In my insatiable thirst for reading, I have read biographies/autobiographies of prominent people in Nigeria and the world at large. Interes...
In my insatiable thirst for reading, I have read biographies/autobiographies of prominent people in Nigeria and the world at large. Interestingly, I discovered that about 80% of them have something in common, and that is the fact that they grew up in poverty.
They weren’t born with neither plastic nor silver or any spoon at – all. They grew up not having all they need or want, some of them had to go through the trauma and drama of a broken home, life presented them so many excuses to give up and live a notorious life but instead, their sorry state motivated them to do something useful with their lives.
The book ‘Gifted Hands’ gave an insight on the childhood and family background of the famous Dr. Ben Carson. His father left home when he was just 8 leaving his mother to take care of himself and his brother
in inner – city Detroit. An excerpt from page 12, 13 of the book summarily described how hard it was for Ben and his family when their father left;
“We just don’t have the money bennie. In the months after dad left, Curtis and I must have heard that statement a thousand times and of course, it was true….. I soon learned from the expression on my Mother’s face how deeply it hurt her to deny us and after a while, I stopped asking for what I knew we couldn’t have anyway.”
Unable to maintain their modest house in Detroit, they had to move to Boston and even at some point; Ben’s mum had to go for psychiatric treatments because of the physical, mental and emotional torture. At school, Ben had to endure being laughed at, racism, hunger etc.
However, at the end of it all, with the aid of his mother’s determination and strength coupled with his own self-will and perseverance, he managed to make it as a qualified Doctor. Not just an average or regular Doctor, one that is celebrated all around the world for giving little children another chance at life and most notably, his separation of the Siamese twins.
Apart from Ben Carson, let us examine the life of a man named; Goodluck Jonathan. In 2011, whilst campaigning for a political post, he shared how tough it was for him growing up. He narrated how he went to school barefooted… Now I want you to take a minute and just think of this; imagine pupils all assembled in a hall, ready to proceed to their various classes and ‘elder’ Jonathan strolls in barefooted, with his books in his hands or probably on his head and his uniform screaming for help, imagine how his colleagues would have looked at him, imagine how he would be treated in class or at the playground, he probably had no friends… such humiliation!
(Mr. Jonathan may not have mentioned anything about him not having a school bag or a ragged uniform but c’mon, if he couldn’t afford to buy a shoe, not even a slippers!! Where on earth will a school bag or a decent uniform come from?)
Goodluck’s desire for knowledge kept pushing him on and today, we all know the outcome, he is the President of the most populous Black nation in the world.
I can go on and on about individuals who rose from abject poverty to one of the most influential people in their respective country. I think there is this thing about poverty that makes its victim poised to make it, poised to go against all odds just to make a living, a decent living.
Unlike wealth that leaves most of its ‘lucky’ possessor relaxed and ennui, poverty tends to stretch people beyond limits, it helps bring out the best in them. With so many great people as living testimonies,
I really think that poverty is actually the greatest motivating factor.
So therefore, my dear friends, do away with all your money and possession, get my account details, send them to me and just remain poor, trust me, it will help bring out the best in you… you just might become the next Goodluck Jonathan.
Cheers!
Written By
ADESHINA PETER (@shina_pitta)
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