Wednesday, June 23, 2010

PRODIGY OR CLONE?


You walk like me. You talk like me. You dress like me. You even laugh like me. You still are not me. The best all those can make you is ‘like me’, not me. The best they will make you is a near copy or perhaps, a carbon copy. I am still me, you are still you.

Those are some ranting from my annoyed mind. I’m pissed at those who have turned their mentors to their molding block, their creator. They have moved from prodigy to clones; ah! We knew them as A but after a while of mentorship under B, they are now more of B than A. But mentor B should help you to become a better A, not a worse B!

Receiving mentorship is a powerful tool to being guided to the kind and aspect of greatness one desires. We all need mentors, we all should be mentored. But mentors are like teachers, they only should pass some things across, not all things, including how they use the bathroom. Copying how your mentor talks, is groomed, walks, or dresses does not increase the mentorship; neither does it increase the essentials you derive from him. It only tells us you are not very sure of exactly what you want of or from him.

All these physical efforts take your mind off exactly what you should be focusing on into the art of looking like him. Mentors add to making us, they don’t make us. Mentors help us become better us, not a worse them.

Catch his character, not his characteristics. Know why he talks, not how he talks. Understand why he laughs, not how he laughs. What he wears is less important than why he wears it. Learn his skills, not his swags. Learn his discipline, not his gesticulation. Learn his attitude, not his magnitude. Learn his perspiration, not his articulation. Know the ‘why’ and the ‘how’ will be an easy task.

3 comments:

omobayode said...

Solid word Yemi. It breaks my heart to see people especially the young ones turn into carbon copies of their mentors in the name of mentorship/tutelage. I love the conclusion that knowing the "why" helps make the "how" a lot easier.

Adeyemi said...

Thanks Atty. It's that same heart break that provoked this expression. Hmm!

OPEYEMI OYINLOYE Jnr. said...

Hmmmmmmmmmm........Thought provoking, it's so sad to see a clear deviation from the sole purpose of Mentoring. "I’m pissed at those who have turned their mentors to their molding block, their creator. They have moved from prodigy to clones; ah!" Well said.