Wisdom Echefula took to his LinkedIn page to tell an inspiring story of how he conquered inferiority complex and constant phycological attack occasioned by disparaging comments constantly passed by people because of his size. In his words: “I want to urge everyone with an inferiority complex probably not because of your size but other factors to understand that the world looks out for what you can offer and not what you look like.”
Read his story
Almost a decade ago I went to write Post-UTME in Rivers State University of Science and Technology now Rivers State University and in the processing centre I met a woman who came along with her daughter. This woman asked the processing lady if I was there to write the exam as well and she said yes and the woman exclaimed ‘this small boy’. She went ahead to ask what course I was to study and I said law and she shouted even further ‘can this your small head carry?’ then everyone laughed hysterically and mockingly so I felt so bad and intimidated.
We went to the exam hall and I scored above 80% and her daughter who was way bigger than I was scored below 30% and she was shy to tell us the score but she eventually did with pain and shame.
How ignorant of her to think that the capacity of the human brain has anything to do with your size or your age but that statement added salt to injury because most people didn’t even believe I’d add an inch to my height ever.
There was equally a time I should be appointed as Senior Prefect boy in Secondary school but a dispute ensued between teachers as how would my fellow students obey this ‘small boy’ (I was way too small). My Principal and some higher powers felt it wasn’t about size but about capabilities, so I conquered and became Senior Prefect. This was a similar situation when I was to become Head Boy in Primary school.
Hilariously, there was equally a time I was to be made the Bell Ringer but another problem erupted with the excuse being that I was too small to ring the bell that either the bell wouldn’t sound loud enough or I’d fall ringing it. I ended up ringing the bell at various classes loudly.
Also during my first year in the University, I contested for an election as Provost in the Faculty of Law, Rivers State University and a Lecturer also called me out to the podium to make mockery of my size but that didn’t deter me as this leads me to a statement made by Dr Arugu that can never be erased in my head, he said ‘Big Things Comes in Small Packages’, I held that strongly.
I’ve constantly at all stages of my life being a subject of inferiority because of my size previously, that is why I am always grateful to my friends who unknowingly fought and won that psychological battle with and for me. Funny enough my size has been what ended up in pushing, encouraging and surprising me.
I want to urge everyone with an inferiority complex probably not because of your size but other factors to understand that the world looks out for what you can offer and not what you look like. Please strive, compete, pursue and position yourself. I wish I could recognize that woman and inform her that the small boy is now a Lawyer and also called to the Largest Bar in Africa.
All Thanks to God and for sure the Best Times are HERE.
Chairman, Big Things Comes in Small Packages.