HAPPY CHILDREN'S DAY

Dear CEDEC Child,

It’s a day to celebrate you, so be sure to read till the end of this post. I’ll be sharing some nuggets of wisdom, things I hope you’ll benefit from.

Firstly, don’t be in a hurry to grow up. In your teenage years, there will come a need to be treated more like an adult. You may want to wear adult clothes, be more independent, and do grown-up stuff. Just enjoy your childhood for as long as you can, and enjoy the fact that you are young, and you’ve got your whole life ahead of you. A time will come when you wish you did just that.

Next, I’ll tell you that friendships could be fleeting. Friends will come and go, so don’t compromise your morals and values trying to hold on to people who do not value you. Be true to your friends, and the right friends who would love you for you will stick with you forever.

Another thing to note is that being cool is a matter of opinions. Trying to compromise your values to fit in with people you deem cool rarely works out in your favour in the long run. If you spend too much time trying to conform to every possible fashion trend then you’ll not have much time to be yourself. Just be the best version of you, and you’ll see that that’s cool enough.

One more important fact is that saying No is absolutely fine. As a teenager, there would be a lot of pressure to say yes to friends. Please know that saying no is cool too. When people ask you to defy your parents, indulge in underage drinking, smoking or drugs, please say No. It could even be something as harmless as going to the cinema with friends. However, if you really don’t want to, simply say NO.

Furthermore, feeling anxious is totally normal, as long as you don’t let it engulf you. Feeling anxious is an emotion, simply speak to a trusted adult to help you sort through whatever worries you. The teenage years may seem quite stressful, or you may be worried about examinations, or a million other things. You are not alone in this, simply speak to a mentor, a parent or a trusted adult about this, and they’ll guide you through it.

Finally, I ask that you seek help whenever you need it, and remember that your parents and teachers are always there for you when you need them.

I hope my words stay in your heart as you enjoy your children’s day celebration.

Sincerely,

Chibuzo.