Online ReporterFadzayi Maposah
Correspondent
A college mate shared a black and white picture on social media. It had five young people. When the picture was first shared, I missed it as I had lost contact with the one who had it.
I only got to know of the picture when my name was mentioned after someone commented on the young people on the picture. One of my former college mates had asked another mate if she had changed from the time that she was at varsity.
Upon seeing the picture, the college mate said she could not identify herself from the five people on the picture. Then one of my college mates, who was also on the picture gave a run down on the people on the photograph and then I was tagged.
The college mate who had been asked to identify herself on that picture even asked where the picture was taken. Shared were thinking “emojis”. Seeing myself on the picture brought happy memories.
Since it is more than 30 years ago, there were some including me that could not remember where we were. We all remembered that it was one of the many trips that we went on during our college years. One friend from high school that I was in the same class with again in college said she did not want to lie and say where we were on that photograph because she just could not remember.
The picture had comments including some that suggested that we were a lot slimmer when we were in college than we are now.
The only male in the picture who was a special brother to many girls and boys in our class jokingly said that back then we were concentrating on studying more than eating. When I shared the picture with my family and friends, there were some people who failed to pick me from the line-up. I always think that I have not changed much. The height should have been the tool to identify me with.
On the photograph I was the tallest. I was dressed in baggy trousers, a t-shirt and a cap. One other thing that identifies me is the shorthand notebook that I am holding. Even today I love the notebooks! Remember I even have a “to do” notebook.
I love opening pages and actually writing things down.
Of course, I will make use of typing on electronic gadgets, but I do love the old fashioned way of doing things.
The youthful days were happy days. I enjoyed making new friends. I enjoyed the learning that happened in and out of class. While in class we looked at the tenets of mass communication and the role of journalism in society, interacting with other students from the various departments taught us that while we were in the preparation stages of different professions, every career path was important.
I find it disturbing when I interact with college students and some tend to think that there are some programmes where people have less to do. Every student in college, has work to do. The work that they get to do is determined by the demands of their programme. Equally worrying are comments from people who have not done a particular programme, but are quick to dismiss it or relegate it to the lowest rung of the career ladder. The exposure of being in college contributes to personal development. We have been in the graduation season.
There are many people of different ages that have graduated in various fields. They are celebrating their accomplishments and yet there are people who do not have similar qualifications, but who choose to demean what others are putting so much effort into.
Self-esteem is one life skill that young people (even older people) need. One may be enthusiastic about what they are doing and have people who dent their self-worth. Looking at the college picture reminded me that at some point in our lives, there were people who mocked us as journalism students.
Maybe we should have done other programmes they told us. How could we force on being story tellers? In a class with many students, who did we think would be willing to listen to what we had to write or say? Look at now, there are so many people who think because they have shared content, they are journalists. That is a story for another day.
A healthy self-esteem is important. One is not easily swayed by what people say. One is able to live by the decision that they made knowing that based on the information and knowledge that they had it was the best they could do.
When self-esteem is low, one struggles with standing by the decision that they made and may even become anxious. Anxiety will affect their mental health with physical symptoms showing. One can be irritable.
Equally important is emotional intelligence. While there are many people who are intellectually intelligent, there are those who have very low levels of emotional intelligence. These people are not able to read situations, identify and manage their own emotions and the emotions of others.
When one is emotionally intelligent they are not in a rush to deal with their emotions. They do not make decisions when they feel and understand that they are not stable. They are to regulate their emotions by giving themselves time to think before they act or judge others. September is Suicide Prevention month, a time dedicated to raise awareness, minimise stigma and share important mental health information. As the month comes to a close with a few days left, let us be cautious with how we behave and interact with others. We may leave them wounded.
While the world may be colourful, some people are going through black and white phases of their lives like my college picture. When not sure, ask what is taking place and how you can help.
Do not assume that you know everyone on the college picture. Maybe you know them now, but you do not about past wounds. Treat everyone with kindness.
#Mental health diaries.
