NCYA 2023: Chideraa Anochirionye – Breaking Barriers Essay (2nd Place)

Chideraa Anochirionye, a 500 Level Law Student at Babcock University emerged in second place in the 2023 Breaking Barriers Essay Contest of Nigeria Campus & Youth Awards 2023.

The Human Condition: Surpassing the Limits

In 1879, sequel to several failed jobs and just as many inventions, a young man at Menlo Park improved inventions on what is now known as the first incandescent light bulb. Also, across the continent of Africa, was a devout activist who faced over 27 years of incarceration for challenging and eventually overthrowing a despicable regime of segregation. In a similar fashion, a young woman in Nigeria dared to use her gift for writing to educate and inform millions across the world about the inequalities faced by women, despite the backlash she faced from opposition to her stance.

Today, Thomas Edison, Nelson Mandela, and Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie are all known as figureheads who overcame several obstacles thrown in front of them, to make a significant impact in the world. Their determination to achieve their goals despite the many trials and opposition encountered by them is what makes us regard them as exceptional, what makes us regard them as barrier breakers.

Obstacles are bound to occur at some point in a person’s life. Indeed, if everyone could simply have what they wanted with the flick of their fingers, several things in our present reality might cease to exist. Perhaps there would be no need for money since everyone could easily wish for prosperity; no need for tests and evaluations because anyone can easily summon a genie and pass them with no stress. However, this utopian ideal of rubbing one’s fingertips against a lamp and achieving one’s aims does not exist, and, quite honestly, would diminish the significance of such wins because anyone could achieve it.

Roger Crawford, a physically challenged tennis hall of famer, is credited for inspiring many to overcome adversity when he said,

“Being challenged in life is inevitable, being defeated is optional.”

Crawford simply reminds us that we cannot run away from difficulties, but we do have the option of defeating them or allowing them to defeat us. To pretend that obstacles do not exist would be to ignore a significant aspect of the human experience. What distinguishes great individuals in history is not the difficulties they faced–this is something that every person on the planet faces. Instead, it was their courage to confront those hurdles and not allow them to derail their aspirations that earned them a place in history. This is what it means to break barriers, and everyone is capable of doing so.

It is clear that no notable achievement was handed down to its recipient on a silver platter. These individuals experienced a number of challenges that hampered their growth, called their victory into doubt, and made them question the need to embark on a journey of this kind. However, what sets apart these people from others who may have embarked on similar journeys is their willingness to defy the odds, push through thorny barriers and seek the treasure that lies ahead, eventually clutching it with bloodstained hands. Defeating obstacles is never easy.

Huge sacrifices are made behind the scenes that are critical to the eventual win. However, many of these extraordinary achievements would not exist today if not for these sacrifices and drive for success. Many people assume they are unable to break down barriers due to factors such as their age, which is untrue because any individual, regardless of age, is capable of overcoming any hurdles they may face. The inspiring story of Malala Yousafzai, a young Pakistani activist who won the Nobel Peace Prize at the age of 17 for her battle for equal rights to education, is a prime example of this.

Worth mentioning is the determination of many older people who, despite the challenges of their age, pursued academic endeavours and attained excellence—an accomplishment that is nothing short of ground-breaking.

Some people feel that one’s accomplishments must be widely known before they can be considered ground-breaking, but this could not be further from the truth. People continuously defy the odds in our communities and organizations to set great records that will leave indelible marks on the lives of people around them. It goes without saying that an accomplishment must not make the headlines before it can be labelled ground-breaking. We go above and above in our personal lives, which is nothing short of extraordinary.

Another reason many people are yet to overcome barriers is that they are waiting for a significant obstruction that plainly reveals itself as a “barrier.” However, it is not until a significantly identifiable obstruction appears flashing with neon lights that one can be said to have encountered a challenge. As humans battle for survival in this race called life, everyone encounters obstacles from time to time. An infant is tasked with learning to crawl and eventually stand and walk, a teenager with determining his passions and abilities and how to hone them, and adults are tasked with becoming greater than they already are every day.

Thus, the first step in breaking barriers is recognising that they exist in the first place. The saying ‘knowledge is power’ is not far-fetched in this regard, as one cannot fight a battle, he is unaware of. As a result, there is a need for a critical examination of oneself and one’s present circumstances in order to identify any challenges that may exist. The main task in conquering obstacles is not identifying them but refusing to be overcome by them. Individuals who have completed multiple herculean endeavours all have one thing in common: resilience.

Similarly, for a company to thrive and succeed in perpetuity, it must be resilient. Overcoming hurdles cannot always be accomplished by repeatedly performing the same action without learning. Thus, with each new problem, it is one’s responsibility to learn from it and realize where to improve and where to refrain from doing anything. While it is always encouraged to try and try again, it is also necessary to learn from each experience, since these lessons are the proof of one’s effort in the long run.

However, resilience does not imply a refusal to learn or adapt. The world will never be static, and those who want to bridge the gap must be aware of this and take responsibility by gathering as much helpful information as possible. Companies such as Coca-Cola, Kellogg’s, and UAC have all remained committed to staying relevant for years, and they could not have done so without adjusting to society’s ever-changing conditions. The same is true for individuals who observed the society’s state of affairs and aligned their goals in a manner that would make them even more attainable.

After all is said and done, one can legitimately wonder why it is necessary for young people and individuals to tear through boundaries. The answer is all around us: in the innovative technology we use, in the more efficient ways we complete our tasks, in the supportive laws that have put an end to injustice, and in the lives that have been made better by the deeds of everyone who dared to push themselves beyond their comfort zones.

Additionally, there is nothing more fulfilling than achieving individual success while helping others. With a shift in how we do things in society, the call is stronger than ever for us to overcome all challenges in order to make a difference in the world around us. With everyone having something to offer, we can stand out by consistently attempting to make an impact, regardless of the odds. Bridging the gap, then, begins with a purposeful effort to not stay down, an effort that is not beyond any human.