def second_min(a):

    min_1 = min(a[0], a[1])

    min_2 = max(a[0], a[1])

    for i in range(2, len(a)):

        if a[i] < min_1:

            min_2 = min_1

            min_1 = a[i]

        elif (a[i] < min_2) and (min_1 != a[i]):

            min_2 = a[i]

    return min_2
print(second_min([9,8,7,6,5,4,3,2,1]))