How My Perspective on a Role Model Changed
If there is actually something that growing up in Nigeria has done to me, I will say it has helped to reshape my perspective about a whole lot of things and this is something I am really so happy for. I remember when I was much younger, I usually look at my uncle from this high point of view.
Whenever I take a look at my uncle, I see someone that is successful in all around. He was educated, financially sound and also respected even in the society I lived. Whenever I see him, I see someone that carries himself with so much pride and confidence.
If there is something I really admire about him, it is the fact that there was a whole lot of achievements that was attached to him. This success has also given him a lot of privilege for him to advise a lot of people. Growing up, I always wish to be like him. But like they say always say, the more we grow, the more our perspectives about some certain things changed.
As I grew and understand life much more better, I begin to understand some flaws in his lifestyle. I noticed most of the time, he changes what he says compared to his actions. Even though when I have the opportunity to talk to him, he will always make sure that he advise me to be a honest man. But I begin to hear rumours of theft and illegal activities in his business.
Of course, I find it hard to believe at first because I knew who I have as an uncle growing up. Well I guess I was wrong and my perspective about him was totally wrong. Because as time goes on, there is a whole lot of evidence that was popping up which is now becoming difficult to deny it.
There was this particular incident that happened. In fact I will say this particular incident really changes a lot of perspective I has concerning him. I was told that he changes and manipulated financial figures in a business contract he has with one of a popular business partner in our community as of then. Even though he was confronted for that issue, he denied it and didn't take the blame.
That particular incident that happens to him which exposes his real behaviour outside makes me to understand that sometimes, success that we usually admire might not be built on only hard work. It can be other illegal activities that generated the success for people. Some people that we usually looked up to that we want to become, if only we know what they are doing underground to achieve the success that always tempt us, we will cease to dream to become like them.
Since that incident, no matter the success I saw someone has in life, it will not add any pressure to me and I am very careful of who I picked as my role model. I didn't notice only use success as the criteria for someone to be my role model. When I am talking about success, I mean probably financial success that we usually celebrate. Now one of the major criteria for choosing a role model is that I looked at the person's character and reputation.