5 LIFE LESSONS MY SCHOOL YEARS TAUGHT ME

At this point, I've spent about 19 years in school. Wow, that sounds like a lot and well maybe it is. School is the first environment outside the home that some of us are exposed to. School coupled with church for those who go to church are the two main places outside the home that we learnt to socialize with others. This isn't going to be a sweet, memory lane blog. There was good and bad experiences in school and I'm not going to deny that. In basic school, I just remembered that I was shy. Those were the days, swinging on the swinger, doing flips on the monkey bar and having zero care in the world. After that, life happened....Primary school, high school and then University. All of my experiences throughout the years have made me who I am today and I am so proud of the person that I have become.

1st Lesson: People are fake.

This one I learnt from a very early age. I learnt this from my best friend (at the time) when I was six years old. I think this one experience had a lot to do my with my lack of trust for people growing up. We were going for lunch and she handed me her little pink purse to hold and as her friend I held it for her. Those were the little cheap ones that the school vendors would sell for around ($50 JMD at the time). When I gave it back to her and she tried to open it, the zipper came out. She cried, threw a fit and ran to the teacher to let her know that I broke her purse zipper. As my friend, she didn't ask me did I open her purse? No. She jumped to conclusion and told the teacher that I did it. Bare in mind, she opened it and the zipper came out. That was the first time I was wrongly accused and I knew I did nothing wrong.

2nd Lesson: Not everyone is kind

I don't know why this feels like memory lane central but at six years old again, I had another experience in which my cute purse had gotten stolen. This was not a normal theft. I knew exactly who did it and couldn't do anything about it. Such is life. You can trust people but always take what they say or do with a grain of salt. Have realistic expectations, that if and when people disappoint you, which they will, you know how to handle the situation.

3rd Lesson: Not all friendships last forever.

There's a Christian song that says when seasons change you remain the same (referring to Jesus Christ). I love this song because it really speaks to life. Life is not constant and people are not constant. Not every one grows up at the same time and that's okay. I learnt this at around 15 years old when who I thought was my best friend, stopped talking to me. Only casual hi's and byes but not the constant communication as before. I battled with myself thinking did I do something wrong. Truth is that people grow up and people change and that is okay. Not all friendships last for a last time. Some are just for a season and different people come into our lives to help us grow. They teach us a lesson or they leave an impact whether positive or negative. What you do, however, is to always know your worth because if you stand for nothing, you'll fall for everything.

4th Lesson: Love yourself through your changes

Puberty, my least favourite part about growing up. I hated it. I hated the changes. Age 13 to about 16 years old were my most awkward years. I really struggled back then looking back. I struggled with my appearance- larger hips, bigger butt and now I have breasts. Periods after periods, I would dread. It was about age 17 when I finally got to a place of a little acceptance that this is my life and I am a young woman. University then took me on a another rollercoaster of life. University changed my perspective on being a young woman because now more conversations were being had. Pads were a normal thing passing out on hall and now I was around a lot more females my age which helped me to open up more and realize that we are all living the same nightmare of being a girl. Point is love yourself through your changes. It took me a while to get comfortable with my identity as ayoung woman but once I got it, I held on to it. It's not easy but this is the reality of life for every female.

5th Lesson: It's always about Jesus

This one is very personal because I know the life I have lived. I went through confusion, depression, lost of loved ones and disappointment of the highest standard. Honestly, I should have lost my mind but where there is God, there is peace. He gave me something not even the richest man on earth can buy. No one can give the peace that exceeds all human understanding. When I was a broken teenager, that's where God met me. I started off with nightly prayers and then when I went to University, he revealed himself to me more than ever. I went to the alter with all of my surrender because I was just in awe that there was such a being that was holy, pure, just, forgiving, unjudgemental, caring, supportive and true like Jesus. I cannot even say in words how much he has changed me and my life. Anything I can possibly say would be a complete understatement.

The point is God loves you and we might stumble and we may fall but just hold his hand and you can get back up again. These are five life lessons my school years taught me.