It is just a thing of concern to see how life is full of reflections. Animals keep reproducing their kind. Children resemble their parents. The world of humans is diversified with various races which are characterized with differences in language and skin color. Despite the numerous babies born into the world, each carefully resembles its race in all aspects. What a reflection! Moreso is the fact that even those who have migrated from their native race to other’s still retain some traits that perfectly distinguish them from others.
When I recalled that all through our years in (from the elementary school to the higher institutions, our studies were mostly a reflection of what the forerunners have laid down.) We keep learning Isaac Newton’s scientific feats. All of the curriculum seems to be built around the work of the early scientists. This too is another form of reflection - in the likeness.
When young people go out to learn a trade in my native nation, I observe that the track record of the master or the mentor most times influences the performance of the apprentices. Masters who are unprofessional usually produce unprofessional disciples. On the other hand, good professional masters produce well trained disciples.
What about religion? Aside from the religious key figures such as Jesus Christ, even priests and preachers tend to influence their followers such that most of them begin to talk and act like their leaders.
When I consider all these trends, I come to the conclusion that our lives are replicas of some others in one way or the other. We learn from those who have succeeded and try to do the same things that they do which make them succeed. It's therefore a wise decision not to live in isolation. Look out for those who have passed the way you intend to pass successfully and follow on their likeness.