Eli went to primary school a year late through the encouragement of his little sister. At school, he was a reluctant student and paid little attention to his lessons. He even managed to excuse himself from class with improvised reasons – one was dumping himself in the mud and returning home in such horrible display. But at the end of first grade he saw his classmate receiving an award for his outstanding performance in class. It motivated him to get serious in his studies that the next school year, he determined to prove his potential. Come second grade, Eli consistently emerged outstanding academically.

He was consecutively the top honor student up to high school. He was even elected as President of the Student Council and so gained the respect of his teachers and schoolmates. That respect came to the knowledge of his parents, to the extent that his teachers would voluntarily testify about Eli’s excellent academic and leadership skills in school. Yet despite these recognitions, Eli remained humble.

The last year of his secondary level brought a twist to the expectations of many when he turned his back to the academe to pursue reading the Bible.