Being 2nd — Note to the Up-and-Coming
“Until it is my turn, I will keep clapping on for others”. This would probably be one of the greatest tweets to see from a youngster, especially in this 21st century ‘speed zone’ — where it is all fast, furious and unflinchingly competitive.
There is barely a breather for anyone, and having once been a student of population genetics and evolution — I have never seen a better live elucidation of the Charles Darwin’s theory of ‘the survival of the fittest’.
This haze is, somehow unnoticed, leaving a lot of casualties in its wake — with millions of young dreams and hearts losing out their belief, morality and sense of relevance because they are feeling lost, unnoticed, less resourceful or unappreciated. The fast lane gets the young lot to miss out on the truth, that in a rather bizarre irony, they are rather doing so much well — in accordance with their present time, prowess and circumstances.
Incidentally, this anchors the drive for most prodigies to amass wealth, fame, recognition and ranking through all means and within the littlest of times. It largely spurs the modern-day quest for youngsters to place fame over integrity and power over the process.
The haze obscures the understanding that everything evolves in and with time and in the unique design of the universe, we are all taking up a distinct space and relevance as best as we can get — irrespective of how apart it is from the ideal we picture.
These spaces we occupy, by themselves, make us functional and the sooner we acknowledge its necessity on our journey, the better we get to function, establish ourselves and most essentially, grow within that space. It is not until we accept this aspect of growth and be content at every stage, we may never find true happiness and more, see the magnitude of what we have.
To the up-and-coming, like my mentor Prof. Rexford Oppong Assasie taught me: be sure to remember that, the podium is preceded by a number of steps — three to count the least. The One Big Great Show was always set up by the hundreds of non-ticketed travailing rehearsals. The Grand City of Rome was not built in a day and surely, to be first, there would have to be a time of being 2nd. Avoid cutting corners and ways; be refined by the process and time.
So if you have to intern now, do so and revel in the joy of being able to learn from the firsts. If you have to study now, be hopeful of the rigorous nurturing you are handing your mind and the great investment you are making in yourself. And if you only have to assist a Major, do so with a willing heart. When they win, be rather appreciative of your mechanical essence and contribution — however insignificant it may seem. You may not be paid in kind, but in a few year’s time, you would marvel at the wealth of experience you paid for with your submissiveness.
This is no incentive to remain stagnant however — but merely a reminder that it is very okay to enjoy the journey: the learning, the grooming, the grinding, and not just the stage-mount. Let your being in the process challenge you to attain higher; evolving with time.
Here thus is why I hold this much fondness to the timeless phrase first mentioned. So to all young and growing persons, be okay with being 2nd for a while — learning and bettering yourself in the time. With consistency, discipline, commitment, grit and Grace — you will change spaces. Until you get there, revel in being a student, an apprentice, a wingman, a fixer, a facilitator — be it with all your heart. Love it. Grow through it. Be the best of yourself in it.
