Life Skills: A Tool to Prosperity
In today's world where everything is evolving and standards of
living are escalating at a rapid state, education, while very
important, is no longer enough. Even with the most advanced
systems of education, being literate alone does not guarantee a
job security and a successful transition to independent living.
With job qualifications continually being redefined, even
accountability in the workplace goes beyond scholastic skills.
In order to advance in the world of affairs, something else is
necessary. That something is the melting pot of life skills!
Life skills such as confidence, communication skills,
creativity, critical thinking, cooperation and teamwork,
although not given much gravity in the framework of
institutionalized learning, are keys to personal and
professional success. My life experience is a testimony to this
fact. I was only 19 years old when I stopped going to school due
to an incurable autoimmune disease that almost took my life
away. Without a college degree, my life was foreshadowed with
adversity and defeat. All my hopes and dreams seemed
irrealizable. In a world where everyone capitalizes on their
education, I was left beyond hope. But the frustration only made
me realize something - all was not lost. I still have my skills
to develop. I still have my life skills to depend on! With the
development of my life skills, my "crippled" life was replaced
with imaginary body parts that enabled me to climb to the top of
the ladder of economic well-being. Confidence became my feet to
support me to stand up and set my first step on the ladder of
success moving upward regularly and steadily. Critical thinking
acted as my brain in discerning the pros and cons of certain
circumstances so that I was able to assess potential risks.
Creativity was my eyes and heart that saw and felt respectively
the new possibilities along the way so that my journey became
more delightful and meaningful. Communication skills was my
mouth that talked me into greater opportunities and helped me
sustain interpersonal relationships. My cooperation to my
family's plans and the teamwork we had altogether are the hands
that finally carried me to the pinnacle of glory I once thought
was impossible.
Today I have successfully established myself as an entrepreneur.
Even if I could not go out much because of my illness but I'm
earning enough to sustain my lifestyle. While having enough
education would have helped me attain greater heights, I feel no
twinge of remorse. What's the use of ideas if you can't
communicate well? What's the use of ability if you refuse to
share it with others? And what's the use of a great mind if you
don't know know how to contribute to the world? Having life
skills without sufficient education is okay but never education
without life skills. These days, it's no more of a choice to
make, it has now become a necessity to fulfill.