Initiating Change in the Manufacturing and Distribution Division of Polyprod

Back on track

The story of my downfall and change began when I had just turned 13 years old, a young teenager about to start my journey in secondary school. Like most teenagers, I was undergoing a state of mental change where I craved attention, popularity and approval of other teenagers. It didn’t matter back then if all this attention came from the wrong reasons just as long as I was getting it. Obviously, I was so young back then that consequences of my actions never crossed my mind.

Seeking teenager’s glory, I stumbled upon a group of guys who in my eyes were instantly the rock starts of secondary school. I admired the fame and attention they got from all other students. In my head I knew that I wanted to be just like them. I didn’t care back then if their actions were good or bad. I began observing and imitating their social behavior so closely. I began doing anything they did so they could accept me into their social circle. Soon enough, it started off with drifting after school putting our lives in danger, to stealing my father’s car, to disobeying elders, to skipping classes and not performing well in school to smoking cigarettes ruining my health, to initially ignoring my religious duties and eventually stopped praying. I was now officially a member of this social circle. I wasted my precious youth years of secondary school indulging in irresponsible negative activities.

Secondary school came to an end, and it was one fine summer day before embarking my journey to high school. The leader of my group called me up to watch him drifting that afternoon. So, I went and witnessed an extremely horrific end of a friend’s life. While he was drifting he lost control of his car which crashed and he lost his life on the spot.

I was in a stock of shock. I couldn’t believe my 16 years old friend has just lost his life for nothing. Struck with so many realizations on what I had made of my life. I was depressed and hopeless thinking of losing a friend, disrespecting elders, putting my health and life in danger and disobeying my parents. The fact that it could have been me instead of him scared me every night. Even though after the accident I stopped associating with the group, but I was still lost in how to find my way back to a good life.

The sad summer finally came to an end, I turned 16 years old and I started my first year in high school. With god’s help, I found a new group of friends who were good in school, participated in positive activities, didn’t disrespect elders and were religiously active. I shared my story with them and instead of judging me; they accepted me despite of my past and helped me regain positive focus in life. They helped me gain my innocent youth back and after high school, I got accepted into a good university. I regained my religious duties and began praying regularly, regained my parents trust and never lost track again.

As from this life changing experience, I would recommend all the young adults who feel as though they have lost track in their life to:

1- always remember that the change starts with the willing intention to change.

2- Once you know you want to change but don’t know how to, ask Allah to guide you and help you to get out of the mess you have gotten yourself into.

3- seek advices from your elders, specially your parents. Surely they will give you the best advice on how to improve yourself.

4- look for positive, happy, focused friends who will encourage you to bring the best of you and not the worst.

5- set up your future goals, write them down and look at it each day to remind yourself where you are heading, so you don’t lose track again.