Sophia Rodrigues - New Zealand 
Editor - Kids ARENA
 
Sophia Rodrigues is a business journalist, an accountant and a dressmaker. As a journalist, she has worked with large companies like Dow Jones and has several story breaks to her credit. Her biggest story was her reporting on India’s foreign-exchange reserves touching the $100 billion mark where she beat India’s Finance Minister who announced it the day after. Sophia lives in New Zealand with her husband Danny, and two daughters Deborah and Delilah. Currently a freelance journalist, Sophia is hoping to bring out the writer that may be lying undiscovered within a lot of young minds. : Editor-in-chief

Jun 8, 2009

Thanks to all those you read my introductory article on Kids Arena, and those who took the time to comment and provide their point of view.

Just one point, what I was trying to convey through the article was that we should not undoing some of the cultures that our next generation is willingly carrying. To be specific, I am not offended if I am not called an “aunt”, that’s a choice the child or the young adult makes. But if I am called an “aunt”, I will welcome and encourage it.

This week we introduce you to Eric D’souza. Eric is 16 years old and studying commerce. Mum Susan has forwarded me this article by Eric and she says he doesn’t like publicity. I am not sure if this is going to be a surprise for him.

I personally liked the thought behind the article. It is indeed difficult to gain victory over oneself. I struggle all the time because my heart rules my head, and all my desires reside in my heart.

Well done, Eric!

ONE OF THE HARDEST OF ‘EM ALL...

by Eric D’souza

“I count him braver who overcomes his desires than him who conquers his enemies; for the hardest victory is over self.”

-Aristotle  

It is well known that man’s desire comes forth, not from the mind, but from the core of his heart. It is this very heart that compels him to seek and fulfill those desires, be it moral or immoral in nature. From Day One, man has sought to accomplish every single want that finds its way into his heart and he seldom offers any resistance against these. He may be all powerful and mighty when it comes to his daily hurdles but his weakness is evident in the fact that he cannot control and conquer the spirit in him that unceasingly demands more and more - the spirit against which, obtaining victory is nearly impossible. This is exactly the message Aristotle, through philosophical knowledge, has attempted to convey, to not only you and me, but to all of us - a message stating that the hardest victory is victory over the self. 

Indeed, Aristotle was right when he spoke about victory over one’s self being the hardest to obtain. Very often and despite making attempts, one is unable to understand himself. He is left with no clue about who he is, where he is and most importantly, what he wants in life. This has resulted in him being uncertain and doubtful about his basic needs and so-called luxuries. He is blinded by his passions, little aware that in his attempts to achieve these passions at any cost, he is losing a battle against his greedy spirit. What he doesn’t know is that he has given himself to materialistic elements – elements that will only pull him down, making it harder for him to ‘breathe’ and live with ease. It will only make it more difficult for him to conquer that spirit, that big hurdle that comes in his way of gaining true victory. 

True Victory – Isn’t that an uncommon sight among people today who seem so goal-oriented and career-driven that it has given rise to numerous problems and various dilemmas. 

At this point of time, it would only be right to say, that in order to be a true winner, man has got to learn that there is only one war to be fought. This war is not symbolically a political or religious one, but one that is personal and within one’s self. One must realize that in order to achieve success, it is necessary to surmount and do away with the desires of his mortal heart. Only then is he capable of acquiring the victory that was, is and will forever be the dream of scores of people who have come and are to come into this world.

To conclude and leave you pondering, it would be best to impart to you a statement I happen to recall, a statement made by Chinese philosopher Lao-Tzu that goes like this - He who controls others may be powerful, but he who has mastered himself is mightier still.  

Note to the readers:

 Kids Arena column open for below 18-year-old. You can send your articles, stories, poems, or any creatives along with your brief introduction and picture to below email:

kids@daijiworld.com

Introductory issue:

• Kids Arena : Share Your Thoughts with Our Readers...