30 Day Blog Challenge: Day 8 A Letter To My Teenage Self

The 30 day challenge is waxing stronger, moving along and i am on day 8 and i will be writing a letter to my teenage self. Day 7 was about 5 of my favourite songs. Did you miss it? Never mind, read it HERE  and discover my “oldie self”.

So today i will be writing a letter to my teenage self. Hmmmm. You know what they say about hindsight. It is a b**tch but it is also a powerful way of learning and understanding ourselves.

Letter To My Teenage Self

Dear 17 Year Old Ufuoma Jennifer,

I am gradually becoming the woman i have always wanted to be. The road has been (and is) fraught with lots of obstacles at every turn but i have had no other choice than to dust myself, stand up and start all over.

There were times i wanted to quit. Oh i can’t even begin to count the number of times i had so wanted to quit, throw in the towel and not come out of my apartment (yes i got round to staying alone) but when i remember what you had to go through your teenage years, i always find the courage to keep moving forward.

I did eventually study Engineering as you have always wanted. I however didn’t go with Petroleum Engineering. Life happened and i chose a relatively new area of Engineering, Safety Engineering. An Engineering that is gradually changing the way things in all other branches of Engineering are being done.

Yes i am working in the Oil industry as we planned doing lol. Do you remember those times  you tell yourself that you were going to be in same profession with dad? Well, it did happen after-all.

Being A Writer

The dreams of being a writer and published author is yet to be actualized but i have a blog (i bet you don’t know what a blog is lol), where i write on different issues (my favourite is “The Thought Provoking category of my blog where i write about well researched topical issues) and hope that someone relates enough to like and comment lol.

But when they don’t, it’s alright. I do not stress myself about that.

Let me tell you what a blog is. A blog is a regularly updated website or web page typically run by one person or a group of persons that is written in an informal or conversational style. Someone who owns a blog is known as a blogger.

So along with my regular job (which i hope to quit and get fully into writing in the very near future), i am also a blogger. Its not easy “running both” but i am working on finding a rhythm that works.

I have met a lot of beautiful people online since i started blogging earnestly from last year. The blogging community is full of good vibes and warmth. This makes me want to even work harder and also help other bloggers.

Life Happens

Having grown older and wiser, i understand that those times you thought you would die when your first love didn’t turn out to be your one and only love, is part of life and experiences.

Yes, life happens. Shit happens. Everything will not always go your way or as planned.

Some people are meant to stay. Others are not. Either way, we learn from the time we spent with them.

I have met some very wonderful persons and some very good ones who actually turned out to be nasty. Talk about wolf in sheep’s clothing. The good however, surpasses the bad. You just look to it.

But like i said before, i get up, dust myself and move on.

I have been able to heal from all those years of abuse. It is still sore to talk it about but i am stronger and in a better place. I remember your tears from years ago. They were not in vain. They forge you and made me whom i am now.

All those crying bouts from being a teenage and always feeling misunderstood has stopped lol. These days, if you don’t understand my views, it probably means, you don’t truly “understand” them.

I also got to know that every single teenager always feel they are misunderstood. It is usually the case though and i hope that makes me a better when the time comes.

The Beautiful Chaos

Dear teenage self, despite and inspite of the things you went through as a teenager, the truth is they were what forged you and made me what i am now. A better version of you.

Life is a beautiful, A Beautiful Chaos. A beautiful chaos because what makes life, is the good, the bad and ugly.

I have learnt. I am still learning. Will continue to learn.

Right now, i think my life has started “happening”. The prospects out there for me to explore are infinite and i am exploring every single one i come across.

We Are Strong Together

Your experiences as a teenager are what forged the fabric of the woman i am becoming. Those experiences are what has gradually given me courage to come out of my shell, be bold, stand for myself and stand for others.

We are strong together. You and I. We are a bond, a wholly and spiritual bond. Forged together, growing strong and stronger as each day passes.

Building up to achieving dreams and greater heights

Then, we both can look back as one from time to time, nod heads and say, yes we are doing good and the sky will always be the beginning and not the limit for us.

I loved you when you were a teenager. Still loving the woman you are becoming and will always love who and what you are.

 

With Love From,

You, at present.

Final Thoughts

I had a lot of negative experiences in my teenage years but have always found a way to stay and live above them. This has made a lot of people see me as this strong lady who can literally withstand anything.

The result? I am always being taken advantage of by people. For a long time i let it slide, but these days, i let you know straight out that i am not a doormat nor a pushover and that i won’t and don’t take shit from anyone.

Our teenage years are usually filled with lots of memories. For some, those memories are filled with lots of love and care, while for others, sad memories. For me, it was sad memories. Majorly with little snippets of the good.

Which ever one it turns out to be, the thing is those experiences end up shaping our later years. Good or bad. Bad or good.

We owe it to ourselves and sanity to overcome the bad and be better and greater.

Of course it is easier said than done but then learning and practicing self care will eventually put those bad parts away.

Talking about it also helps. So talk.

In all though, i am still fond of my teenage self and i know the road will be rough at times in the journey to achieve my dreams but i will always conquer because i can and i will.

 

So there you have it, day 8 of my 30 day blog challenge. A letter to my teenage self. I hope you enjoyed reading it and that it triggered some good memories for you. What would you tell your teenage self? Let’s share!

Enjoy the rest of the week. You know i gat nathin buh love for you all!

P.S. Can’t lay my hands on any pics of me as a teenager right about now so i had to put up that ugly ass pic!

 

Jennifer Pompaski