The second question of this week's prompt happens to be the same essay question in an English Language examination I took when I was in class two of my elementary school although, the question then was rephrased as, "Who is Your Role model". Needless to say, I'll be writing the same names I penned down in that exam hall some years back.
I believe an individual can have multiple role models or supposed idols we all look up to because there's no way all we want or aspire to be can be found in one individual hence, I'll highlight the few idols that I had reverenced over time.
The Soccer Stars; Christiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi
https://pixabay.com/illustrations/renaldo-christiano-7210443/
These great men share this same spot because even till now, I still can't seem to place one over the other and I honestly don't have a favorite when it comes to these two.
I hung around male company a lot when I was a child, virtually all my playmates were boys as I didn't relate with the female folk that much. I always tagged along whenever the boys left the class to go play soccer and with time,I picked interest in the sport and also began playing. As I got older, I developed a passion for this sport and tried to be better at it with each passing day. I began watching the game on television, paying close attention to each detail so I could have new moves to tackle my opponents in the field the next day. It was at this time in my life that I found these two stars basking in all their glory. I can't recall who I saw first but at that point, I didn't need a soothsayer to tell me that I was looking at two demi gods and watching them play fanned my desire to be better on the field.
What drew me to Messi was his speed, his quick and accurate passes that his opponents hardly predicted or intercepted, his ability to intercept his opponents moves incredibly, the way he literally stole the ball from their feet. Infact, his agility just blew my mind.
For me then, Ronaldo was the king of control and deception when it came to the art of soccer, his ability to possess the ball till he eventually drove it into the net most times was something that I always admired, the way he dribbles his opponents leaves me doubled over in fits of laughter cause he either makes them lose their balance or he tackles them evenly and leaves them with a dazed look of exasperation on their faces.
These two men would always occupy a special place in my heart and no matter the stars that rise after them or who the world says the G. O. A. T is, these two would forever be the G. O. A. T's to me.
Dr. Paul Orhii (Former Director of NAFDAC)
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NAFDAC is an acronym which stands for National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control. It is the duty of this agency to make sure that harmful and poisonous substances are not distributed to the general public for consumption. They also root out traders who willfully engage in the sale and distribution of expired products. Furthermore, they ensure that disciplinary actions are meted out to them.
At a certain point in time, Dr. Orhii, a renowned pharmacist with a doctorate in neuropharmacology was in charge of this agency and endeavoured to steer it in the right direction. There was a program that aired on the television then, I can't recall the title but I do remember that this particular program highlighted the actions taken by NAFDAC officials to ensure that expired drugs and food items weren't in stores hence not liable for consumption. I always imagined myself a part of this team, wearing the red NAFDAC uniform and actively carrying out my duties to my country and my fellow citizens at large.
Whenever I remember what endeared me to this particular man, I feel like a complete doofus because prior to this time, I should have been aware of the powers that lies within the subconscious, of how things you say,hear and believe in can actively change your life pattern, goals, ambitions or turn you into a total tool of destruction and makes your will and resolve weaker. Growing up, my mom would have little talks with my siblings and I, advising us on career paths to choose in the long run, she attached a profession to each person based on our habits and interests (mine was pharmacy). She'd repeat this as often as she could conditioning our minds to push us to make choices veered towards the direction she was guiding us to. It wasn't until I read the book 'Learn To See From Within ' authored by @deraaa where she talks about the powers embedded in our subconscious, how you can harness and control it and how it can make or marr you as an individual, that it all started coming back to me, my eyes were opened to the fact that everything I had let sink into my subconscious has played a major role in who I am today, the person I hope to become, what I hope to achieve in the long run and the supposed flaws I need to work on and for this Coach, I say a very heartfelt thank you because you helped open my eyes to the gifts my mother bestowed on me all this time.
On that particular day I saw Dr. Orhii on the television, I was paying no attention whatsoever to the screen because I hated news and anything even slightly related to news, I viewed them as boring and a trigger for paranoia hence, they never caught my attention. My mum on the other hand was in the kitchen but was paying close attention to what was happening in the sitting room including my lack of interest in the talk show. She simply walked into the sitting room, settled herself on one of the seats and mumbled silently (but loud enough that I could hear, "hmm a pharmacist is on the show today", that surely caught my attention almost immediately cause I hadn't seen anyone who identified as one and I wanted to know how they acted, where they worked.... everything about them. I remember voicing out these questions to her to which another simple reply awaited, " if you pay attention to what he's saying,you'll definitely find out". From that day on, what I saw and heard prompted my desire to pursue and attain success in this particular career.
It's safe to say that even though I did look up to these individuals and even aspire to be just like them at a certain point in time, I have realized that I don't need to step into anybody's shoes when I have my own shoes to fill, I don't have to be a copycat, parody or shadow to a star that has already shone, I don't have to tread someone's exact footsteps when I can carve my own path. Bottom line is, I can literally be 100% of myself and no one else.
The only reason why my mom isn't in this list of role models is the fact that she's my biggest inspiration and I know when I'm older, I'm surely going to be borrowing a few pages from her books. Her words of advice and encouragement always egg me on and hardens my resolve to work harder, everything I earn or achieve is always worth it when I see that triumphant smile on her face on my behalf and now it's my aim to keep it there.
I could also say I inspire myself because believe it or not,sometimes when you're dragged into a dark corner,you can only follow the sound of your voice to see the light again. I know that whether I succeed or fail, I'm at the receiving end of it all so why choose failure?. I make it my aim to be an improvement of the version I was yesterday with each new dawn that breaks, I harness and control the pain from the wounds of my previous struggles, the anger at all those who said I won't amount to anything. I remind myself that their words mean nothing as long as I put my all and give it my best shot. In the end,I won't be doing it to just show them that I CAN but because I'm aiming for the pinnacle of success.
Alas, last but not least, music . This is the food for my soul and it could very well surprise you how listening to the right words on the right beat, from the right people with the right melody at the right time can literally add fuel to your fire as it did mine.