Who Are the Silent Victors?

After months of painstakingly trudging through what can only be described as one of the most inhospitable places on Earth, one can only imagine how Robert Falcon Scott felt as he saw the tent of Roald Amundsen firmly in place on the South Pole. The tent,standing there with all the smugness only an inanimate object can muster, meant that everything Scott had worked so hard for had seemingly been for nothing, as he now was the second person to reach the South Pole.The only thing left for Scott to do was to pivot on his heels and turn back to the base camp, a journey surely paved with disappointment and frustration. Even more unfortunately for Scott, he and his team perished on their way back, a sad end to a truly epic undertaking. If the expedition had been a failure the moment they saw Amundsen’s tent, their tragic fates only served to underline that fact.

Design by Anna Gao

Widening our scope, some questions only a few could answer; Who was the second man to step on the Moon? Or what about the second man to circumnavigate the globe? And who was the second to fly alone over the Atlantic? Not too many people know this, as the “firsts” of history often cast long and dark shadows of the “seconds”, leaving their achievements obscured and forgotten. Why is that so? Simply put, the firsts represent a clear change, a breakthrough even. The first person to do something is seen as a trailblazer, and the second person is often, unfairly, viewed as having just followed the first in their footsteps, or only having done something because it had just been proven possible.

In fact, we humans seem to know that the firsts of history are the ones to get the glory and fame, and many of mankind’s greatest achievements were born out of a desire to be first. During the height of the Space Race, the U.S. raced against the Soviets to put a man on the Moon, culminating in July of 1969, when Apollo 11 touched down on the lunar surface. This was a huge achievement, but with the advantage of hindsight, things seem to have tapered off in terms of lunar exploration. To date, the narrative of our lunar endeavors is defined by a series of stops and starts, which reflects a much broader pattern seen in many human undertakings. Once the goal of being first is achieved, whether it be first to climb the highest peak, first to break an important sports record or simply being the first on the Moon, there is often a collective diminishing of the initial drive that often spurred them to the achievement. Proving this point, the Soviets didn’t even bother to put their own cosmonaut on the lunar surface after the U.S had done so.

Now, today, it might be time to stop seeing those who followed in the footsteps of others as mere afterthoughts to a record already broken. It’s time we reframe these narratives to notice the seconds as much as the firsts, as they reinforce the breakthroughs by proving that these feats were not singular miracles but a product of human tenacity and spirit.

It’s time we reframe these narratives to notice the seconds as much as the firsts, as they reinforce the breakthroughs by proving that these feats were not singular miracles but a product of human tenacity and spirit. The seconds validate the path forged by the firsts and demonstrate that extraordinary feats are within the reach of more than one lone trailblazing individual. By recognizing the seconds, we acknowledge that history is shaped not only by the moment of first achievements, but also by those who follow, replicate, and even surpass the original.

While not everyone will partake in a monumental undertaking affecting human history forever, it is worth noting that being able to feel pride in being second is still very much an advantage in ordinary life. For example, consider the life of a student who consistently gets the second-highest grade in her class, and is content with it. This student, while perhaps overshadowed by the top achievers, is a worthy reminder that being second is not the end of the world, and, most importantly, does in no way diminish your own accomplish- ments. Achieving second place doesn’t mean falling behind, instead it highlights a different form of success. It’s a testament to dedication and a sense of understanding that a good effort isn’t defined by placing first.

After all, perhaps Scott would have been a little less disheartened if he could have found it within him to accept that him being second was still a huge achievement, independent of his rival Amundsen’s expedition. As mentioned previously, this lesson extends far beyond historical feats and into our personal lives, whether it be in academics, professional endeavors or your own personal challenges. In a world fixated on winners and firsts, standing on the second step of the podium still means you have outperformed countless others and perhaps even your previous self, and, in the grand narrative of human achievement, isn’t it time we appropriately recognize this?