well, the Best Sportsman Award at the C5S Inter-House Sports Competition in 2010/2011.

He was confirmed as the only student entitled to wear the three Corona Secondary School Ties: the school tie, the academic tie and, the sports tie.

Asked the secret of his all round success, Brume traced it to hard work and discipline saying that he set goals for himself at every point in time and work hard to achieved it. He pointed out that he studied for about six hours daily and always endeavour to recall what he reads.

Director , Corona Schools, Mrs Folasade Adefisayo (middle), Principal Staff and the graduating students

Brume comment on chess revealed that the strategy he uses in winning chess, he employed in studying adding: “chess is like a puzzle, every move has a meaning and you can predict your opponent by training your mind” Brume insist that he does not have a girl friend as it would distract him from study believing a wife will come at the right time.

Delivering the keynote address, Mrs Maryam Uwais said that in order for students to be productive, hard work, commitment, discipline, perseverance and punctuality have a major part to play saying that integrity must never be compromised.

“Nobody has the monopoly of knowledge and everyone has a story to tell, listen to all, and cultivate the art of respecting the views of the other. Do not look down on others or patronize them. Avoid treating others with disdain, no matter who they appear to be or what they say,” she said.

Education, she reiterated is a privilege as there are so many children that are unable to go to school or pursue an education charging them to ensure that they encourage their parents for given them the privilege of schooling by remaining focused and committed to their studies. Uwais pointed out that the students need to persist in learning stressing that learning is a lifelong process. “You must continue to devour knowledge, because ignorance only leads us to a dead end.

The Lawyer insisted that student should challenge themselves regularly to broaden their horizon, be it traveling to a new place, learning a language, a new sport, musical instrument, art; just do something different. .

She maintained that you do not have control over what people say or do to you adding that you are only in control of your own reactions.” Do not expect life to be fair; you will meet disappointments, heartbreak and even persons that seem to delight in annoying you along the path of life. How you handle them and the incidents around your relationships makes all the difference,” she said