My World is not so Strange:- Kweku Adoboli
I suppose it is essential that I tell you a little about myself, otherwise you might think I'm just some crazy guy intent on making you think my way is cool. Don't stop reading just yet, I've got some quite interesting things to tell you...
OK, it's time to blow my own trumpet. As you have gathered my name is Kweku, I am five months younger than Michael Owen, (but am not quite as good at football as he is), I come from Ghana in the tropical belt of West Africa, and I live in Israel. I am lucky aren't I? There's more...I am the former headboy of Ackworth School, (a Quaker boarding school in West Yorkshire, England), but I'll tell you more about that later.
My dad works in the United Nations so I have had the chance to travel the world, and that is why I have bits of my life situated in three continents out of seven. I come from a direct family of six; that is two parents, three sisters and me. Yes having four women under the same roof is difficult to handle at times, they gang up on me. But it is a much extended family, being African and all, so I don't have to live with their bullying too much because I can just walk away to my friend Breeze's house. He's Ghanain as well and he lives just down the road where we live in Jerusalem.
Inspirations
I
am obsessed with sport, music, good reading and material things,
(and girls as well).
Sport
My definition of sport; any activity which involves the quest to
push the body and mind, linked inextricably together, to levels
that have not been reached before. Any activity that requires a
person to strive for levels of development that are initially
only a dream but can be realised through unwavering determination
and ambition. Of course these are criterion for success not only
as an athlete but also as a human being in almost every other
walk of life.
Some people think about sport and they think, 'what a pointless waste of time'. Other people look at sport and they think, 'well it is a good way of keeping the human body fit and working at its prime'. Some think it's alright to say things like, 'it's only a game' and, 'it's the taking part that counts'. What rubbish. Try telling that to Michael Jordan, Michael Owen, Ato Boldon, Nwankwo Kanu or Donovan Bailey, (to name but a few sporting heros). These guys are at the forefront of their sports and they wouldn't have got there thinking such feeble thoughts as 'it doesn't matter weather you win or lose'. Their lives revolve about winning and losing, and so do yours and mine.
If life is all about winning and losing then how can sport not be about winning and losing. Take England's football team as an example, if taking part is all that mattered we would all be rapturous at the outcome of the 1998 World Cup Second Round match against Argentina. But no, all of England's players and supporters were and still are saddened to the point of being sick about the way England lost that match. You cannot say, 'it's only a game' in an effort to console the downhearted, they wouldn't be in such low spirits if it was.
I want to be successful either as an athlete, if I get the chance and if my body will allow, or as a chemical engineer. I wouldn't mind being a world class hundred metre runner such as Ato Boldon or Donovan Bailey. If that is not my way then I am determined to be successful through academics and the application of my mind and knowledge.
People in Sport who inspire me include Michael Jordan, Michael Owen, Alan Shearer, Sol Campbell, Nwankwo Kanu, Tiger Woods, Ato Boldon and Donovan Bailey.
Music
I use
music in different ways. When I am working I use it to
concentrate my mind and block out the distractions, Enya is
really good for that purpose. Sometimes I use it as inspiration,
strong African music takes me back to Africa and that is where I
get my inspiration from. All I have to do is remember the
hardships of those Africans that have come before me and the
struggles that they went through and I find some sort of inner
strength to go on and reach my goals. Lady Smith Black Mambazo
are a group of South African vocal singers who always stir my
emotions.
But more often than not I use music as a form of entertainment and there are many types of music that I like; rap, hip-hop, R & B, pop, classical, ethnic, etc. Artists that I like range from 2Pac to Enya, from Pavanne to Lady Smith Black Mambazo. There are times when I am a little sad so first I listen to some depressing music and feel sorry for myself, then I put on my favorite song, 2Pac's 'Life Goes On', to make me feel better again. This process is one that doesn't take long and one that no-one else sees, so I always seem to be happy.
People in music who inspire me include Tupac Shakur, Lady-Smith Black Mambazo, Enya, Elgar and Notorious BIG.
Good
Reading
Good reading comes in many forms be it through magazines,
newspapers or books.