A Sign Up Story: The Skill I Almost Regret Learning

If I’m being honest, I might be one of the people with the least number of skills learned the traditional way. Not because I couldn’t learn, but because I had one major reason to run from it. And that running started when I was about 15.

I suddenly became very interested in learning how to make hair not just for fun, I wanted to earn from it. The real spark came when I heard that a close friend of mine was leaving home to go learn hairdressing somewhere and it sounded exciting. Imagine having somewhere to go after school, learning something new, and also getting to hang out with your friend... It felt so grown-up.

So I signed up!

I didn’t ask enough questions, I only knew that the woman was good at what she did and that she would teach me well. What I wasn’t told was that I would be treated almost like a slave. Now that I think about it, that’s exactly what it felt like.

The training itself wasn’t the intense part, it was everything in between. Whenever she had no customers or nothing urgent to do, the atmosphere would change. Those moments were heavy that I can’t even fully explain it, it was like I would arrive at her place already wishing I could go back home. And when I finally got home, I would remember the money I had paid for the training so I would gather courage and go back.

That cycle went on for over three months and most regretful thing was I didn’t even learn much.

But I won't call it a total waste of time because there was one particular hairstyle I had always struggled with. Somehow, during that period, I became more confident doing it. That small win was the only bright spot in an experience that felt like a pressure I wasn’t prepared for back then.

From that time until I got into the university, I refused to sign up for any physical skill training, I avoided it completely. The idea of being in someone else’s space, under someone else’s control, it brought back memories I didn’t want.

Then I discovered online learning.

YouTube, online trainings, learning at my own pace, in my own space. It was a game changer. No tension-filled silence, no feeling trapped because I had already paid, no pressure that made me dread showing up. Just me, my phone, and the willingness to try again till I'm good at it.

I know there are skills I’ll eventually need to learn offline, I mean, we've got to learn from people physically and I'm not ignorant or naive about that fact. But for now, I’m okay learning this way, it feels safe, it feels empowering, it's on my pace.

Recently, I’ve even been putting myself under intense pressure again but this time, it’s self-imposed. I’m learning a skill through YouTube and different guides I come across. And honestly? It’s not nearly as intense as what I faced at 15. Maybe because this time, I’m choosing it and know I can walk away and return without fear or have worry of being mentally hurt.

_{Image used is AI generated.}

Posted Using INLEO