Human Spirit - Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva

While reading the news article on Rio De Janeiro's winning bid to host the 2016's Summer Olympics, a paragraph on Brazil's current president caught my attention.

It was mentioned Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva sold peanuts on the street as a boy, was teary-eyed during the press conference and mentioned he was half-scared by the challenge of preparing for the Olympics. I think the formula of an underdog made good + display of passion + honest enough to admit he probably didn't have the model answer made me curious about the past of this man.

Therefore, I did busybody-ing and dug out some interesting "milestones" of Lula's before becoming president.

- Borned seventh of eight children in 1945, his father left the family and moved to Santos 2 weeks after his birth

- Travelled with mother when 7 years old for 13 days in the cargo area of a truck to Sao Paulo and discovered his father had a 2nd family

- Did not learn to read until 10 years old and quit school at fourth grade

- Started worked as shoe shiner and street vendor at age 12

- Married in 1969 and wife die the same year of hepatitis.

- Ran for presidential office and fail thrice in 1982, 1994 and 1998 before becoming President in 2002.

That's a mountain to climb and read like a movie script. In contrast, most of the challenges we face pales in comparison. If only I have a fraction of his determination and resilience to life's adversities and challenges.