I recall vividly the day I completed my KCSE exams, oh the joy! I was excited to be “free” from school rules and all, do not get me wrong, I guess every high school leaver can relate to that feeling. I had huge dreams and completing Highschool was one mega milestone I was happy about. A few months passed and the results were out, and I did not get what I expected. Interesting enough everyone was happy about my results except myself, because I knew the grade I got meant I was not going to pursue what I ‘wanted’, Fast forward 9years later and am super grateful I got what I scored and had the blessing of becoming who I am today however, there are things I wish I had known earlier:
- LIFE IS NOT LINEAR
Life is not a straight line. Life is a combination of ups and downs and that is what makes it interesting. You will not always get what you want, things will not always happen according to the progression you have imagined, however keep an open mind. I was very rigid, and I remember having countless fights with my parents just because I wanted my way and believe you me it can be very frustrating when you discover being rigid is not going to help. Life calls for agility, you just must be flexible and have faith and hope that even though things may not happen in the progression you expect, you will get there in due time.
- DETOURS WILL HAPPEN, THE KEY IS TO ALWAYS KEEP YOUR EYE ON THE DESTINATION
This is connected to number 1, sometimes on the journey to greatness, detours will happen. Sometimes it will be because of missing the point and sometimes it will be because the weather is just not conducive to fly as TD Jakes puts it. “A pilot might decide to land in a different country just because it is not conducive to fly to the destination, that does not mean he will not get there it only means they have to take the detour till it’s safe to fly to the destination”, he explains. The most important thing is your vision, never loose it no matter what.
- IT IS LACK OF WISDOM TO COMPARE
You leave school and everyone will go in their own different direction, Life will set you on different trajectories. Some of your friends will go to Campus, some will not, some will travel abroad, some will graduate earlier than others, some will get jobs earlier and some will marry and build families earlier and you have to be cool with this because life is not a competition therefore do not compare yourself to others. Comparison kills! Comparison is lack of Wisdom. You need to know there is enough grace for your race and one of my mentors would put it… “It is your race, your pace, your grace.”
- YOU MUST BE WILLING TO DO THE WORK
Our generation loves instant success. We do not want to wait for things to happens, we make then happen! While this makes us sound like movers and shakers, it makes us addicted to shortcuts. In life you will have to do the work, Easy come Easy go! DO the work and go through the process, it is only process that qualifies you to reign over what you built. As young person invest in yourself, invest in doing things the right way and in growing with the right people around you.
- OWN YOUR STORY
One of the downside of living in this era of filters and curated social media accounts is that we have so many people trying to fit in yet what the world needs is people who will belong but at the same time embrace their uniqueness. Your story is unique to you, there in lies your authentic self, your struggles, mistakes, triumphs, and joys make who you are. Own your story and live every moment knowing it is a gift but most importantly you are a gift, and the universe is counting on you to make your contribution on earth.
Wishing you nothing but God’s best,
Regards.
