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I was barely fifteen, a young girl in the University. I taught I'd a good orientation, at least, I'd a brother in the system, flocks of friend who were doing fantastic. I'd also gone the extra mile to seek for advice from my course adviser, mentors and other tutors. They told me the best was a 2.1, and if I could achieve it, I was the best. The department had never had records beyond that. I believed it. I was the best in my class. I also heard from friends, the best record people made out of school was the 4 pointers, so I set the limit. I must graduate with a 2.1 and my GPA must be in the range of the 4 points. I did! It was fantastic that I did set goals and made them, but I was never beyond my comfortable zone. My C.P.G.A was not better than my average plan. Although, every session, I moved further up and achieved more milestones; but it was just by a few degrees. 
Last day of signing out of school came. I was told I made it, which was usual. I also heard a colleague of mine came out with a first class. That broke all the record in my mind. The barrier in my mind simple shattered like a broken mirror. First class, I wandered! She broke the record everyone taught was impossible; the barrier I'd set in my mind. How! When! I kept pondering. I went back to my drawing board, counted a few milestones backward and realized, I could have made it too, if I wanted to. But, it's my fault, I suppose. I am responsible for my decisions and I know I am. I would've comfortable surpass the record. 

Few months, I think a year afterwards. I had my convocation. I met my second enemy, the barrier I had set before entering the University. Usually, I did not roll with the best. I was an average student. Let just say, I pass or I do just fine. Not bad! Not good! So I took the challenge to join the best league. Yes I did! I graduated as the second best from my department in my year. But come to think of it, Is there anything like second best?  Best is best. Good is good. If you are excellent, you are one. I didn't know that at that time. But this day, having no choice than to watch the best, as they climbed up the stage to receive awards, I knew there was nothing like second best. I realized if you are the best, you will surely be known for it. You might be lucky, if they ever choose to recognize the second three, the so called “Bronze and Silver” medal— that’s if they are buoyant to reward. I sat at the end of the auditorium watching those who had persistence and broken the walls and barriers of their life to set the new standard. Lucky me, I got the name of one of them. He was the best in the entire faculty. They said, he graduated from the department I taught was the worst in the University; the most difficult for a biologist brain—the assumed sadist of all.  I heard if you managed to have a credit, you’d run to church to share a testimony. I wandered for years, how he managed to achieve it. I taught he had extra hours than I did. He must be a super hero, I taught. He must be a genius, may be sometimes, the taught still crosses my mind. I met him several years later and more so realized that, he is more human than me.

Sometimes in life, all we need is a challenge. To watch someone do what we taught was impossible. I have heard and read the story of Roger Bannister and it does seem to amaze me that in life, it is very easy to set a record that will be the limit and even be the limit to the end of our life and vision. Roger Bannister broke the four minute mile record, “the act of completing the mile run in 4 minutes” in May 1954. Before then, no one went past that point, scientist also added the fact, and no human body could run past the standard without breaking off. After he broke the limit, over a hundred athletes have stunned the world with hundreds of 4-minute mile record. Who did it first? Offcourse I won't remember all of them. Only, Roger Bannister!

 “Inspire” helps you to learn simple lessons from small things. It challenges you to leave the status quo, to set standard rather than follow rules, to break your comfort zones and widen your scope, to think beyond the imaginable, to turn the mini things of life to brilliant successes. I found these resources and people amazing. There will always be something new on the table to learn. Leave the fishing for us, do the reading or listening. 

Oluwamitomisin