Climbing the ladder of life

Helene Bam
Martha Mudimbi

Life. The word seems so simple doesn’t it? When in fact the word carries a whole lot of baggage which we are unprepared for and quite frankly a little scared of.

The unexpected changes as we sail through our different stages in life get much more difficult the older we get and can make you feel extremely negative, insecure and unhappy at times.

You might be thinking that I am too young to say this but these changes are essential for our personal development.

You may not have heard of it, but Maslow’s hierarchy of needs is a good way for us to monitor how we develop as a person and how we conquer each of the stages.

The first stage of the hierarchy is based on our basic needs. This includes food, exercise, shelter, warmth etc. This is what every human being needs to survive.

The next 3 stages deal with our safety, the love that we feel from others and give to others. In my opinion these stages take many years to reach, as we don’t truly feel loved and secure until we are surrounded by our own family and friends that we can truly trust. Our self-esteem relies on this, because having people around you can make you feel supported and loved and as a result will make you feel better about yourself.

The final stage is self-actualisation. Do you feel like you have achieved everything that you have wanted to achieve in your life?

Yes, you may feel negative because you may have a lot of responsibilities and you can’t just sit back and do it tomorrow. Make a bucket list of things that you want to achieve before you are frail and cannot physically achieve these things anymore.

When you look back on life when you are old, you will feel as if you aren’t self-actualised because when you were 16 and you had the opportunity to achieve your goals you were too busy occupying your mind with negative thoughts.

‘Life’ is a word that carries a lot of baggage. From the straight line of the ‘l’ to the curve in the ‘e’ - it is a roller-coaster ride of ups and downs but that should not keep you from trying your best and climbing the ladder of life.

You can do this by simply being thankful for what you have, seeing life from the perspective of those less fortunate than you are and being grateful for what you have. Be grateful and be as positive as you can while you achieve your goals.

- Martha Mudimbi is a grade 11 learner at Gabriel Taapopi Secondary School. She enjoys reading and listening to music.