When I was a kid, I thought death robbed the old. People who had lived a full blissful life and were ready to meet their maker. Finding out the truth was a really painful experience. Death is no respecter of persons. It can rob kings, royals, politicians, geniuses, drug addict, thieves and children. Now death has struck again this time robbing the content of one of its great mind. A great software developer and pioneer is gone.
Unfortunately I never meet Guido. But I had heard about him. Any software developer who hangs out at developer forums knows about Guido. I wish I could write about him as a person but like I said I never met him. I would have loved to meet or possibly work with him. As you know great minds think alike. I am sure there would be a lot to learn from him.
I just want to say I think Guido was a great man. He challenged himself to be more than what he could be. He wanted to influence change. He believed in what I believe in. We can use Information Technology to change Africa’s destiny. He rose above all odds and refused to just enjoy the spoils of a good life as a developer in a developed country but stay in the motherland and make something of himself.
When I was spending sleepless nights trying to debug difficult piece of code. there where times I wanted to throw in the towel. But I would think about people like Guido who were self taught and preserved. I would then try harder. Now I am a great software developer and I owe it in part to having such a role model.
To Guido, I want to say even in death you still inspire me. I have decided to challenge myself more and do as much as I can. Life is so precious an there are so many hurdles to cross. I also subscribe to the idea of Free Open source software. It is time developers had a united front. It is not easy being a developer but if we work together we can as one effect change. Goodbye Guido,I pray God grants you a place in the pearly gates. Your life was not in vain. Your legacy will forever live on.
Saturday, May 31, 2008
Challenging the Status Quo
The first time I heard the word status quo, I was so intrigued because it was not a typical english word. I found that it was a Latin word which meant "the condition or state of affairs that currently exists". Simply put "the state in which". So now I would start to understand the status quo. As a kid I learnt that it is not the status quo for girls to play with catapults or cars, climb trees or walls without being labeled tom boy or some other title.
My first challenge got me the title tomboy. So I readjusted my personality. I started to read. I filled my head with all sorts of information. I even read the encyclopedia for fun. I used to collect prizes at speech and prize giving day. Next title a nerd. So I had challenged the next status quo. Back in my day girls were not expected to take education seriously. You were lucky to even go to school and when you did you were not expected to be the Einstein in the class. I readjusted again but this time in a different fashion. I would start to act like how it was expected of me, but there was this passion in me and I just could not accept the status quo.
So I realized that I am different. I did not have to be what society had set out for my gender. The sky was truly my limit. I could be anything I wanted to be. My next challenge was when I feel in love with the computer. I would enter a male dominated world and try and tiptoe around the huge male ego. I did that and realized that the men thought I was weak and incapable. So I decided to challenge the status quo and prove that I was equal to my male counterparts. Then I realized there was no need to compete or prove myself but find the right group where I was embraced as a coequal and a team player.
My next challenge was to lead in this environment where I was outnumbered. That challenge was very difficult .But I led by example and treated every individual with respect. As a leader I am only as strong as the weakest link. So I lead with integrity. My Girlfriend would always ask why you must challenge the status quo, why rock the boat. The answer I give is why not. Great leaders challenge the status quo and effect change that lives on after them.
We have our whole lives to be ordinary, so if you can just for a moment try to be extraordinary. Challenge the status quo!
My first challenge got me the title tomboy. So I readjusted my personality. I started to read. I filled my head with all sorts of information. I even read the encyclopedia for fun. I used to collect prizes at speech and prize giving day. Next title a nerd. So I had challenged the next status quo. Back in my day girls were not expected to take education seriously. You were lucky to even go to school and when you did you were not expected to be the Einstein in the class. I readjusted again but this time in a different fashion. I would start to act like how it was expected of me, but there was this passion in me and I just could not accept the status quo.
So I realized that I am different. I did not have to be what society had set out for my gender. The sky was truly my limit. I could be anything I wanted to be. My next challenge was when I feel in love with the computer. I would enter a male dominated world and try and tiptoe around the huge male ego. I did that and realized that the men thought I was weak and incapable. So I decided to challenge the status quo and prove that I was equal to my male counterparts. Then I realized there was no need to compete or prove myself but find the right group where I was embraced as a coequal and a team player.
My next challenge was to lead in this environment where I was outnumbered. That challenge was very difficult .But I led by example and treated every individual with respect. As a leader I am only as strong as the weakest link. So I lead with integrity. My Girlfriend would always ask why you must challenge the status quo, why rock the boat. The answer I give is why not. Great leaders challenge the status quo and effect change that lives on after them.
We have our whole lives to be ordinary, so if you can just for a moment try to be extraordinary. Challenge the status quo!
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