This is the first and very important step in studying. In some schools, class attendance makes up 30% of the total grade. Imagine what your grade will be when you have already lost 30%. A lot of information is passed in class so by being absent, you not only miss lectures, you also miss test dates, assignments, and even exams. 

One thing is to be present and another thing is to always take note in class. Even if you don't get along with the lecturer or you don't like his course, you just have to be present.

. Set Goals
The second step is to think about how you can make a positive change on your grades,course and study time. Once your goals are set, you'll need to create a schedule (make a list of everything you have to do in a day) and exercise maximum efficiency.
 . Distribute Your Time Wisely
 Be time conscious. Don't involve yourself in useless conversations and be sure to follow your schedule everyday. You can take a course online, totally different from what you are studying at the moment. It may come in handy someday. No knowledge is wasted.


. Set A Time Table 
 To be more efficient in your reading time, have a time table different from that of your class and follow it up. Read whatever course you put up in a day and make sure you understand before you proceed to another course. Ask questions where you're confused, analyse information and read intelligently. You'll learn more than you can imagine.


. Be Discipline
 Be discipline in all areas and at the same time be open minded. Stay away from things you are bound to get addicted to. While doing all these, you can learn to discover your strength and weaknesses. That course giving you a tough time, focus more on it and write down the minimum grade you hope to have for the session. Lastly, go to bed early.

Feeling worried or afraid that something bad is gonna happen during the course of your journey in life is an irrational fear that many people carry inside of them. We all want to make it in life, everybody wants to be successful no doubt about that. So from infancy, we start learning, going to school and returning with the hope that one day we would make it big. But we fail to realise that there must be something driving a man in the course of all these, which is either fear or purpose/dream.

In Nigeria, there's a saying that Saturdays are for weddings /occasions. And when you hear events, you should know that there are different types of food.
if you attend any event in Nigeria and you don't find any of the food about to be listed, it's either you're not in Nigeria or that is not a Nigeria gathering.

Old people are often more ready to accept their own approaching death than are those who love them. Persons who have lived fully are not usually afraid to die. Death is after all, the natural end of life.

We often make the mistake of trying to keep a dying person alive as long as possible, no matter the cost. Sometimes this adds to the suffering and strain for both the person and his family. There are many occasions when the kindest thing to do is not to hunt for better medicine or a better doctor, but to be close to and supporting of the person dying. I lost my grandfather early this year.  I thought I could handle it as I said to myself, "well, old people die". I guess I was using that to console myself because it really hurt. Initially I didn't cry( people have different ways of dealing with grieve), but after a few days, I lost it. I cried at night and felt sad during the day. It even got worse during the burial. It was then I knew I wasn't as strong as I thought I was.
In the last hours of a person's life, it is good to let him know that you're glad for all the time, the joy, the sorrow you have shared, and that you too are able to accept his death. It would be difficult to say but love and acceptance will do far more good than medicines.
Old or chronically ill people will prefer to be at home, in a familiar environment with those they love, than to be in a hospital. At times this may mean that the person will die earlier but it is not necessarily bad, because forcing the person to stay in the hospital is simply avoiding the inevitable conclusion. The person who is dying suffers more knowing that the cost of keeping him barely alive caused his family to go into debt or children to hunger. He may ask to be allowed to die and there are times when this may be the right decision.

Weep if you must, but let her know that even as you love her, and because you love her, you have the strength to let her leave you. This will give her the strength and courage to accept leaving you. To let her know these things you need not just say them, you need to feel them and show them.
Yet people fear death. Perhaps the most important job of the healer is to help people accept death when it can or should no longer be avoided, and to help ease the suffering of those who still live.

Birthday gifts are  special, and are meant to be appreciated right? YES. But there are some gifts that are just a No No, especially for birthdays.
So if you have a birthday of a friend or a loved one coming soon, these are five things you shouldn't get or even think of getting for that special someone.
1. Underwear: Under wears are not the perfect gift. I don't know anyone born of a woman that would be pleased to receive an underwear as a birthday gift. The person may appreciate it, but it will definitely be a turnof. Unless of course you have an intimate relationship with the person, so as not to send the wrong signal.


2. Diet book: Giving someone or a loved one something to limit the amount or type of food to eat in order to become thinner, is very annoying. Even if the person in question always complains of his or her weight, the birthday shouldn't be the best day to present the diet book. You may end up ruining the whole day for that person and you don't want that.

3. Cheap perfume: Low quality perfumes shouldn't be given as a gift. I had a conversion with a friend some years back, and she was complaining bitterly about a perfume someone gave her as a gift. She even asked me " does it mean am smelling?". During that time I just laughed at her and said "it's just a gift" but now I understand her. You would say she's ungrateful but she's not. It's just a natural human feeling. So don't get a cheap perfume for that special person.
4. Used products: Especially clothes. This is a big turn off for me as I won't like to receive used products as a gift. It even speaks bad about the person giving. Instead of used ones, you can get new ones. It may not be as many as the former will be but it will be remembered and of course, appreciated.
5. Mouth Wash: Giving a mouth wash as a birthday present will already send a hundred and one messages before you can even say anything. Have you ever wondered why after giving someone a gift, the person stops talking to you? Well, it may be that the gift you gave was just not the gift.

'What took you so long?', Danny asked as he hopped into the passenger's seat of the lexus.
'I'm sorry', April said quickly,pulling out of the driveway. 'I got caught up in ....ssomething'.
Danny smiled mischievously. 'Was it a guy?'.
'No!', April exploded. 'I don't do... guys'.
'Okay okay' danny said between gasps of laughter. 'Now eyes on the road or we'll never make it home'.
'Do you believe in ghosts? ' April asked as she pulled into the driveway.
'Ghosts are part of fiction', Danny said, hopping out of the car. ' I don't believe in fiction '.
' You should ', April said as they walked in.  She turned to face her brother. " All things are possible ". She smiled at him and ran upstairs then she froze.
' What took you so long darling?' Ben said as she walked in. ' And why do you look like you've just seen a ghost? '
'I have seen,not one, but two ghosts, actually'. April replied. 'And what on earth are you doing in my room?'.
'We just came by to keep you company', Chris said as he glanced around. ' You have a nice room by the way'.
' You guys are unbelievable', April said, dropping her bag to sit on her bed. 'Well my life is complicated so I could use the company'.
'Tell us about your complicated life then' Ben said.
April stared at the twins for a while. Could she trust them? Well they are ghosts. They couldn't do so much harm.
"Well" she started. "I was born here in New York. 'I've lived here all my life. My dad is the managing director of force wind oil and gas.....".
'So your dad works with my dad?', Chris asked.
April nodded before continuing. 'I live here with my mother and brother,  Danny'. She exhaled. 'My dad lives alone for some reasons I wish were not so'.
The twins stared at each other. There was uncomfortable silence hanging in the air. A knock on the door jarred the trio out of their silence. April rose up from the bed and walked over to the door.
'What do you want?', April asked as she opened the door to see Danny.
' I thought I heard your voice' he said. 'Who were you talking to?'.
Unconsciously, April looked back to stare at Chris and Ben before turning back to look at her brother.
" I wasn't talking to anyone" she said uneasily. 'So what do you want?'.
'Just wanted to tell you that your mother is back', Danny said.
' Like seriously,' April said, smacking her forehead.' She's our mother. You speak of her as if she didn't give birth to you.'
' You know I don't care ' Danny said. ' I hate josslyn '.
' Dont you dare call your mother by her first name! April said loudly.
'I'm fifteen years old', Danny countered. ' I can do anything I want '.
And with that, Danny walked off. April closed the door, rested against it and sighed. She knew there was no love lost between her mother and brother and she has been trying her best to change that. All to no avail.

*****
" I still can't believe you ", Monica said for the third time after April told her about the ghosts. " Ghosts aren't real".
' I'm serious', April said. 'I know am not delusional'.
'I wouldn't be so sure about that ', Monica said. 'You can't see ghosts, it's impossible '.
' I'm not gonna argue with you any more ', April said, 'There's no point',
'Who's that?', Monica suddenly asked, pointing to someone behind April. 'He's cute'.
April turned around on her chair to see Chris standing right behind her. He smiled when he saw her and she smiled back. Her smile faded as she turned back to face Monica.
' Who are you talking about? ' April asked.
' Actually, Mr delicious is right behind you', Monica said.' He's dressed in black, black eyes and hair and whatever'.
April swallowed ......hard. She was not the only one who could see ghosts. Monica could see Chris standing right behind her.
" She can see me? " Chris asked in bewilderment as he sat down on the third chair on April's table.
"Ofcourse, I can see you," Monica said, " my blues are functioning ".
" You can actually see this guy? " April asked.
' Why is everyone asking me that? ' Monica asked, ' its not like am blind or something '.
' He's one of your stepbrothers,' April said almost in a whisper.' You aren't supposed to see him'.
' I don't have any.... Woah!' Monica risked a glanced at Chris and remembered the family picture hanging on the wall in the living room. The guy sitting with them was one of the late twins. " You have got to be kidding me ".
" Stepbrother? ", Chris asked.
' Oh yeah. That', Monica said. 'My mum married your dad a week ago. So that makes you my stepbrother'.
Chris nodded. ' So how's my dad and sister?'
'They're okay', Monica said with a shrug of her shoulder. 'I love Porsha. She's a nice stepsister'. She smiled and then frowned. ' I thought you were a twin '.
' Oh ', Chris said. Ben should be around here somewhere '.
April felt left out as she watched Monica and Chris. She felt anger, and a little bit of .... jealousy? Nah, she couldn't be jealous. Monica and Chris were step sibling. They couldn't possibly be together. Even if they were, it was non of her business. Or was it?. She was actually glad that Monica could see ghosts too, at least she wasn't crazy.
'So, how exactly did you die?', April asked.
'Excuse me? ' Chris said, taken aback.
'I'm sorry ', April said,' i was just curious. I know that's personal'.
'Matter of fact, it's okay, he stared at her for a little while before speaking "Well it was a car accident. Mum wanted to go to the mall and we decided to accompany her ".
" Who's we?,Monica said.
" Ben, Raph and I", Chris replied.
"Who's Raph?" April asked.
"Our uncle", Chris answered, 'My dad's younger brother '.
April nodded and Chris continued. ' I was driving and Ben was sitting in front with me. Raph and my mum were at the back. There was a truck in front of us and I tried to stop but the brake pedal was missing. And the next thing I saw was fire. It was also the last thing I saw'.
'Wow!', you must really feel a lot of guilt since you  were driving'.
April shot a glance in Monica's direction.
'Sorry', Monica mumbled.
'She's right. I do feel guilty'.
April lowered her gaze while she pounded, biting her lower lip. She knew she shouldn't care so much for Chris but she did. He must be going through a lot of guilt and she wished there was something she could do to help ease his pain. She smiled at him and he smiled back. No one could resist such a dazzling smile. April made a mental note never to look at Chris when he was smiling.  But for now she could enjoy the moment while it lasted.

Hi, Thanks for following the link that brought you here. Please read through and drop your comments. Thank you.



Chapter One
"I can't believe my mum actually remarried,"Monica said, closing her locker and turning to look at April.
"C'mon,"April said, smiling."You don't have to be so whiny, the man is cool and he loves your mum".
"I know", Monica said,"but his first wife and two sons died in an accident".
"SO?",April scoffed. " we are talking about Henry Johnson, the owner of force wind oil and gas which happens to be the richest in New York".
"Right", Monica said,"atleast I have a stepsister".
"Seriously?", April asked, arching an eyebrow."I thought he only had two boys".
"No", Monica said." The girl is only fourteen. Her name is Porsha. Such a tomboy".
"She grew up with boys, what do you expect"April said.
"Whatever", Monica said." What about your Mum?"
April froze. She'd been expecting Monica to ask her that question that she didn't want to answer. Her mum was an alcoholic who didn't care for her and her brother. She was only concerned about herself and her job. April sighed and looked up staring her her.
" maybe I shouldn't have asked", Monica said slowly. April started shaking her head
"Seriously, Monica,"April was saying." I know my mum is a bad person. It's not something am ashamed of. All she cares about is her modelling career. My brother and I are like the bane of her existence. She's an alcoholic and she even left my dad".
"Speaking of which," Monica said,"when last did you see your dad?"
"Last weekend"April replied. "I only see him during the weekends".
"it's okay" Monica said, laying her hand over April's and squeezing it. April nodded and smiled. She loved Monica. They've been best friends for as long as she can remember. Her smiled widened as she thought of Monica's mother. Sarah got married to one of the richest men in New York. April's father also worked with Henry Johnson. Robert Anderson was the managing director of force wind oil and gas. He has been living alone for four years since April's mother, Josslyn, left with the kids. April's heart ached at the thought of her father. She missed him so much. She got her dark brown hair and eyes from him.
"What are you thinking about?"Monica suddenly asked, jolting April out of her thought.
"my dad. I just wish we could be all together again".
"How's your brother? Monica asked,"Haven't seen him in days".
"Danny is fine", April said."he's been busy"
"How does he relate with your mum"Monica asked
April wiped away the tears that were beginning to Form in her eyes."Badly. He hates her so much and often exchanges harsh words with her".
"whatever ", Monica said waving her hand."he's a teenager".
"He's fifteen!",April countered. My mum's whole diet is made up of alcohol. She could hurt him, you know"
They both got up and went to their various classes. All she could think about was her estranged mum, heartbroken dad and teenage brother. She tried to pay attention to the lectures. She had to pick Danny after school. She couldn't afford to delay him.
After school, April was walking towards her car when she saw a guy leaning against her black lexus. The guy was handsome with charming features. He was dressed in trousers,a black sweatshirt and a sleek black jacket. Handsome as he was, there was something strange about him.
"Sorry" April said "but you'll have to excuse me. I wanna drive my car out of car" she indicated by pointing to the black jeep behind him.
"Are you talking to me?" He asked, eyes widened.
"Ofcourse", April said slowly. "You're the only one in my way"
"You can actually see me?" He inquired and this irritated April
'Like seriously?' April scoffed. "I'm not blind".
For the first time, the guy smiled and April thought it was heavenly. He streached out his arms.
'Matter of fact", he said, "you can just walk through me"
'Dont be ridiculous' April said, rolling her eyes.' You know it's not possible".
'Have you ever given it a try?' He asked. 'All things are possible'.
'I'm so gonna prove you wrong' she shut her eyes and walked hurriedly toward him. Seconds later, she opened her eyes only to come face to face with her car door. She spun around almost immediately to see that he didn't leave the same spot.
Her jaw dropped. She didn't hit him so she must have definitely walked through him. She was in shock.
"G..ghost?", April managed to mutter.
The guy grinned."The name is Chris Johnson. As in Henry Johnson. Oh, and you should close your mouth". He glanced around, "people will start wondering what you're staring at".
"They can't see you?" she asked, still dazed. He shook his head.
"How come I can see you" April asked still bewildered.
"We're also suprised", said a rich bariton voice from behind. Chris turned around to see his brother approach them. April tried to act normal as she looked at his features. He looked exactly like Chris with the exception of certain features. He was casually dressed in a jeans trouser and t-shirt. He look as pale as Chris.
"I take it you're Ben Johnson", April said, holding her phone to her ears and leaning casually against her car so that people walking around will not think she talking to the air.
'OF course' he replied. He slung his hand over Chris' shoulder and smiled."I was just looking for my younger brother".
"I thought you were twins" April said raising an eye brow
'Yes we are' Chris said with his gaze pointed at Ben.
'Oh yeah?' Ben said, 'well I believe am five minutes older.
'Mafter of fact, it's four minutes and fifty five seconds' Chris said turning to face Ben.
'He...llo' April said slowly, still standing here, you know'.
'Sorry', the twins uttered in unison. April turned to open her car door. "I have to pick Danny from school. I'm twenty minutes late."
"Who's Danny?" Chris asked.
"My younger brother", April replied, getting into the drivers seat." I guess I'll be seeing you ghost around".
She put the key into the ignition and turned to look at the twins one last time before she drove off.




Chapter two in a bit....