Pride, IELTS, Failure, and Preparation: Modern Samson Moments
By Seun Sylvester | Strategy | January 17, 2026
Fresh off completing my Doctorate in Economics, I believed I was finally done with exams. I was wrong.
Thanks – ironically – to a manager who pushed me out of my comfort zone in anger, I had obtained my first international passport, and my journey toward Canadian Permanent Residency had begun.
I checked my Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) comprehensive ranking score carefully.
Age? ✔️ On my side
Education? ✔️ ✔️Maxed out with a PhD
Experience? ✔️✔️✔️ Solid
What remained? The International English Language Testing System (IELTS) – the humbler of men.
I did not give it the seriousness it deserved. After all, I was from an English-speaking country. I had written and defended a doctoral dissertation, published academic papers, presented at conferences.
I thought: This is just English. A walk in the park.
All I needed was: 8 in Listening, 7 in Reading, 7 in Writing, and 7 in Speaking
The famous 8777.
I walked into the exam hall confidently—like Samson walking, unaware that preparation, not degrees, was the real source of strength.
The First Fall
February 2019
Listening: 7.5
Reading: 7.5
Speaking: 7.5
Writing: 6.0
Writing? I was stunned. I requested a remark; confident they’d correct the “mistake.”
They did—to 6.5. Not 7! Not enough. I was humbled.
The Second Attempt: Confidence Meets Reality
March 2019.
I wasted no time. Like Samson again, I rushed back in – less than a month after the first attempt – with no preparation. The result?
Listening: 8.0 ✔️
Reading: 7.5 ✔️
Speaking: 8.0 ✔️
Writing: 6.5 ❌
Again??!! Writing??!!
I quickly requested a remark; confident they’ll find some errors in their marking – not in my writing- and give me the remaining 0.5 point I needed.
This time, the score came back unchanged – 6.5!
Confidence gave way to doubt. Fear crept in. I remembered meeting a lawyer who told me he had written IELTS eight times, always failing writing.
A lawyer who speaks English and jargons for a living.
If writing could humble him, what chance did I have? Doubt.
I began to ask uncomfortable questions: Do I actually know how to write English?
For the first time in my academic life, I was shaken.
A Season of Silence and Humility
I reviewed my academic journey: From first degree to PhD, I had failed only one course – French.
Every other exam had been written in English and I passed convincingly. Yet here I was – stuck with English exam.
This was no longer an English test. This was a character test.
I had no choice. I needed to step back. I studied. I practiced. I humbled myself. Fear and shame delayed my third attempt.
The Quiet Third Attempt
September 2019
I paid for the exam without telling anyone – not even my wife. That Saturday morning, I told her I had a church meeting. The truth? I couldn’t bear the shame of failing again. Faith, paired with the discipline of preparation, carried me into the exam hall – and the breakthrough came.
Listening: 8.5 ✔️
Reading: 8.0 ✔️
Speaking: 8.0 ✔️
Writing: 7.5 ✔️✔️✔️
The stronghold had fallen. I was not just relieved—I was transformed.
Modern Samson Moments: Pride, Preparation, and the Illusion of Strength
Life is full of Samson moments – times when confidence rises but preparation lags. The consequences are universal. Here are a few examples:
- The Professional Who Relies on Experience Alone
A person rises quickly early in career. Promotions come. Confidence grows. Then preparation slows.
They stop upgrading skills. They rely on past wins. They assume experience alone is enough.
Then the market changes. Technology shifts. A younger, better-prepared candidate replaces them.
Like Samson, they say: “I’ll go out as before.” But the advantage is gone.
- The Student Who Stops Studying
Top-of-class, brilliant mind, consistent track record. Teachers praise. Exams are “easy”.
Confidence grows; study habits slip. Practice stops. Critical thinking fades.
Exams or real-world project arrive, and suddenly brilliance alone isn’t enough.
Like Samson, they assumed yesterday’s preparation could fuel today’s battles. Knowledge decays without practice.
- The Business Owner Who Relies on Old Success
Early wins may mask vulnerabilities. Markets shift. Competition rises. Customers’ expectations evolve.
They rely on yesterday’s strategies and relationships, failing to innovate or learn.
The old success, unmaintained, fails to sustain them.
Samson’s mistake echoes: Strength is conditional on stewardship and preparation.
- The Parent Who Stops Learning About Their Children
Parenting is dynamic. Each child, stage, and challenge demands growth.
When parents rely solely on prior experience, relationships and guidance can falter.
Preparation is ongoing, not static.
Every child is different; what worked yesterday does not guarantee success today. Parenting methods that worked in country A, may not work in country B.
Samson’s story reminds us that strength, success, and confidence are conditional on preparation, awareness, and humility. Pride leads to falls; preparation sustains victories.
Lessons from the Journey
- Pride Delays Progress. Degrees, titles, or early success don’t replace preparation. Life rewards diligence, not assumption.
- Failure Is Instruction, Not Rejection. What looks like delay or setback is often refinement, shaping resilience and wisdom.
- Life Tests Capacity Before Promotion. Like IELTS or other challenges, life doesn’t ask how badly you want it—it asks if you can handle it.
- Humility Unlocks Doors Pride Cannot. Submitting to preparation opens what arrogance cannot.
Final Thought
Some failures are not setbacks. They are gatekeepers. They stand between you and the future to ensure readiness.
Life doesn’t reward desire; it rewards preparation. The real test is whether you can follow through fully when the opportunity comes – without shortcuts.
About Seun Sylvester Opaleye – Faith With Strategy | Faith With Strategy
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36 responses to “Pride, IELTS, Failure, and Preparation: Modern Samson Moments”
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This is a thoughtful reflective piece. Truly, failure shouldn’t stop us or tempt us to rush the process but to ensure that we are truly ready and consistency is what sustains success. Thanks for sharing.
Thank you for this thoughtful reflection. I completely agree – failure is not meant to rush us or stop us, but to refine us. Consistency is often the quiet discipline that sustains what talent and opportunity start. I appreciate you taking the time to read and reflect.
A very great insight packed with alot of learning points. Hmmm… A professional who relies on experience only, this is directed straight to me. I registered for a certification exam 3 part. Part 1 &2 were great and when I got to part 3, I looked through some of the practice questions and just said that I can use my experience in that field to pass this. I didn’t do a proper study. I only gazed through the practice questions and registered for the exam. Low and behold, I failed it, I was angry with myself for not preparing well and now fear crippled in . With this beautiful script. I am encouraged to start my preparation and go for the final round of the exam. Thanks Seun
Thank you so much for sharing this so honestly. Your story captures the exact heart of the piece – experience is powerful, but preparation sustains it. Failure didn’t disqualify you; it simply exposed the gap so it can be filled. I’m truly encouraged by your resolve to prepare and go again. That final round will meet a more disciplined, ready version of you. Cheering you on, and thank you for reading and reflecting so deeply.
Knowledge decays without practice,but yesterdays practice can actually fuel or propel today’s battle but that is relative and I think consistency and commitment to practice enhances success not relying on yesterday’s accomplishment, Apostle Paul wrote,I count not myself to have apprehended but this one thing I do forgetting those things which are behind and reaching for the things before, suggesting that the past achievements should rather be a motivation to him to aspire for greater prospects.in management rather than depending on past decisions that helped in getting it success, they go for feedbacks that results in developing options then analysing those options and choose a better option that results in a new and better decision,we must be open to emerging knowledge embrace it and develop ourselves so that you don’t remain ignorant in time of knowledge.
This is a profound contribution – thank you for articulating it so clearly. You captured the tension perfectly: past practice can fuel today’s battle, but only consistency and commitment sustain victory. Apostle Paul’s posture reminds us that yesterday’s achievements are not resting places but reference points that should propel us forward. The management insight you shared is equally powerful – feedback, adaptation, and openness to emerging knowledge are what prevent decay. Growth demands humility, and relevance requires continuous learning. Thank you for enriching the conversation so thoughtfully.
As a friend and colleague, I found “Pride, IELTS, Failure, and Preparation: Modern Samson Moments” both deeply relatable and profoundly inspiring. Seun, in this piece, you courageously reflect on your unexpected challenges with the IELTS exam, despite your remarkable academic achievements and strong command of English, and shares how these setbacks reshaped your perspective.
What impressed me most was not the story of failing an exam, but the humility with which you confronted it. You openly acknowledge how initial confidence gave way to hard‑earned lessons, and how stepping back, practicing intentionally, and reassessing your assumptions ultimately strengthened you. Your decision to quietly register for your third attempt and work diligently behind the scenes speaks volumes about your character and resilience.
Knowing you a bit personally, I’m not surprised by the grace and honesty with which you tell this story. This article is more than a recounting of an exam experience; it’s a powerful reminder that even the most capable among us grow through moments of vulnerability. I’m genuinely proud of how you turned a humbling experience into a testament of perseverance and inner strength.
Thank you so much for this generous and thoughtful reflection. It truly means a lot. You’re right, the exam itself was never the real lesson; it was what the experience exposed and reshaped in me. Humility, intentional preparation, and the willingness to step back and relearn quietly were the real victories. If this piece encourages even one person to see failure not as a verdict but as an invitation to grow, then it has served its purpose. I appreciate your encouragement and your kindness—thank you for reading so closely and sharing so sincerely.
This is a good one and motivational like the previous ones. Over confidence and pride are injuries to the human. We’re rather admonished to rely and be confident only on God.A just man falleth seven times and riseth again. We all have ups and down, which shouldn’t hold us completely or definitely down. Thank God with perseverance you over amen. Congratulations.
Thank you so much, Daddy. I truly appreciate your words and prayers. You’re right—overconfidence and pride can quietly injure us if we’re not careful, and our confidence must always rest in God. The reminder that a just man may fall and rise again is very reassuring. I’m grateful for God’s grace, perseverance, and for the lessons learned along the way. Thank you for the encouragement and for always standing in prayer.
No one is a know it all, keep learning and improving.
Absolutely, well said. Continuous learning is the discipline that keeps strength relevant.
The person who is allowed to stop learning and never prepare for anything is the person lying in a coffin. The road to self improvement is one that is walked on learning daily no matter how trivial we may consider the subject. Your story portrays that highly. Thank you for sharing
This is so well said & profoundly true. As long as we are on this side of the divide, learning and preparation remain non-negotiable. The moment we assume we’ve “arrived,” growth quietly stops. I’m grateful the story reflected this truth, and thank you for capturing the heart of the message so clearly. I truly appreciate you reading and sharing your insight.
Beautiful piece Seun.
I like the phrase “life is full of Samson moments” and I’d like to add that even though we don’t see ourselves as the strong Samson in the Bible, we all are “Samsons” as we go through life.
Lots of learning points from your story and its making me inward and to recalibrate. Thanks again
Thank you so much for this thoughtful reflection. I love your insight that even when we don’t see ourselves as Samson, we all carry “Samson moments” within us. Life has a way of revealing them gently or abruptly, but always with an invitation to recalibrate. I’m grateful the piece prompted that inward reflection. Thank you for reading so attentively and engaging so deeply.
Thanks for this honest submission, it reminds me of my terrible moments in 1981 when I lost out in school cert those days. It was as if everything about me has has collapsed. When I did a personal assessment over this, it was obvious that I didn’t prepare enough to achieve a better result. Corroborating with your submission here, Dr. Seun I had to dust up myself for a launch back action in 1983 fully prepared for the task ahead which had transformed me to a better person that I am today. I never took any exams for granted. Reading, analysing & editing has become a lifestyle in me. Tnx for this episode.
Thank you so much for sharing this deeply personal and powerful testimony. Your 1981 experience captures the very heart of this piece that moments of failure can become the foundation for transformation only if we are honest enough to assess ourselves and disciplined enough to prepare again. Your “launch back” in 1983 is a timeless lesson in resilience, humility, and intentional growth. I’m especially moved by how preparation became a lifestyle for you, that is true wisdom, many people do not sit back to reflect. The Bible teaches us to number our days so we can apply our hearts to wisdom. Thank you sir for enriching the conversation with your story.
Thank you for the piece, “Pride, IELTS, Failure and Preparation: Modern Samson Moments.” It was a timely and sobering reminder. As we often say in our pidgin English cliché, “I get am before no be property.”
To remain relevant, we must stay sharp and current. Learning is continuous; knowledge is constantly evolving, and we must intentionally keep ourselves updated and aligned with the times.
As a family, we reviewed this piece together, and the takeaways were immense. We all agreed that assumptions are dangerous—that we must consistently confirm what we think we know and be willing to submit ourselves to regular self-checks and peer-checks.
Thank you for the kicker. It landed where it needed to.
Thank you so much for this rich reflection. “I get am before no be property” captures the message perfectly. Staying relevant truly requires intentional learning, constant upskilling, and the humility to re-check what we think we know. I’m encouraged that you reviewed this as a family and drew such practical conclusions around assumptions, self-checks, and peer-checks. That tells me the piece landed beyond the page, which is the highest hope for it. Thank you for reading, reflecting, and sharing so generously.
“Some failures are not setbacks. They are gatekeepers. They stand between you and the future to ensure readiness”. Words of wisdom.
Exactly!
Thanks Seun: hmm what actually stood out for me ; yesterday preparation is inadequate for Today’s task skills upgrade is non negotiable measure and also nt rely on past win cos it’s obvious what the end result will be (Self Sabotage) Self discipline is key
Valid!
Thanks for always sharing insightful and very relatable life issues.Great read:)
Glad you found it worthwhile. I’m blessed.
I can totally relate! My story is very very similar to yours. It was at my 4th attempt I finally got it and truly it was a very humbling experience. Indeed, failure is not the enemy but complacency is! Thanks for this wonderful piece Seun!
Thank you for sharing this, it means a lot. Your experience captures the heart of the message perfectly. Reaching it on the 4th attempt is no small thing; it speaks to resilience and humility. You’re absolutely right: failure isn’t the enemy, complacency is. Failure often comes to train us; complacency comes to stop us. I’m glad this piece resonated, and I appreciate you taking the time to share your journey.
Thank you for this insightful piece once again. It teaches us to be consistent in our drive for success. There are many dimensions to it only if we can remain focus on what we have made up our mind to achieve. Distractions may come in between but we should continue to persevere as there is always light at the end of the tunnel. Good experience and the lesson thereof is taken in good faith.
Food for thought “Life doesn’t reward desire; it rewards preparation”.
Food for thought “Life doesn’t reward desire; it rewards preparation”.
We move always!
Ahead Ahead as it is said in some circles.
Never be deterred by common everyday life challenges.
PMI
Sharp!
This is another wonderful piece from a sincere heart. This reminds me of the popular saying ‘he who have not prepared have prepared to fail’. This piece re-echoes to me that everything needs preparation even if you have mastered the skill and have the experience in the past. The world is fast changing.
A very interesting and informative piece, thank you for this beautiful work.
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Thank you Agatha, glad you enjoyed it.