Oritsejeminetemi

Guy—‘Ah this guy is tall oh, I don’t usually meet people that are taller than me’ Me—‘Oh yeah? Well thanks?’ Guy—‘You know most tall men usually give off this “tall guy energy” but not you, your energy is more, “I’ve got something to prove” This conversation was between me and somebody I was just meeting for the first time today. I can’t lie, I felt triggered, instantly remembering the emotionally charged atmosphere I grew up in and all the trauma that came with it. I knew he was right in a way, I definitely had something to prove. But then I thought about it, doesn’t everybody? Why does the idea of having something to prove make me feel so bad? I quickly turned my attention to proofs in Mathematics. In Maths, it’s not enough to say that something is true—how? Under what conditions? You have to prove it. Anybody that has written any high level Maths exam will be familiar (albeit uncomfortable) with the idea of proofs. But why bother? Why go through all that stress? Why is it not enough to know and say that something is true. Why prove it? What does this have to do with life? Motivation and Persistence: Just as a mathematician is driven by the challenge of proving a theorem, having something to prove can motivate us to pursue our goals with determination and resilience. I couldn’t have determined the conditions I grew up in, but looking back on all of it, I can say for sure that wanting to prove that I could be more than my environment helped me grow as I always had something to look forward to—be it a goal, an ideal or a desired trait. Growth and Learning: The process of proving a theorem often leads to new insights and knowledge. Similarly, striving to prove ourselves can lead to personal growth, learning, and the development of new skills. Most people will stay stuck in their comfort zones all their life. The drive that comes with having something to prove and the process of it (no matter how painful) can lead to immense growth and development, that would otherwise not happen if one remained in comfort. Transformation: Just as proofs can transform assumptions and hypotheses into established truths, having something to prove can transform challenges into opportunities, leading to significant life changes and accomplishments. I’m definitely not the same person I was two decades ago Contribution: Finally, proofs contribute to the body of knowledge in mathematics. Likewise, striving to prove oneself can lead to contributions that benefit others, whether through inspiration, innovation, or direct action. Which is why sharing this for whoever cares to read up to this point is important. Most people like me will not be able to do something about their growing conditions until it’s too late and they develop that ‘something to prove energy’. But despite the trauma, having something to prove can be the thing that saves your life, depending on how you look at it. My TED talk has finished.