It may seem that you are ‘disadvantaged from birth’ due to your location in the Third World (Africa, the Caribbean or South America). As humans, it is natural to desire good things, good opportunities to live life well and fulfilled. As far back as the days of the bible we have seen migrations taking place for those in search of a better life. Likewise, we have seen those who made it happen against all odds right in the location others were saying there is no good to be found. Ultimately, the circumstances and challenges of each person will vary.
My take on the matter is, “always try first of all to exhaust all options within your motherland before sojourning to a foreign land”. No point complaining that there are no ‘opportunities to be found’ when you can’t even be disciplined to exert yourself to at least take advantage of what currently is available around you. If you are physically and mentally lazy and undisciplined in your motherland, you will also be physically and mentally lazy and undisciplined in the foreign land of supposedly ‘greater opportunities’.
Maybe it is your mindset you first of all need to work on, then once you’ve exhausted what is around you, it might be time to explore horizons in the foreign land. That said, despite the seemingly glitter of the foreign lands it also comes with its own set of challenges –there are invisible boundaries that tries to put a ceiling on how far you can go, where you can live and what you can earn.
I have seen and observed over the years some people leaving their well paid jobs in their motherland to travel to the foreign lands (UK, US or Canada) only to live life at a standard of living worse than where they were coming from. Yet I have seen the opposite happen. I have also observed those who have spent years in the foreign lands now going back to their motherland to pursue opportunities. There are no hard and fast rules here. The most important thing is to ‘count the cost’ very very carefully before making life-changing decisions.
Yes, the Third world like Africa may not offer some of the advancement of the First world but it does offer opportunities and other ‘sense of belonging’ that money can’t buy. Either way, as blacks, we should be prepared for twice the hard work in pursuing our potential – be it in the motherland or foreign lands.
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