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.