The Subject I Hated in School Is Now My Daily Bread.

 

I went to visit my elder sister one day, and it turned into one of those simple moments that carry deep lessons. We were all seated on the bed together—myself and one of my nieces were busy editing an AI video, while the youngest sat quietly with a book in her hand. She was reading Things Fall Apart, trying to concentrate, but it was obvious she wasn’t enjoying it.

After a while, she murmured, “This book is too boring for my age.” Then she looked at me and said she doesn’t like Literature because it’s too bulky, and the reading was making her sleepy. The honesty in her voice made me smile, but it also stirred something deeper in me. That moment immediately took me back to my own school days.

I looked at her and said, “Never choose a subject based only on what you like right now. Sometimes, you have to discipline yourself to like every subject, because you don’t know which one will become important later in life.” It wasn’t just advice—I was speaking from experience, something I had learned the hard way.

Then I began to share my story with her so she could understand better. Back in primary and secondary school, I didn’t like English at all. The answers always seemed too long, too open-ended, and not as direct as I wanted. But Mathematics was different—I loved it because everyone could arrive at the same answer. It felt safe, clear, and predictable.

I spent most of my time solving math problems, and to be honest, those were the only textbooks I owned throughout my school years. I genuinely enjoyed working through calculations and finding solutions. It gave me a sense of confidence and control, something I didn’t feel with English.

Meanwhile, English was a struggle for me. I failed it many times, and even when I managed to pass, it was usually with a weak grade. But at that time, I didn’t see it as a problem. I convinced myself that English would not be important for the course I planned to study in the university, so I focused my energy on what I thought mattered.

Then life happened.

A few years later, I found myself doing something I never planned for—I started writing. Not just occasionally, but consistently. Writing became part of my daily life, and suddenly, the subject I had ignored became one of the most important tools I needed.

That was when reality hit me.

I said to myself, “If only I had known I would fall in love with writing, I would have taken English more seriously. In fact, I would have studied it just as much as Mathematics, if not more.” That realization stayed with me, and it completely changed how I view learning and preparation.

That experience taught me a lesson I will never forget. The things we ignore today may become the very things we depend on tomorrow. What feels boring now may later become your strength, your tool, or even your source of income.

This is why I strongly believe that we can teach the younger generation better, not only through structured classrooms, but through casual, everyday moments like this. Simple conversations, shared stories, and real-life experiences often leave deeper impressions than formal lessons.

We should not wait until morning devotion, evening prayers, or moments of correction before we teach life lessons. Sometimes, the best teaching happens in relaxed environments, where children feel free to express themselves and learn without pressure.

May God give us the wisdom to guide the next generation in the right way, and the patience to teach them with understanding.