Posted on 2024-10-25

Inspiration

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Written by Oluwafemilofiseyi🥰✨

WHAT WOULD YOU TELL YOUR YOUNGER SELF?

Mrs. Adaeze's words cut through our classroom chatter like a wake-up call, "𝐖𝐇𝐀𝐓 𝐖𝐎𝐔𝐋𝐃 𝐘𝐎𝐔 𝐓𝐄𝐋𝐋 𝐘𝐎𝐔𝐑 𝐘𝐎𝐔𝐍𝐆𝐄𝐑 𝐒𝐄𝐋𝐅?" - a question that haunts me for years to come.

My classmates and I take Mrs. Adaeze's subject with levity. Her subject to us had no value; we felt it was so relatable. Our ego ate us deep because of our level of intelligence and smartness.

Mrs Adaeze walked into the classroom. I was expecting a typical day. Not knowing that that day would end with a piece of advice and question that would change my life.

As she entered, my classmates and I murmured to ourselves. Our hands were tied; we couldn't report her unless she committed an offence warranting her dismissal letter from the school management. Frankly, we want her to leave our school (as if we were the owner😏) because of the rumours we heard about her😂

She began, “Today we will be looking at... You've started murmuring already, isn't it too early for that? (My classmates and I burst into laughter). I don't have your time today, let me just teach and leave (we pleaded to write the note ourselves, but she refused).”

I like her accent, though—one thing I never shared with my friends.

She continued, "I know you are still young, but five to ten years from now 'what would you tell your younger self?' (Silence wept in like a cold winter breeze). For me, I would say, dear self, don't pressurise and overthink too much.

I was like Motivational speaker has started again. Our uncalled-for actions didn't stop her, she continued.

Most of the things you are doing now are because of peer pressure. You pressurise yourself because of the clothes and other accessories your mates wear. You want to be like others and not you. Was it not Debola (in your class) who started behaving nonchalantly towards me? And you all join heads together to stand against me. Can you see how peer pressure influenced you?

Most of you overthink because you don't communicate. How does someone know what is wrong with you if you don't speak up? No wonder you feel you are an adopted child whenever your parents treat you badly. Communicate, and stop being reserved. Do you think I don't know what you heard about me? (Gbam! She knew why we were acting weird toward her) Have you heard the side of my story? You rumour mongers (I felt her pain though)

When I got home that day, I couldn't help but reminisce about what happened in school. I looked myself in the mirror and asked myself what I will tell my younger self.

This was a critical question for me in the past but now, I would say…

Dear younger self, don't keep secrets with yourself, let your parents be aware.

Dear younger self, mistakes are bound to happen, they're valuable lessons.

Dear younger self, your voice matters, speak up.

Dear younger self, practice forgiveness, humans often make mistakes.

Dear younger self, learn from criticism, it helps you grow.

Dear younger self, stay away from friends that don't add value to you.

I still have more to write, but I don't want to exceed my word count limit. Now ask yourself, 𝐖𝐇𝐀𝐓 𝐖𝐎𝐔𝐋𝐃 𝐘𝐎𝐔 𝐓𝐄𝐋𝐋 𝐘𝐎𝐔𝐑 𝐘𝐎𝐔𝐍𝐆𝐄𝐑 𝐒𝐄𝐋𝐅? Share your thoughts in the comments.