After graduating from Brickdam Secondary School, David Adams enrolled at the University of Guyana to pursue a degree in biology. Initially harbouring aspirations of entering the field of medicine or dentistry, he aimed to transition into one of these areas after completing his first year. On his application, medicine was listed as his first choice and dentistry second. However, upon assessment, his grades fell short, resulting in his application being declined for both programmes. Adams attributed this setback to his own lack of discipline and admitted to struggling to adapt to the university’s culture.
Despite the disappointment, Adams didn’t dwell on failure; instead, he viewed it as motivation to improve. Recognising the importance of discipline in achieving success, he closely observed a peer who exemplified this trait. This fellow student was consistently dedicated to his studies, prioritising them over social invitations without hesitation. Inspired by this peer’s disciplined approach, Adams engaged him in conversation, during which the peer shared a quote often attributed to the Greek philosopher Aristotle: “We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, therefore, is not an act but a habit.”