Beyond the Syllabus: What Life Really Teaches You

It’s funny how we spend years sitting in classrooms, passing exams, and collecting certificates, only to step into the real world and realize that some of the most important life lessons weren’t even on the syllabus. School taught me how to solve equations and write essays, but it was outside the school walls that I learned one of the biggest lessons that truly shaped me.

I have learnt a lot from life itself, and this one lesson didn’t come from a teacher or textbook; it came from life sitting me down and showing me things I need to know with proof. It came through trial and error, mistakes, quiet moments, and real experiences. And since the day I discovered it, it has changed how I see things, how I relate with people, and how I make decisions. Let me tell you about it.

One thing I have seen a lot of people do is be hypocritical; you will see a lot of people bring judgement of others at first glance without even trying to know their story or what led them to that situation.

I will tell you two or three things I did not learn in class, and the first one is that people are hypocrites. I have heard some people talk, both young and old, condemning what other people are doing. This set of people always shows themselves to be so good and smart.

There was a man I know who was always the first to talk about relationships. They would condemn people dating, and the first question he would ask is, "Are you ready for marriage?" It would seem like he meant well, but he is just against it. He was always the first to talk about sexual immorality and praise how good marriage was.

It was later discovered that he and his wife had separated because he had been having an extramarital affair with another lady for a long time, who is now 7 months pregnant with his child.

I have learnt not to rate people who always come out to look smart and are quick to condemn other people.

Another thing life has taught me is that,

Never say "It can't be me"

Ahahaha, I have seen so many people say the word "It can never be me. Such a thing can never happen to me. I can never do that kind of job."

Such words are mostly giving class, and making people feel superior to other people, but I have spent so many years on this planet earth and I have seen so many people move from zero to a hundred and vice versa.

I have learn to be humble in everything I am doing and in what I have; nothing lasts forever, and no condition is permanent. You might say, "That can never be me," and you see yourself in that same position you have always despised in the next few years. I have learned never to use people's situation to insult them because I might also find myself in the same situation in some years. This is why I have always learned to be humble and do the best I can, not to judge people. Some people might do worse if they find themselves in the same situation as other people find themselves.

This is where I will stop for now. I have learned so many things from life, and I know you have too. So let's keep learning and make a good world so history doesn't repeat itself.

Thanks for reading. My name is Fashtioluwa.

Lead image is mine