I Believe in Persistence

Looking back from my past, I would say that I have faced many obstacles in life and I scaled through them all by believing in persistence as my key to success. I learnt not to give up or relent until I achieve all my desired expectations.

At a very tender age, I tend to think I could never take part in any sports and that competing with my mates in sporting activities is really off my limit. I had this opinion because I saw myself as being very skinny even though I was very tall. I was so skinny to the extent that any strong breeze or wind shoves me off my feet. My friends nicknamed me “bean-pole”; they were comparing me to the long thin poles that farmers use to keep beans plants in shape in those days. In addition to this, my father would tell me not to twist too much when dancing so my thin, long legs would not break. That was how lean and fragile I looked as a fourteen year old.

My perception about myself changed one sunny day while I was a junior in my high school, Government College Ibadan; it was a season for our annual inter-house sporting competition. I was cheering some of my classmates during a 100-meter race when a senior student, James Oke, spotted me. James took interest in my looks and told me how I can be the “Ben Johnson” of my time (Ben Johnson was the fastest sprinter in 1988 Summer Olympics). He told me how perfect I looked for track and field sports. He reiterated all the benefits in being a sports man and the fame that comes with it. I gave him every excuse I could think of but to my surprise, he insisted I should run and practically forced me to take part in a race. I was unwilling to bulge, then, a part of me wanted to overcome my fear of “breaking” and losing. I grudgingly partook in a 100-meter race and with tears on my face, I ran. I totally forgot how long the race lasted but realized James carried me shoulder high and was bragging how he discovered the school’s future 100*100-relay team captain. I had just won my first 100 meters race and I did not have a clue. That was the turning point in my life. I became a star in my little corner.

I realized my potentials as a splinter; this made me decide at that very moment, to do all it takes to be the fastest splinter in my school. I wake up early each day and go to the tracks to practice and I made the gym my favorite spot every weekend and holidays. I remained focused and steadfastly built some important core muscles. My skinny legs began to