— Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela

A wise man once said that life is like a road, it keeps going with bumps here and there, until the end. Nelson Mandela’s road was a little too hard to drive on. He went through many bumps and turns, right through his last few miles.

Mandela fought against the apartheid, a system of segregation on the Africans, in South Africa. He was part of the ANC or African National Congress. He went against the government and fought for the freedom and rights for his people from the then-ruling white people.

After his arrest, he was first sentenced to death and then life in prison. Nelson received the most severe punishments in prison for 27 years but never sought revenge.

After an international campaign lobbied for his release, Mandela was released in 1990, during a time of escalating civil strife. As he left prison, Mandela said, “As I walked out the door toward the gate that would lead to my freedom, I knew if I didn’t leave my bitterness and hatred behind, I’d still be in prison.”

Mandela was a controversial figure for much of his life. Denounced as a communist terrorist by critics, he nevertheless gained international acclaim for his activism, having received more than 250 honors, including the 1993 Nobel Peace Prize, the U.S. Presidential Medal of Freedom, the Soviet Order of Lenin and the Bharat Ratna from India. He is held in deep respect within South Africa.

Mandela has done many deeds in his lifetime, some of which have a lasting impression on many like myself. His teachings have influenced me in many ways.

The more I read about Nelson Mandela, the more I respect the fact that Mandela was always calm, never violent or vengeful, even when he faced a lot of hardships in life.

Mandela has taught us many lessons. Some of these lessons can really help mankind. One really important lesson I learned from Nelson Mandela is that if perceive you can achieve. Another, that violence is not the answer and that everything can be done peacefully. If these lessons were put into action then there would barely be any conflict in the world.

Nelson Mandela has given us many inspiring quotes, which could be lessons of life for many of us. USA Today chose 15 of Mandela’s best quotes and published it on the day of his death. Here are five that I really like:

“It always seems impossible until it’s done.”

“Real leaders must be ready to sacrifice all for the freedom of their people.”

“Everyone can rise above their circumstances and achieve success if they are dedicated to and passionate about what they do.”

“Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.”

“A good head and a good heart are always a formidable combination.”

These quotes could be life lessons for all leaders or people in general.

The first quote makes me realize that nothing is really impossible, you just have to be passionate enough to believe in it and do it. The second quote would really help all the leaders in this world. The third quote is especially motivating for me, if I get a bad grade on a test then it is not the end of the world, I need to get over with it, get my act together and learn from mistakes. The fourth quote tells me to stay away from the thought of ditching school and stay focused on my education. The fifth quote is the most important because everyone needs to be smart and intelligent while at the same time be nice and kind. Well, some people tend to forget about the good heart part most of the time. These five quotes can really change the world.

Days after Mandela’s death, 91 heads of state gathered together in one stadium to honor his legacy. This is worth a mention because it has never happened before. If all the conflict between the countries were considered then anyone would be surprised. The question is why.

First of all, Nelson Mandela was a role model of sorts for all of those 91 heads of state, touching each one of them in some way or the other. Nelson Mandela brought South Africa from a devastating, nearly dead country to a strong country full of hope. If it hadn’t been for Mandela to repair the damage made by the old government, South Africa would be history by now, and he did all of this without any violent or forceful acts. Those 91 heads of state honor this legacy and the fact that Mandela made his country strong without any wrongful acts. They respect Mandela and what he did, more so for what he gave the world in the process, as his legacy.

Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela was an amazing person. He was God for his people and a role model for others. Mandela has done many things for South Africa, during his lifetime. He filled new hope in the hearts of his people by freeing his country from apartheid. He has made way for himself in millions of people’s hearts. Mandela has made many inspirational quotes and taught mankind many life lessons, mostly about peace, non-violence and humanity. It is therefore no wonder that these 91 heads of state got together in his memory and shared the legacy he left back.

Nelson Mandela might not be here today but he will always be alive in those millions of hearts he won.

The news channels bickered over why President Obama shook hands with Castro, the ruler of Cuba, whether it was deliberate or coincidental? The fact remains that these were two leaders with extremely opposing ideologies, who like others, were present at the same venue, to mourn the loss and honor the same person, such was his legacy.

Indeed, “a good heart and a good head are always a formidable combination.”

[Story research sources: Internet, Wikipedia, USA Today, Images: Getty Images]