My father passed away on June 2, 2012. I still remember the Saturday morning I got the phone call with stunning clarity. It took me five years to talk about him without crying. It was the same for my siblings.
Grief is such a strange thing.
Now, it is so much easier to remember and reflect on the memories I have of him with fondness and joy.
Ambassador Mark Nnabugwu Eze was a man of few words, but those words always resonated deeply. A number of these words have guided me as I navigate the world without him. He raised me and my siblings to strive for excellence, regardless of our gender.
In memory of him, I am sharing ten of the most important lessons my father taught me.
- Integrity should be your most important value. Use it to judge what and how you do things.
- You are never the most of anything—not the prettiest, ugliest, tallest—but you are the most you.
- Only a person who has not seen war wants it. Be a peacemaker.
- Be as smart as you can. Your gender does not limit you.
- Education is very important but so is experience and knowledge. Never stop learning.
- Be your own competition and beat the last standard you set every time.
- You can do it if you try. If you fail, try again.
- Be kind and generous. Always help those who can’t help themselves.
- Be authentic. Be humble. Never esteem yourself above others.
- God first.
Words on marble.
I still miss you.
Your Asa,
‘Napa