Many people, young and old, have lofty ideas and dreams of who they would like to be, what kind of person to become, and anticipate becoming in life or the future profession to pursue and life purpose. Also, many people seem unfulfilled in their life goals and pursuits because of disadvantaged backgrounds and obstacles. A book that looks at persons who beat odds to succeed in their life pursuits can be inspiring. Resolved to Become is about the life journey of someone born and raised in a rural community in Southeastern Nigeria about the period of the World War II and became the person he is in life by divine providence. With a clear perception of his personal identity, upbringing in a Seventh-Day Adventist Christian home, self-discipline, hard work, and determination, he resolved to actualize his life dreams in his native country, Nigeria, and in the United States of America.
The book portrays the life of Chukudi, who early in life had a clear understanding of his identity (who he is and could become) and resisted the pressures within his sociocultural community and environment and fellow youth, including friends that could have influenced him to settle for mediocrity and derailed his plans in life. Through many challenges, obstacles, and disappointments--including growing up in a typical rural and underprivileged community with limited choices and opportunities for Western education, interruption of university program for three years by war, illness, and irreparable loss of loved ones that he experienced in life--God alone brought consolation, blessings, and strength to go through the crucibles and unpleasant situations faced. Thus, the obstacles could only delay but not deter him from becoming what God ordained, a professional and emeritus professor outside his country of birth.
In reflecting on the author's life journey, the book hints at the foundations of a life fulfilled, the value of hard work in the words of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, "The height that great men reached and kept were no attained by sudden flight but they while their companions slept they were toiling upwards in the night," and in the scriptures as penned by Solomon in the book of Proverbs 6-23, "Go to the ants thou sluggard: consider her ways and be wise. Which having no guide, overseer or ruler, provided her meat in the summer and gathered her food in the harvest."
The book provides many object lessons that would help young people to succeed regardless of the obstacles they may face. Also, it encourages people to not allow difficulties to limit them in their resolve to pursue their ambitions, to place their trust in God the Master Planner, and to cling to His promises in Jeremiah 29:11: "For I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Claiming this promise, Chukudi was quite unwilling to let his age, environment, and race or other factors, including intrigues of colleagues, define him or hinder, in any way, his thirst for intellectual development, excellence in his work, and giving back to the society God's blessings and endowments to Him. Above all else, to learn to trust in God and learn to depend on His word.
