Weekend Engagement week 259//The Warning and Advice I would have given myself when I was Fifteen (15)..

If I had the chance to go back in time, when I was just fifteen years old, there are some important things I would say to myself and some things I would corrected.

At that time, I had an opportunity to learn useful computer skills like how to use Microsoft packages and graphic design software. But I didn’t take it seriously. I was been lazy in learning the skills then. I didn’t know how important those skills would become in my life especially in the higher institution. Looking back now, I would give myself both a warning and some advice that could have helped me prepare better for the future.

The warning I would give to myself is " Be careful Joash, your family, especially your dad, will not always be there to give you everything you need. A time will come when you will have to take care of your own needs.” At that young age, I believed that my dad would always be there to provide for me, so there is no need to learn any skills. Little did I know that life could suddenly change. I was too relaxed and didn’t think much about preparing for what is coming in the future.

The advice I would give myself is "Take the computer skills you are learning now seriously, because they will help you in the future, especially when you get into higher institution and even in your career.” I had the chance to learn how to use important tools like Microsoft Word, Excel, and graphic design software free of charge without paying anything for tutor. But I was so lazy in learning and would only focus on Microsoft word. I wasted that chance because I thought I had plenty of time. I didn’t realize that those skills would be very useful later in life.

The reason why I would give myself that warning and advice is that, after I finished my high school, my dad retired from the civil service. That same year he retired was the same year I got admission into a higher institution.

Suddenly, there was no money coming into the house. Life became tough. I had to start finding ways to support myself in school. That was when I realized how important those skills were. I could use Microsoft Word more to run assignments, projects and other printing tasks for students, but I was not very good with Excel or any graphic design tools. These were the tools used often in school for assignments, projects, and even some part-time jobs, but I had not taken the time to learn them well.

It would have been an added advantage for me if I had learn those skills well, that would have added extra income to me but I didn't take it serious. I had to pay fees for learning those skills and that was when I was at fourth year in school already. I was combining work with studies which was stressful so to learn those skills at early years in school was difficult because I had no much time.

If I had been more serious back then, I would have been better prepared. I could have used my skills to make some money while in school or to perform better. I missed an opportunity to build a strong foundation in excel, graphic design and other computer applications. Every skills I'm learning now, I paid for it.

If I could go back to when I was fifteen years, I would tell myself to stop taking things for granted. I would warn myself to be ready for the day when I will have to stand on my own. I would advise myself to take every learning opportunity seriously, because the future depends on the choices I make today.