Your Gift Will Always Make A Way For You

 

Your Gift Will Always Make A Way For You

‘’When you discover your gift, you find your area of authority in life.’’ –Myles Munroe

The easiest way to find your way in life is to find your area of gifting. There is a special gift that God has given you to wow and bless the world. Our individual gift is an indicator of our purpose and until they discover and nurture it, we will continue to travel another man’s journey. Of all the paths that can take a man to high places in life, there is only one that seldom fails and this is the path of our gifting. Against popular belief, our gifts and passion and not our degrees or certificates are our ticket to high places in life.

Rev. Sam Adeyemi said, ‘’ You will only shine in the area of your gifting.’’ Education can never take the place of your gift; our individual gift is an indicator of our purpose and calling in life. Any education that does not teach us to discover, develop and deploy our gifting and uniqueness to solve problems is a waste. Education will never make you wealthy; it will only provide a platform to express your gifts. Real wealth lies not in your educational qualifications; real wealth lies in your gift.

One of the most fantastic indigenous Nigeria story that also underline the limitless possibilities in human gift is the story of a woman who found a place for herself on the Nigerian 20 Naira Note. The Nigerian Naira note has always been decorated with the faces of past heroes and former presidents; nobody ever thought that a village woman “armed” only with a special gift for pottery will find a place where only kings dwell. Kwali is the first and only woman to appear in the Nigerian Currency: her portrait is on the back of the Nigerian 20 Naira note.

Ladi kwali is the woman who changed the face of pottery in Nigeria and heralded the face of modern pottery through her special gift and dexterity in the act of pottery. She was born in the village of Kwali in the Gwari region of Northern Nigeria (the present Federal capital Territory, Abuja), where pottery was a common occupation among women. Ladi Kwali didn’t only see pottery as a casual occupation but also as a sacred and special gift that was meant to impact the world.

Her pots were noted for their beauty of form and decoration. She became famous for her experimental and innovative works, merging the Gwari style with modern techniques. The impact of her gift became widespread and reached the King’s Palace. Kwali took her time in making her design and they stood out because of their beauty and exquisite charm. The Emir of Abuja at the time, Alhaji Suleiman Barau, was so enchanted by her work that he bought many of her pieces for his collection. Several of her pots were acquired by the Emir, in whose home they were seen by Michael Cardew in 1950.

Through Kwali’s contact with Cardew, she and her work became known in Europe, Britain and America. The impact of her gift was felt beyond the shores of Nigeria far into the British Empire where she was made a member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (MBE) in 1963, and was awarded an honorary degree by Ahmadu Bello University in 1977. Her pottery was also displayed during Nigeria’s independence celebration in 1960. Her work was shown to great acclaim in London at Berkeley Galleries.

In 1980, the Nigerian Government invested her with the insignia of the Nigerian National Merit Award (NNMA), the highest national honour for academic achievement. Imagine a woman without any academic qualification obtaining the highest national award for academic achievement through tireless dedication to her gift. She received a number of other honours in her lifetime, including being made an officer of the Order of Nigeria (OON) in 1981. The Abuja Training Pottery center was renamed the Ladi Kwali Pottery Centre, and major roads in Abuja and Niger State are named after her. The Bible says, ‘’The gift of a man maketh room for him and bringeth him before great men.’’ For Kwali, her gift brought her before the Queen of England, made streets and roads named in her honour and created a ‘room’ for her on the Nigeria 20 Naira note!

It is poignant to know that the present educational system has been designed to prepare us to get addicted to looking for casual jobs that we sometimes end up becoming casualties. Myles Munroe said, ‘’To know the right places for people, we must know their area of gifting”. As an entrepreneurship coach, I have come to realize that the best way to help unemployed youths is not just to help them find jobs but to help them find their area of gifting and passion. I have come to realize that the best of us is always within. Youths must take out time to diagnostically navigate within themselves to discover their area of gifting and core competencies. You can monetize that thing that you are so passionate about and make legitimate money from it.

I am reaching out to all the youths out there to look inwards, to discover their gifts and talents. Stop attaching your destiny to the vagaries and vicissitudes of the economy around you. When you discover, develop and deploy your God-given gifts, you create your own economy! Discover your gift and ‘unleash’ it for maximum impact.

Expensive College in the US

If you’re thinking about attending college, you’ve probably realized that it’s a major financial commitment. “For most students and their parents, the financial aspect of applying and paying for college is a stressful one,” said James Lewis, president and co-founder of the National Society of High School Scholars, in an email to The Balance. “Year upon year, millions of students take out student loans and graduate with tens of thousands of dollars in debt.”

However, you don’t have to sign up for a lifetime of debt just to get a degree. It’s important to choose a school that fits your budget. And keep in mind that a school’s “sticker price” is often much higher than what you’ll actually pay once you factor in financial aid—as long as you take the initiative to find and apply for it. 

Not sure where to start? We rounded up the 20 least and most expensive schools in the U.S. so you have an idea of how much a college education could cost. Plus, you’ll learn why college is so expensive in the first place and how to keep your costs down.

Key Takeaways

• Factors such as a school’s location, reputation, and whether it’s public or private affect the annual cost to attend, which can vary widely.
• The sticker price for a four-year degree is usually much higher than the true cost of attendance once financial aid is considered.
• Students should apply for free financial aid such as scholarships and grants, as well as low-cost loans, to help pay for college.

Why Is College So Expensive? 

There are a lot of reasons why college is so expensive these days. In general, college tuition prices have been creeping up thanks to factors such as inflation, decreased state funding, higher enrollment, and more. However, some schools can also be more expensive than others due to certain characteristics.

Private vs. Public Colleges 

Private universities tend to be more expensive than public ones, in part because of how they’re funded. While public schools receive funding from the federal, state, and local governments, private schools rely on donations and tuition money to cover costs. However, even though private colleges tend to be more expensive on paper, it’s possible for an expensive private school to have a lower net cost than a public school if it awards a significant amount of financial aid to its students.

The average cost of college tuitionand fees for the 2020-2021 school year was $10,560 for state residents at public colleges and $37,650 for private colleges.1

Location 

Where a college is located can also affect the cost of tuition. For one, attending college as an out-of-state student raises the price considerably; public colleges are run and funded by the state via taxes, so residents of the state can attend those schools at lower tuition rates.2 Colleges that are located in high cost-of-living areas may also charge higher tuition prices.

Reputation 

Along with cost, a school’s reputation is often a major deciding factor for prospective students. However, you might not realize that the two go hand-in-hand. Highly reputable colleges usually charge higher costs to attend, while less reputable colleges tend to charge lower rates.

The 20 Most Expensive Colleges in the US  

Wondering how U.S. college costs compare? We ranked the top 20 most expensive four-year colleges based on annual cost of attendance for the 2019-2020 school year, along with their net costs (including financial aid). Note that the ranking excludes community colleges, technical schools, and other colleges focused on highly specialized degrees.

School and Location	Total Cost for In-State Students Living on Campus	Average Net Cost for In-State Students Living on Campus (Includes Financial Aid)
University of Chicago (Chicago, IL)	$81,531	$27,315
Columbia University in the City of New York (New York, NY)	$79,752	$23,306
Harvey Mudd College (Claremont, CA)	$79,539	$32,727
Northwestern University (Evanston, IL)	$78,654	$24,664
Barnard College (New York, NY)	$78,044	$28,204
Scripps College (Claremont, CA)	$77,588	$32,709
Brown University (Providence, RI)	$77,490	$29,392
University of Southern California (Los Angeles, CA)	$77,459	$29,528
University of Pennsylvania (Philadelphia, PA)	$77,264	$25,802
Dartmouth College (Hanover, NH)	$77,152	$33,574
Oberlin College (Oberlin, OH)	$77,124	$34,077
Duke University (Durham, NC)	$77,029	$27,020
Washington University in St Louis (St. Louis, MO)	$76,910	$26,869
Fordham University (Bronx, NY)	$76,891	$36,761
Trinity College (Hartford, CT)	$76,850	$34,460
Amherst College (Amherst, MA)	$76,750	$18,524
Southern Methodist University (Dallas, TX)	$76,710	$36,222
Yale University (New Haven, CT)	$76,645	$17,549
Occidental College (Los Angeles, CA)	$76,600	$29,638
Claremont McKenna College (Claremont, CA)

The 20 Least Expensive Colleges in the US  

Along with the most expensive colleges, we ranked the 20 least expensive colleges according to the same factors. See how they compare below.

School and Location	Total Cost for In-State Students Living on Campus	Average Net Cost for In-State Students Living on Campus (Includes Financial Aid)
Brigham Young University - Idaho (Rexburg, ID)	$12,448	$7,167
Elizabeth City State University (Elizabeth City, NC)	$13,496	$2,350
Great Basin College (Elko, NV)	$14,818	$7,437
Dalton State College (Dalton, GA)	$14,948	$6,543
Bismarck State College (Bismarck, ND)	$15,395	$9,420
Cameron University (Lawton, OK)	$16,162	$7,952
Oklahoma Panhandle State University (Goodwell, GA)	$16,275	$10,537
Middle Georgia State University (Macon, GA)	$16,339	$10,116
Rust College (Holly Springs, MS)	$16,700	$11,317
Montana State University-Northern (Havre, MT)	$17,025	$13,174
Kentucky State University (Frankfort, KY)	$17,078	$7,076
Gordon State College (Barnesville, GA)	$17,116	$9,935
University of North Carolina at Pembroke (Pembroke, NC)	$17,160	$10,228
Savannah State University (Savannah, GA)	$17,255	$10,220
East Georgia State College (Swainsboro, GA)	$17,324	$8,874
Fayetteville State University (Fayetteville, NC)	$17,521	$5,899
University of Wisconsin-La Crosse (La Crosse, WI)	$17,684	$14,580
The University of Montana-Western (Dillon, MT)	$17,699	$13,929
Southeastern Oklahoma State University (Durant, OK)	$17,708	$8,237

Paying for College 

Even though some colleges have high price tags, you’ll notice that the net cost can often be much lower than the published price. That’s largely due to the financial aid students receive. 

Some of the priciest and most reputable universities offer large amounts of financial aid, making it possible for students of all financial backgrounds to attend. Check out our list of the colleges that offer the most bang for your buck.

Below is a breakdown of the types of financial aid available to college students.

Scholarships 

Lewis said that when it comes to paying for college, students should seriously consider financial aid that doesn’t have to be paid back, such as scholarships. These can be awarded based on financial need, though they’re usually awarded on merit for academic excellence, athletic ability, or other talent. Scholarships can be found through national programs, local community resources, religious organizations, employer programs, advocacy groups, and more. 

Lewis added that it can be time-consuming to find and apply for scholarships, but it’s well worth the effort since you likely qualify for a number of opportunities. Using a scholarship search engine can help.

Grants 

Grants are another form of free financial aid, though they differ from scholarships in a couple of ways. First, they tend to be need-based. They’re also usually awarded by the government or school you plan to attend.

Student Loans 

Federal student loans are another type of financial aid. Unlike scholarships and grants, however, they do need to be repaid. The benefits of federal loans include low, fixed interest rates and several government-sponsored programs to help borrowers afford payments more easily.

If between free aid and federal student loans, you still have a gap in college funding, it’s also possible to borrow private student loans. These loans are offered by private lenders rather than the federal government. They’re often recommended as a last resort since they’re generally more expensive, require good credit to qualify, and don’t come with the same government-backed protections.3