Few years ago when I was in the university, I had this lecturer Dr Njoku, he was all feared by student because of his ruggedness, one can easily say Dr Njoku don't laugh, always carrying a long mean face though it draws lots of respect to him both from students and co lecturers.

He was the kind of man who didn’t need to raise his voice to command silence. If he walked into a hall of two hundred noisy students, the room would go quiet like water poured on fire.

One day, after class, he called me.

"Alex" he said, looking me straight in the eye, “I want you to come to my office tomorrow afternoon. I have something to show you.”

My heart skipped. You know that kind of lecturer whose face is always hard to read? I kept wondering if I had done something wrong.

The next day, I went to his office. His table was stacked with books and papers. But right in front of him were two brown envelopes. He tapped them gently.

“Do you see these envelopes?” he asked.

“Yes, sir.”

“This,” he said, pointing to the first one, “is the path of shortcuts. It is filled with quick gains, fast money, easy pleasures, and bending rules. At first, it looks sweet. But in the end, it carries bitterness. This,” he tapped the second one, “is the path of patience. It is filled with struggle, discipline, rejection, and hard work. At first, it tastes bitter. But in the end, it carries sweetness.”

I was confused. “Sir, why are you showing me this?”

He leaned back in his chair. His eyes grew soft. For the first time in my years in the school I saw Dr Njoku speak softly as he said “Because I see where your life is going. You are intelligent. But you are also restless. People like you can be tempted to take the first envelope. You will think it is easier. But I warn you now whatever you get fast, you will lose faster. The real reward of life is not speed. It is endurance.”

He slid the envelopes closer to me. “Pick one.”

I looked at him, shocked. “Sir?

Pick one?” he said softly

“Yes. Pick one. Right now. It is symbolic. The choice you make today will follow you.”

My hand trembled. Something in me wanted to pick the first envelope after all, who doesn’t want life to be easy? But another voice whispered: “If you want to last, don’t look for shortcuts.”

So I picked the second envelope. The path of patience.

Dr. Njoku smiled for the first time since I had known him. “Good,” he said. “Open it.”

I tore it open. Inside was a single sheet of paper with one sentence written in bold:

“NOTHING GOOD COMES EASY, BUT EVERYTHING EASY WILL COST YOU SOMETHING GOOD. "

Those words entered my spirit as I leave his office that day.

Years passed. Life tested me. I had opportunities to cheat, to cut corners, to betray people for quick gains. And sometimes, the temptation was strong. But I always remembered those two envelopes, and the choice I had made.

One day, I met an old classmate at the bank. He was flashy, driving a big car, dripping with gold chains. He laughed at me.

“Alex, you’re still hustling? You’re still trekking and writing proposals? See me, I don arrive. Easy money, my dear. Forget all that suffering you’re doing.” life is easy when you act smart he said smiling at me.

I even thought maybe for one time I could compromise, maybe bend this my principles Dr Njoku taught me years ago.

For a moment, my heart sank. But two years later, I heard he had been arrested. Everything he built vanished like smoke.

And me? The seeds of patience I planted began to grow. Slowly, steadily, my life started carrying sweetness.

I am beginning to see the reward of my patience over the years

That day, I realized Dr. Njoku was not just teaching me he was saving me. 💛

✨ Moral of the Story:

• Life will always place two envelopes before you: shortcuts and patience.

• Shortcuts look sweet now but carry hidden bitterness. Patience looks bitter now but carries lasting sweetness.

• Don’t be deceived by people who look like they “arrived” overnight. Easy things don’t last. What is built with patience endures?

#Alexdphenom_