Steem4nigeria Accelerator Contest Week127: Daring to be different

One day, I was inside a bus going to work. The bus wasn't full yet, everybody was rushing to meet the time, conductor in the other hand was shouting for people to hold change. Suddenly, one young man stopped the bus and entered, he didn't agree to sit down at the back like others. He insist that he want to sit at the front because he didn't like the way the conductor was squeezing people.

Everybody begin to laugh him, somebody behind me ,mock him saying “Is it only you that wants comfort?” But the guy didn't care for what anybody is saying. He just stand his ground until the driver allow him to sit at the front.

Later, heavy rain begin to fall, water was leaking from the roof of the bus, all the back passengers was soak. It's that same guy which insist to sit at the front was dry, and smiling. That moment teach me something: sometimes, daring to be different can save you from problem which others are facing.

To dare to be different simply mean that you will have the mind to stand out, even when the crowd are going one direction. There's a saying that says “follow who know road.” But sometimes, the road which everybody are following can lead to a better place. Daring to be different is when you choose your own lane, even if people will laugh at you, mock you, or call you “Mr too much.”

It can mean:

• Choosing a career path which is not the “popular” one.

• Standing for honesty when others are cutting corner.

• Following your dream, even if it's not fashionable.

It's courage that it takes, because peer pressure is very strong. But daring to be different is the only way which you can truly discover yourself.

Yes, truly I have surely dared to be different before. And I remember when I was in secondary school, everybody was rushing to join art class because they believe that art is easy, less stress, and it's a shortcut to pass WAEC. However, for me, I choose science class because I know mathematics and I love physics. People laugh at me, even some friends do ask me why I want to suffer myself. But I hold my ground.

At first,it was hard. My mates do call me “bookworm” and some do mock me that I am doing “oversabi.” But later, when I begin to solve tough calculations and even help others pass physics practical, it's the same people that begin to respect me. That experience show me that daring to be different do pay, but you will first accept insult before you receive praise.

For that my case, I maintain my stand till the end. I didn't join art class because I know that my strength is for science. If I follow the crowd, I would have struggle with literature and government which is not something I like.

But the truth is that, sometimes people do start different but later join others because the pressure was too much. Family can force you, society might mock you, and you can be tired. So daring to be different is not an easy journey. You need to be strong minded and clear vision to maintain it till the end.

This one has two sides.

Yes, it worth it:

• You will discover your true self.
• You can inspire others which do fear to stand out.
• You can achieve success which crowd can't give you.

But sometimes it's hard:

• People can isolate you.
• You can lose friends.
• You can face mockery and rejection.

Still, I believe that daring to be different do worth it most times. Because at the end, its your life that you wik live, not another person own. If you didn't stand for yourself, you will just be living shadow life.

Life is tough sometimes, and many people do prefer to blend in so that they won't attract problems. But the truth is that ,the people which are making real impact are those which dare to be different. Daring to be different can bring change.

Cc:
@steem4nigeria