by Stephen Aguegboh

 ”In the movie, Prison Break, Agent Mahone told Michael Scofield: “We think alike, the only difference between us is that you are a few seconds faster than I am”; he meant that that was the only edge Scofield had over him.”

As a kid, I always dreaded the fact that I stammered. Aside from the fact that it made me a laughing stock; there is this frustration about not being able to express yourself that comes with it. It was even more painful when I lost arguments I could easily have won, simply because I could not express myself.

In an attempt to salvage myself from this pain, frustration and element of ridicule that stuttering reduced me to, I started praying about it. I also sought a logical approach and one day, a priest asked me to express myself very slowly. That day, it dawned on me in my little understanding, that the principal culprit of my act of stammering was my speed- the fact I was too fast for myself. I wanted to say things almost at the same time I thought about them. Since then, I’ve been able to relatively control it, one would hardly notice I ever had that weakness except on rare occasions when I am overwhelmed with anger (another weakness that took me time to work out and definitely a story for another day).

As I became older, I realized that I had an uncontrollable flair for speed. My greatest numerical strength is embedded in the fact that I am quicker at figuring out numerical quantities, compared to my peers. After developing my writing skills, I also noticed that I wrote constructively at a relatively fast pace. Even the rate at which I punch the buttons of a computer keyboard says it all. I am a lover of speed. Sluggishness, slowness, anything that negates speed bores me. Even a relatively slow internet connection could make me fall asleep. Is this a strength or a weakness?

Speed is obviously a strength in its own form. In the movie, Prison Break, Agent Mahone told Michael Scofield: “We think alike, the only difference between us is that you are a few seconds faster than I am”; he meant that that was the only edge Scofield had over him. No more, no less. And that was also an indication of intelligence.

Beyond strength, speed can also connote intelligence. Two people in an exam hall could have the same academic import and similar way of expressing their import. However, one could edge-out the other simply by virtue of speed …being able to scribble down more import than the other basically as a matter of time.

What I do not concern myself with is, the negative import of speed – and its excessiveness. The merits of the phenomenon speed though, are widespread. If you still have doubts, simply ask Usain Bolt.

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Stephen Aguegboh is a graduate of Economics from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka; He is also a huge fan of Chelsea FC. He tweets from @SteveMcKenzy

30 Days, 30 Voices series is an opportunity for young Nigerians from across the world to share their stories and experiences – creating a meeting point where our common humanity is explored.

Op-ed pieces and contributions are the opinions of the writers only and do not represent the opinions of Y!/YNaija